Tamil Nadu – Shivika Travel Blogger

South India is a wonderland of rich heritage dating back to early civilization, colorful culture, delicious traditional food and mind boggling landscapes that range from plains to the lush green mighty mountains. The enchanting land of whimsical and religious significance is home to numerous tourists each year who travel to Tamil Nadu with an aim of reenergizing themselves and having some peace of mind.

Here are some destinations in Tamil Nadu that will definitely stay close to your heart for the times to come:

1. Rameswaram

Situated on Pamban Island which is separated by the Pamban channel from the Indian mainland, this place is widely popular for being the pilgrimage destination of Ramanathaswamy Temple. Being one of the primary attractions among visitors, this temple houses the longest corridor in the world. The surrounding magnificent views of the unending shimmering sea and the age old temples including the five faced hanuman temple are some of the main centres of attention. The entire island is beautifully adorned with gorgeous prakaras, towering sculptured pillars and serene beaches. Another spiritual site is Agni Tirtham, where pilgrims go for attending a holy bath. The thin strip of land, which extends out, from the south eastern part of the island, homes the famous Dhanushkodi Beach, which is a great picnic and surfing spot.

Best Time to Visit – October to April

Ramanathaswamy Temple Timings – 4:30 am to 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 8:30 pm

2. Yelagiri

Also known as Vellore and located at a height of 1,110 metres above sea level, Yelagiri is a one of kind valley where the entire place is surrounded by rose gardens and blossoming orchards. The temperature throughout the year remains extremely pleasant and charming which makes it one of the prime destinations for hill station enthusiasts. You have the option of trekking here and experiencing the stunning lush green surroundings, breathtaking mountain views and extremely panoramic valley. There are numerous small, charming and quaint places to see in Yelagiri like the spiritual Swami Malai Hill, Javadi and Palamathi, which are nestled amidst the thick green forests.

Best Time to Visit – November to February

3. Kodaikanal

Also popularly known as ‘princess of hill stations’ because of its unmatched and blissful beauty, Kodaikanal was established in the year 1845 as a safe haven from the blistering tropical heat of the plains. There are tall pine tree forests and extreme lush greenery which add up to the beauty of the hills. The temperature remains similar to that of any other hilly region in India, varying constantly among 17 degree Celsius to 20 degree Celsius. Tourist spots like, the magnificent silver cascade waterfall, mystifying Coaker’s walk, vibrant man made Kodaikanal Lake among several others. This place is blessed with immensely rich heritage of green cover and a rocky wilderness which makes it a paradise for adventure seekers and outdoor sports lovers.

Best Time to Visit – June to September

4. Coimbatore

Known for being Tamil Nadu’s second largest city (first being Chennai) and also called as the Manchester of India, for its immensely thriving cotton and textile industry, Coimbatore is increasingly becoming a spot where tourists from across the globe flock together. Surrounded by the Western Ghats mountain range, Coimbatore is a whimsical destination for people looking to explore a new age city life. Along with being one of the prime destinations of spiritualism with innumerable temples Coimbatore is also known for its incredibly detailed museums, magnificent waterfalls (Monkey Falls, Vydehi Falls) along with various hill station destinations (Coonoor, Ooty). This place continues to be a highly revered tourist destination among devout Hindu pilgrims, adventure lovers as well as thrill seekers.

Best Time to Visit – October to March

5. Yercaud

This quaint and lush hill station, which is also known as the ‘jewel of the South’, is located at a pleasant altitude of 15151 metres above sea level and on the Shevaroys range of hills in the Eastern Ghats of the Tamil Nadu region. It has been named so due to the availability of the numerous thick green forests present near the lake. This scenic hill station is the notable centre for the production of coffee, citrus fruits like pears and oranges among other fruits. Trekking along the majestic yet humble hills is truly a refreshing and an extremely rejuvenating experience.

Best Time to Visit – March to June

6. Chennai

Chennai, the state capital and home to beautiful temples, churches, and beaches, is the best tourist destination in Tamil Nadu for experiencing South India and its culture firsthand. This location is unique, with many places to visit in Chennai such as Marina Beach, Museums, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, and much more. If you are interested in culture, history, or art, you should definitely pay this place a visit.

Best Time to Visit – November to February

7. Pondicherry

This city, also known as Puducherry, is ideal for travellers interested in French culture and architecture. Pondicherry is a Union Territory with a lot of romance. If you’ve had enough of Goa, or even if you haven’t, Pondy’s allure is calling! Traveling from Chennai to Pondicherry has also become much easier, attracting a younger crowd to one of Tamil Nadu’s best tourist attractions and the land of beautiful beaches to rejuvenate and relax.

Best Time to Visit – October to March

8. Dhanushkodi

Dhanushkodi is a small, sparsely populated beach town on the coast of Tamil Nadu. In 1964, Dhanushkodi was hit by one of the worst storms India had ever seen. This town has been rebuilt by Tamil Nadu to become one of India’s most unique and unusual beach towns. Isolation is redefined in this small town. This town appears to have escaped the passage of time because it is cut off from the rest of the world. While the rest of India strives to catch up in the race for prosperity, this town appears to be frozen in time, reflecting the grandeur and beauty of its surroundings. The grandeur and beauty of Dhanushkodi make it one of the best tourist destinations in Tamil Nadu for your next refreshing getaway.

Best Time to Visit – October to February

9. Ketty Valley

The lovely Ketti Valley is located in the beautiful hills of Tamil Nadu, stretching from Coonoor to Ooty. If you want to truly appreciate the beauty of this beautiful valley, take the toy train for a 20-25 minute ride. The Ketti Valley is also well-known for its bird-watching and trekking opportunities. The Ketti Valley, the world’s second-largest gorge, is a natural wonder surrounded by stunning blue mountain ranges (Nilgiri hills). Don’t miss out on the area’s famous Shiva Lingam temple, tea gardens, and amazing waterfalls.

Best Time to Visit – October and March

10. Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari is an adventurer’s paradise and is known as one of the most exotic places to visit in Tamil Nadu. Kanyakumari’s art, temple architecture, and even the local cuisine, as well as the numerous places to visit that reflect every aspect of its culture, will captivate you! It’s also an excellent location for attending some of Tamil Nadu’s most popular annual festivals. Kanyakumari is located on the Indian Peninsula’s southernmost tip, surrounded by three seas: the Arabian, Indian, and Bay of Bengal. Kanyakumari was previously known as Cape Comorin, a small coastal town in Tamil Nadu. The magnificent confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean can be found in Kanyakumari.

Best Time to Visit – October to March

Situated beautifully at an altitude of 2240 meters, Ooty a scenic hill station located near the Nilgiri Hills in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu is an ideal holiday destination. With the lush green and exotic beauty of nature, teaming tourist places with marvellous strokes of nature and inspiring culture, Ooty makes the perfect gateway for summer break. The hill station sobriquet as Queen of Hill Station is a dream destination for the nature lover, where visitors can explore the beautiful location and scenic places of interest that dots the hill station. A visit to Ooty can be more exciting and memorable with organized and well-planned Ooty tour packages that are tailor-made and as well as comes with the flexibility to redesign according to the needs of clients to ensure they have a wonderful experience of a visit Ooty.

With the packages, visitors get an opportunity to explore some of these wonderful places that make Ooty a favourite hill station in India.

Attraction in and Around

Botanical Garden:

Laid out in 1848, Botanical Garden spread over an area of 22 hectares is a beautiful garden architect by William Graham Mclvor. It has around thousands of both exotic and indigenous plants, shrubs, ferns, and herbal and bonsai plants, which are well preserved. The garden is divided into different sections Lower Garden, New Garden, Italian Garden, Conservatory, Fountain Terrace and Nurseries. Apart from these sections, a new garden is developed with a crescent-shaped pond at the bandstand. The main attraction of the Garden is the Fossil Plant which is said to be 20 million years old.

Annamalai Temple:

Located some 20 km away from Ooty, Annamalai Temple is a holy temple dedicated to Lord Murugan. The peaceful location and the scenic beauty add more importance to the holiness of the temple and the serene location of the temple attracts a huge number of visitors as well as devotees from the town and across the region.

Ooty Lake:

Spread over an area of 65 acres, Ooty Lake located in the Nilgiri district of Tamilnadu is a beautiful tourist attraction of Ooty. It is an interesting sight to visit while here in this picturesque hill station as tourists get an opportunity to explore the beauty of the quaint natural realm moving slowly over the peaceful lake. The artificial lake was constructed in the year 1824 by John Sullivan.

Doddabetta Peak:

Nestled at a height of 8650 feet, Doddabetta Peak is considered to be the highest peak in South India. The peak offers amazing view sights of natural beauty, interesting landscape and trekking opportunities and this is the reason, why most of the tourists visiting Ooty, include Doddabetta Peak in their itinerary.

Avalanche Lake:

Located at a distance of 25 km from Ooty, Avalanche Lake is surrounded by a rolling landscape dotted with blooming flowers, magnolias, orchids and rhododendrons. In order to enter the Avalanche Lake, one has to get prior permission from the Forest Department of Ooty but once it did, you are sure to enjoy the beauty of nature’s finest strokes still preserved with its virgin appeal. The real of Nature, Avalanche Lake offers many exciting activities to do and see, making the trip an unforgettable experience to treasure.

Besides these wonderful places, there are many the lots of Ooty Tourist Attractions. Few more to add to the lists are Government Rose Garden, Pykara River, Madumalai National Park, Emerald Lake, Stone House, Toda Huts, Ooty Mountain Railway, St. Stephens Church, Wax World, Tribal Museum, Deer Park, Mariamman Temple, Dolphin’s Nose, Lamb’s Rock, MRC Golf Club, Pine Forest, Catherine Waterfalls, and Government Museum.

Activities

Summer Festival is one such activity one could not miss out on while here. During the month of May, an annual festival is organised by the department in order to boost the tourism of Ooty. Cultura Programmes from the region are put up during the festival, boat races are conducted as well as flower shows are put up to attract the attention of visitors.

Tea and Tourism Festival is conducted by the Tamilnadu Tourism Department and Ministry of Tourism during the month of January. During this festival tea grown in the Ooty, the region is put up for sale and during the festival time, one can taste various flavours of tea grown in Ooty hill station.

Nilgiri Toy Train ride is another interesting activity one cannot miss at all while in Ooty. The journey from Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam (Ooty) via Canoor which is of 46 km track offers an amazing experience as the train offers an enticing view of the hills, and natural landscape view and more of all the small sights of the far away villages that resides amid the reality of nature. The view and the soothing journey are something very unique that one would hardly get to experience in any other corner of India except in a few hill stations.

Shivika Travel Blogger

A Traveller's Guide to the Planet

Category: Tamil Nadu

Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Tamil Nadu