Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital is Chennai, the largest city. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. It is bound by the Eastern Ghats in the north, the Nilgiri, the Anamalai Hills, and Palakkad on the west, by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Gulf of Mannar, the Palk Strait in the south east, and by the Indian Ocean in the south.
Tamil Nadu is the eleventh largest state in India by area and the seventh most populous state. Tamil Nadu is also the most urbanised state in India.
The region has been the home of the Tamil people. Its official language is Tamil. Tamil Nadu is home to many natural resources, Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture, hill stations, beach resorts, multi-religious pilgrimage sites and eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula is located in Tamil Nadu. At this point is the town of Kanyakumari which is the meeting point of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. The western, southern and the north-western parts are hilly and rich in vegetation. Tamil Nadu has a coastline which is the country’s third longest coastline. Tamil Nadu's coastline bore the brunt of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami when it hit India. Tamil Nadu falls mostly in a region of low seismic hazard.
Tamil Nadu is heavily dependent on monsoon rains, and thereby is prone to droughts when the monsoons fail. The climate of the state ranges from dry sub-humid to semi-arid. The state has three distinct periods of rainfall:
Tamil is the only official language of Tamil Nadu. English is also in common usage as an official language of India. When India adopted national standards Tamil was the very first language to be recognized as a classical language of India.The Tamil people regard their language a very important part of their cultural identity.
Pongal, also called asTamizhar Thirunaal(festival of Tamils) or Makara Sankranti elsewhere in India, a four-day harvest festival is one of the most widely celebrated festivals throughout Tamil Nadu. The Tamil language saying Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum — literally meaning, the birth of the month of Thai will pave way for new opportunities — is often quoted with reference to this festival. Apart from these major festivals, in every village and town of Tamil Nadu, the inhabitants celebrate festivals for the local gods once a year and the time varies from place to place. Other major Hindu festivals including Deepavali (Death of Narakasura), Ayudha Poojai, Saraswathi Poojai (Dasara), Krishna Jayanthi and Vinayaka Chathurthi are also celebrated.
Carnatic music is the classical music form of Southern India. Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form originating from Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu has historically been an agricultural state and is a leading producer of agricultural products in India. In 2008, Tamil Nadu was India's fifth biggest producer of Rice. The Cauvery delta region is known as the Rice Bowl of South India.
The state is the largest producer of bananas, flowers, tapioca, the second largest producer of mango, natural rubber, coconut, groundnut and the third largest producer of coffee, sapota, Tea and Sugarcane. Tamil Nadu's sugarcane yield per hectare is the highest in India.The state has land under oil palm cultivation, the second highest in India. Tamil Nadu is the home to Dr M.S. Swaminathan, known as the "father of the Green Revolution" in India.
The state has a range of flora and fauna with many species and habitats. To protect this diversity of wildlife there are Protected areas of Tamil Nadu, including two Biosphere Reserves, five National Parks and several Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Kabaddi, also known locally as Sadugudu, is the state game of Tamil Nadu. But the most popular game just like rest of India is Cricket. Tamil Nadu has a long standing motor sports culture. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai is a multi-purpose stadium hosting Football and Track & Field events.
Tamil Nadu's tourism industry is the second largest in India. Tamil Nadu is a land of varied beauty. It boasts some of the grandest Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture. These temples are of a distinct style renowned for their towering Gopurams. Madurai is home to one of the grandest Hindu temples in the World — Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple. Tiruchirappalli where the famous Rockfort Templeis located, Rameshwaram whose temple walk-ways corridor (Praagarams) are the longest of all Indian temples in the world, Kanchipuram and Palani are important pilgrimage sites for Hindus.
Tamil Nadu is also home to beautiful hill stations. Popular among them are Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Kodaikanal,Yercaud, Coonoor, Topslip, Valparai, Yelagiri and Manjolai. The Nilgiri hills, Palani hills, Shevaroy hills, Kolli Hills and Cardamom hills are all abodes of thick forests and wildlife.
Tamil Nadu is the eleventh largest state in India by area and the seventh most populous state. Tamil Nadu is also the most urbanised state in India.
The region has been the home of the Tamil people. Its official language is Tamil. Tamil Nadu is home to many natural resources, Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture, hill stations, beach resorts, multi-religious pilgrimage sites and eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula is located in Tamil Nadu. At this point is the town of Kanyakumari which is the meeting point of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. The western, southern and the north-western parts are hilly and rich in vegetation. Tamil Nadu has a coastline which is the country’s third longest coastline. Tamil Nadu's coastline bore the brunt of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami when it hit India. Tamil Nadu falls mostly in a region of low seismic hazard.
Tamil Nadu is heavily dependent on monsoon rains, and thereby is prone to droughts when the monsoons fail. The climate of the state ranges from dry sub-humid to semi-arid. The state has three distinct periods of rainfall:
- advancing monsoon period, South West monsoon from June to September, with strong southwest winds;
- North East monsoon from October to December, with dominant northeast winds;
- dry season from January to May.
Tamil is the only official language of Tamil Nadu. English is also in common usage as an official language of India. When India adopted national standards Tamil was the very first language to be recognized as a classical language of India.The Tamil people regard their language a very important part of their cultural identity.
Pongal, also called asTamizhar Thirunaal(festival of Tamils) or Makara Sankranti elsewhere in India, a four-day harvest festival is one of the most widely celebrated festivals throughout Tamil Nadu. The Tamil language saying Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum — literally meaning, the birth of the month of Thai will pave way for new opportunities — is often quoted with reference to this festival. Apart from these major festivals, in every village and town of Tamil Nadu, the inhabitants celebrate festivals for the local gods once a year and the time varies from place to place. Other major Hindu festivals including Deepavali (Death of Narakasura), Ayudha Poojai, Saraswathi Poojai (Dasara), Krishna Jayanthi and Vinayaka Chathurthi are also celebrated.
Carnatic music is the classical music form of Southern India. Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form originating from Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu has historically been an agricultural state and is a leading producer of agricultural products in India. In 2008, Tamil Nadu was India's fifth biggest producer of Rice. The Cauvery delta region is known as the Rice Bowl of South India.
The state is the largest producer of bananas, flowers, tapioca, the second largest producer of mango, natural rubber, coconut, groundnut and the third largest producer of coffee, sapota, Tea and Sugarcane. Tamil Nadu's sugarcane yield per hectare is the highest in India.The state has land under oil palm cultivation, the second highest in India. Tamil Nadu is the home to Dr M.S. Swaminathan, known as the "father of the Green Revolution" in India.
The state has a range of flora and fauna with many species and habitats. To protect this diversity of wildlife there are Protected areas of Tamil Nadu, including two Biosphere Reserves, five National Parks and several Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Kabaddi, also known locally as Sadugudu, is the state game of Tamil Nadu. But the most popular game just like rest of India is Cricket. Tamil Nadu has a long standing motor sports culture. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai is a multi-purpose stadium hosting Football and Track & Field events.
Tamil Nadu's tourism industry is the second largest in India. Tamil Nadu is a land of varied beauty. It boasts some of the grandest Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture. These temples are of a distinct style renowned for their towering Gopurams. Madurai is home to one of the grandest Hindu temples in the World — Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple. Tiruchirappalli where the famous Rockfort Templeis located, Rameshwaram whose temple walk-ways corridor (Praagarams) are the longest of all Indian temples in the world, Kanchipuram and Palani are important pilgrimage sites for Hindus.
Tamil Nadu is also home to beautiful hill stations. Popular among them are Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Kodaikanal,Yercaud, Coonoor, Topslip, Valparai, Yelagiri and Manjolai. The Nilgiri hills, Palani hills, Shevaroy hills, Kolli Hills and Cardamom hills are all abodes of thick forests and wildlife.