This is Part 12 of Incredible India, our state-by-state travel series. Start from Part 1: Ladakh or read the previous part, Part 11: Karnataka.
Tamil Nadu is the heartland of Dravidian culture, with temples that have been in continuous worship for over a thousand years, a classical music and dance tradition, and a cuisine loved across the world. Add the Nilgiri hills, a long coastline and the southern tip of India, and you have one of the country's most rewarding states.
Best time to visit
November to February is the most pleasant on the plains. The northeast monsoon brings heavy rain to the coast in October-December. Hill stations like Ooty and Kodaikanal are best from March to June. Pongal (January) and the December music season in Chennai are special.
Top places to see
- Chennai: Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Fort St George and Mylapore.
- Mahabalipuram: the Shore Temple and Pallava rock-cut monuments.
- Kanchipuram: temple town famous for silk saris.
- Thanjavur: the Brihadeeswarar Temple, a Chola masterpiece.
- Madurai: the Meenakshi Amman Temple and its night ceremony.
- Chettinad: grand mansions around Karaikudi and its famous cuisine.
- Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi: the Ramanathaswamy Temple corridors and the new Pamban bridge.
- Kanyakumari: sunrise at India's southern tip and the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
- Ooty and Kodaikanal: hill stations, tea estates and the UNESCO-listed Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
- Puducherry: covered separately in Part 13.
Getting there and around
Chennai is the main international gateway; Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Coimbatore also have airports. Tamil Nadu has a dense rail network and good state buses. A car with a driver is ideal for temple circuits.
Sample itineraries
- Temple trail (7 days): Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram, Thanjavur, Madurai.
- Southern tip (5 days): Madurai, Rameswaram, Kanyakumari.
- Hills (4 days): Coimbatore, Ooty (with the toy train) and Coonoor.
Practical tips
- Dress modestly at temples; some require men to remove shirts in the inner sanctum, and some restrict entry to the sanctum for non-Hindus.
- Book the Nilgiri toy train well ahead; seats sell out fast.
What to eat
Idli, dosa and filter coffee, Chettinad curries, Madurai jigarthanda and kothu parotta. Try our Chettinad chicken curry recipe.
Next in Incredible India: Puducherry.
