| Holiday Tours to Chennai India - Come
weekends, and its holiday time
for the stressed out city sleekers.
From Chennai, there are numerous
weekend holiday spots inclusive
of beaches, hill stations, wildlife
sanctuaries and even heritage
centers. Some of the most popular
weekend getaways from Chennai
are compiled below:
Tours in Chennai India :
The
Crocodile Bank:
The Crocodile Bank is located
at a distance of 44 Kms from Chennai
and is within close proximity
to the town of Mamallapuram. The
Crocodile Bank is managed and
administered by the Madras Crocodile
Bank Trust where young crocodiles
are scientifically reared and
breed. The center also carries
out quality research work on Crocodiles.
The Crocodile Bank boasts of numerous
species of Crocodiles both from
India as well as abroad. This
farm was set up in order to breed
crocodiles whose numbers were
rapidly dwindling in the wildlife
sanctuaries of India.
Dakshinachitra:
Dakshinachitra is located at a
distance of 35 Kms from Chennai.
It is actually an Art Village
of Tamil Nadu that pioneers Tamil
art and culture. This art center
was set up under the aegis of
the Madras Craft Foundation. Dakshina
Chitra has reproduction of traditional
handloom and handicraft products
as well as replicas of traditional
houses which exist in the South
Indian states. A visit to Dakshinachitra
reveals the skilled craftsmen
at work weaving magical silken
patterns on the world famous silk
of Kancheepuram. Not only weavers,
the center also offers potters
and other skilled craftsmen of
Tamil Nadu to display their talent
at Dakshinachitra.
Chidambaram:
Chidambaram is popularly referred
to as Thillai, since it was here
that the "Thillai" forest was
originally located. The botanical
name of the forest is Excecaria
Agallecha which is a kind of shrub.
Chidambaram is a renowned center
of pilgrimage for the Saivite
Hindus. It is here that the renowned
temple of Nataraja is located.
This stupendous ancient temple
built by the Cholas is unique
not only for the portrayal of
Bharatanatyam, but also for the
fact that Shiva is symbolized
by an idol and not the Lingam
as is the norm usually. The temple
is spread over a sprawling 40
acres and is conspicuous by its
gopurams or towers located on
both sides of the temple. There
are also five "Sabhas" or court.
The eastern gopuram is all of
40.8 m. high wherein all the 108
poses of the Bharatanatyam dance
is engraved. The western tower
too has the same sort of carvings
while the northern tower stands
like a sentinel at a height of
42.4 m. and is easily the tallest
of all the towers.
The statue of Nataraja is set
up on the Kanakasabha, which incidentally
is the roof of the temple and
is conspicuous by its golden Plates.
The statue is a astonishing piece
of sculpture that brings to mind
a sense of incessant movement.
The temple is out of bounds for
the non-Hindus and they are not
permitted to enter the sanctum
sanctorum. Imitations of Nataraja
idol is easily available in most
shops that sell curios in the
peripheral areas of the temple.
The temple also has a shrine of
Lord Vishnu which is located nearby
the main shrine and has a fine-looking
idol of the lord lying back on
Adisesha, the serpent. There are
two additional shrines, one of
which is devoted to Subramanya
while the other to Lord Ganesha.
The courtyard has a large Nandi
that stares faithfully to its
lord through an orifice on the
wall.
Coimbatore:
Coimbatore is located at a distance
of 498 Kms from Chennai. It is
the third largest city of Tamil
Nadu. Coimbatore is also the headquarters
of a district by the same name.
This place is one of the most
industrialized city in the whole
of Tamil Nadu. Coimbatore is ideally
located on the banks of the shimmering
Noyyal river and is renowned for
its textile mills which has earned
the city the sobriquet of the
"Manchester of the South".
Coimbatore is a very old city
and dates back to the 2nd century
AD and used to be the capital
of a tribal village called Kongunad.
Later on the mighty Cholas took
control of the city under the
Chola emperor Karikalan in the
2nd or 3rd century AD. The city
was also ruled by the Rashtrakutas,
Chalukyas, Pandyas, Hoysalas and
the Vijayanagara monarchs. Ultimately
Kongunad was captured by the British
along with the rest of Tamil Nadu
and renamed it as Coimbatore.
Coimbatore is a scenic place and
is located on the backdrop of
the impressive Western Ghats mountains
has a moderate climate throughout
the year. The soil is very fertile
and this is the reason why Coimbatore
and its hinterland is rich in
agriculture produce. In fact the
fertility of the soil led to the
booming growth of cotton which
in turn laid the platform for
the setting up of its renowned
textile industry. The first textile
mills sprang up approximately
in 1888 and today Coimbatore boasts
of more than a hundred mills.
The city has a booming economy
and and has carved a niche for
itself as one of the greatest
industrial cities in this part
of India.
Kanchipuram:
Kanchipuram is an ancient city
and is referred to as the city
of thousand temples. It is a place
of great religious significance
for the Hindus. This city is also
as Kanchi in the local parlance.
Today though, there are just 126
temples in Kanchipuram and a small
number of temples in the outskirts
of the city. In the days of yore,
Kanchipuram used to be the capital
of the Chola and Pallava dynasty
that dates back to the 7th and
8th centuries.
Kanchipuram is the melting pot
of Tamil culture and is also a
place of great pilgrimage for
Buddhists, Jains and Saivite Hindus.
Apart from Kanchipuram's temples,
this town is renowned for its
booming handloom industry. The
weavers of Kanchipuram have settled
here for more than 400 years now
and have given the town an enviable
standing as the producers of the
finest quality of silk and cotton
sarees in the country. The sarees
are woven from pure mulberry silk
and are conspicuous by their vibrant
colors and are embroidered with
superior gold thread (zari). This
temple town has festivals all
throughout the year. The spectacular
Rath Yatra is the standout festival
which is held in the months of
January, April and May.
Kanyakumari:
Kanyakumari is located at the
southernmost tip of Tamil Nadu.
It is the point of confluence
of the three seas that flows through
India. This enchanting place also
known as Cape Comorin is amongst
the most enduring tourist landmarks
of the state. Apart from being
the place of confluence of the
Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea
and the Indian Ocean, it is also
the place where the great Indian
philosopher saint Swami Vivekananda
sat in meditation and there is
a temple dedicated to his memory.
The best time to visit Kanyakumari
is during the Chitra Pournami
which falls in the month of April.
The spectacle of the sun and the
moon facing each other on the
same horizon makes for a truly
ethereal atmosphere. Other than
the Chaitra Purnima, on all other
full moon days one can see the
sun set and the moon rise almost
concurrently.
Kodaikanal:
The picturesque hill station of
Kodaikanal is very much a British
creation. In the year 1875, the
Indian railways extended its services
from Chennai to Tirunelveli and
an exclusive railway station was
created at Ammaianayakkanur and
which was subsequently renamed
as Kodai Road. The Kodai Road
railway station served as the
gateway to Kodaikanal proper.
Tourists started their journey
at Ammaianayakkanur Railway station
upto Krishnamma Nayak Thope. This
trek was undertaken to Kodaikanal,
18 kms distance away using horses
and palanquins, with coolies for
assistance. Today, Kodaikanal
is among the most popular of hill
stations of South India and offers
spectacular mountain scenery and
numerous tourist spots for visitors
to enjoy.
Madurai:
Madurai is popularly referred
to as the "Athens of the East".
It is a place of immense historical
and cultural significance. Being
the oldest city of Tamil Nadu,
Madurai is ideally located on
the banks of the River Vaigai.
The original name of the city
was Kadambavanam or the "forest
of Kadamba" .
Legend has it that king, Kulasekhara
Pandya was blessed with a dream
in which Lord Shiva appeared before
him and was amazed to see drops
of nectar or "madhu" dripping
down on earth from Lord Shiva's
matted hair. The place where the
"madhu" fell came to be recognized
as Madhurapuri, which subsequently
was given the name of Madurai.
If Tamil and Greek historical
documents are anything to go by,
then one finds the existence of
Madurai dating back to the 4th
century B.C. Being in the central
hub of Tamil Nadu, Madurai has
been at the forefront of pioneering
the Dravidian and Tamil culture.
The city has carved a niche for
itself as a center of cultural
and scholarly quest. It was in
Madurai that three of the most
successful conferences of Tamil
scholars popularly referred to
as "sangams" were held under generous
royal support.
Madurai is renowned for the Velli
Ambalam which is one of the forms
of Lord Shiva. It is located in
the premises of the world famous
Meenakshi Temple.
The piece de resistance of Madurai
is the stupendous Meenakshi-Sundareswarar
Shrine. The Mohammedans once conquered
Madurai way back in the 14th century.
Subsequently Maduria came under
the rule of the Nayaks, and it
was under the tutelage of Thirumalai
Nayak, that modern Madurai had
evolved.
Apart from being a center point
of Tamil culture, Madurai as of
the present is a contemporary
commercial and industrial city
and is conspicuous by its huge
University campus. The city is
particularly famed for its weaving
mills and dyeing industry. The
exquisite Chungadi cotton sarees
are the trademark of Madurai which
is renowned for their colourful
motifs. Handicrafts and bronze
items along with the quintessential
wooden toys of Madurai are great
souvenirs that one can take back
home.
Yercaud:
Yercaud is a serene hill station
located ideally on the picturesque
Shevaroy hills of the Eastern
Ghats. While most of the Eastern
Ghat region is usually dry, Yercaud
is a refreshing change with its
cool climate and the Celsius never
rises above 30ºC and fall below
13ºC . It is also a lot cheaper
hill station in comparison to
Kodaikanal.
Yercaud is rich in Coffee estates
and citrus fruit orchards most
conspicuously orange orchards.
Yercaud is as captivating and
charming as the hill stations
of the Western Ghats and trekking
is one of the best ways of exploring
the beauty of the Yercaud mountain
side. Numerous interesting trekking
trails are there for the diehard
trekkers.
One of yercaud's most enduring
tourist landmarks is the shimmering
Yercaud Lake It is a sparkling
lake surrounded by beautifully
landscaped gardens and stately
trees. Facilities for boating
exist at the lake.
Thanjavur:
Thanjavur is an old city of Tamil
Nadu which dates back to the 9th
and 14th centuries A.D. As a city
it reached its pinnacle during
the reign of the Nayaks and Mahrattas.
Thanjavur is the headquarters
of a district by the same name.
For a long time Thanjavur has
been melting pot of Tamil culture.
It is also referred to as the
"Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu". Thanjavur
is most renowned for being the
abode of the holy Brahadeeswara
temple, Rajah Serfoji's Saraswathi
Mahal Library as well as the Art
Gallery. Thanjavur is also famed
for its superb handicrafts like
the Art Plate, pithworks and bronze
icons. No visit to Thanjavur is
complete without viewing the famous
Thanjavur paintings. The city
is also the home of South Indian
Classical Music Instruments that
are produced in Thanjavur.
Rameswaram:
Rameswaram located at a distance
of 572 Kms from Chennai is a small
island located in the Gulf of
Mannar. It is a one of the most
important pilgrim center for the
Hindus. Rameswaram is linked to
the mainland by both roads and
railways. It is a place which
is much venerated by the Hindus
on account of Lord Rama, who on
his homecoming from Sri Lanka,
offered his gratitude to Lord
Shiva and performed a pooja to
wash away his sin of killing Ravana
the demon king.
Rameswaram is renowned for its
22 theerthas or wells which surrounds
the main temple. Rameswaram is
venerated both Vaishnavites and
Shaivites. Hindu Mythology suggests
thatif one visits Rameswaram and
offers ones prayers to Lord Shiva
one is sure to get rid of one's
sins. One of the attractions of
Rameswaram is the magnificent
Ramanathaswamy temple which is
replete with corridors and enormous
sculptured columns. The third
corridor of this temple incidentally
is the longest in the world.
Besides being an important pilgrimage
site, Rameswaram has numerous
places of tourist interest. For
instance there are pristine are
beaches like the ones at Olaikuda,
Dhanushkodi and Pamban. The Olaikuda
beach in particular is 1 km from
the main temple and is replete
with coral reefs. The beaches
in and around Rameswaram are a
paradise for scuba divers. Rameswaram
is also the principal fishing
hub of Tamil Nadu. A bewildering
array of fishes like prawns, crabs,
sea cucumber and lobster are found
in abundance here. Fishes like
Prawns and Lobsters are even exported
to abroad that earn a sizeable
amount of foreign exchange for
the country.
Chettinad:
Chittinad is the native soil of
the distinguished Nattukottai
Chettiars known in local parlance
as the Nagarathars who are an
affluent community of bankers
and traders. Chittinad is replete
with palatial houses and has a
rich art and cultural heritage
background.
The quintessential Chettinad are
renowned for their impeccable
architecture with a harmonious
blend of the finest quality marble
and Burma teak. The houses conspicuous
by their extensive interior courtyard
and spacious rooms. The grandeur
of the Chittinad houses are evocative
of the wealth and affluence of
the Nagarathar community. The
fundamental design element encompasses
a "thinnai" which is essentially
an inner courtyard and the spacious
rooms are clustered around it.
The plaster entails the use of
the delicately mixed powdered
shell, lime, jaggery and spices
and is inclusive of gallnut. This
novel technique when applied on
the walls of the houses keeps
the interiors cool even during
the sweltering summer season.
The quintessential Chittinad houses
are one of the finest specimens
of architectural design and is
a lesson to modern day architects
on how to construct eco-friendly
houses that are in perfect sync
with the local environment. A
typical Chittinad house is conspicuous
by its high ceilings, roomy and
well ventilated. The entrance
to the house is through an impressive
main door which is more often
than not made of wood with intricate
engravings of legendary figures.
The "thinnai" is an extensively
raised podium which serves as
the householder's meeting place
and also doubles up as a lodging
place for visitors. The inner
courtyard is impeccably designed
with stunning columns made of
the finest quality of granite
or teakwood. This courtyard is
ceremonial venue for special occasions.
The Chittinad cuisine is one of
South India's best known cuisines
and this mouth watering cuisine
has carved a niche for itself
not only in Tamil Nadu but elsewhere
in India and even abroad. Apart
from standard and traditional
food items, Chittinad cuisine
is renoiwned for its unusual snacks
and munchy items that are lip-smacking
good. Some of the popular Chittinad
dishes are Kandarappam, Ukkarai,
Pal Paniyaram, Thenkuzhal, Karupatti
Paniyaram, Kavanarisi, and Seepu
Seedai to name just a few.
Nagapattinam:
Nagapattinam is located at a distance
of 320 kms from Chennai. The city
has a long coast line that stretches
alongside the Bay of Bengal for
188 Kms. Nagapattinam has a flourishing
harbor and is on of the most well
known harbors of India. The city
is also home to Hindu temples
like The Shri Kayahorana Swami
Neelayathatchi Amman Temple, Nellukkadai
Mariamman and Sowriraja Perumal
Temple. Other enduring tourist
landmarks of the city are the
mini museum, the towering lighthouse
and the long picturesque beach.
Nagapattinam has great historical
and artistic importance. In the
days of yore, the city used to
be an integral component of Cholamandalam
has contributed immensely towards
glorifying the ancient Chola Kingdom.
Mention of Nagapattinam finds
a mention in one of the Burmese
historical text that dates back
to the 3rd century B.C. The text
indicates the existence of a Buddha
Vihar constructed by the emperor
Ashoka. The renowned Chinese Traveler
Hieun Tsang also point out the
existence of the Buddha Vihar
in one of his book. Nagapattinam
is referred to as the Padarithitha
in ancient Buddhist literature.
Legand has it that the Pallava
King Rajasimha (690-720 BC) allowed
a Chinese king to build a Buddha
Vihar in Nagapattinam and in the
past there was a Chinese Buddha
Vihar at Nagapattinam. Excavations
carried out by the Archaeological
Department at Velipalayam in Nagapattinam
were able to unearth 300 statues
of Lord Buddha, which is now well
preserved at the Museum in Chennai.
Nagapattinam town had come in
touch with the Portuguese during
the reign of the Thanjavur Nayak
Sevvappa Nayakkar and Acchuthappa
Nayakkar. A Portuguese outpost
was set up in 1554 and ever since
then Christianity began to prosper
here. It is said that the Portuguese
merchants had under them ten villages.
With the arrival of Portuguese,
the renowned Velankanni Church
was established.
In 1658 is was the turn of the
Dutch to rule over much of Nagapattinam
particularly in the aftermath
of an agreement they had reached
with King Vijaya Nayakkar of Thanjavur
in 1662. The ten villages of Nagappattinam
were relocated from the Portuguese
to the Dutch.
The Dutch built as many as ten
churches as well as a hospital.
They also minted coins by embossing
the name Nagapattinam in Tamil
alphabets.
Nagapattinam was captured by the
British and a staggering 277 villages
with Nagur as the nerve center
were handed over to the British
in 1779. During the regime of
the Thanjavur Maratha Kings, gold
coins bearing the name of Nagapattinam
were in circulation.
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