MAJOR CITIES IN TAMILNADU

CHENNAI : Chennai, also known as Madras, the fourth largest city in India and the capital city of Tamilnadu. The city sprawl over more than 70 square kilometers. The population of Chennai is 5.9 million. Many of the Indian languages are spoken in Chennai, but the main language of Chennai is Tamil. For travelers with an interest in the colonial history of India, Chennai has much worth exploring and abundant transport do other parts of the country easily accessible.

For more than 2000 years the area has been popular with seafarers, spice traders and cloth merchants. The 16th century was the arrival of the Portuguese, followed by the Dutch. In 1693 established the British East India Company for a solution in the fishing village Madraspatnam. For St. George was built over a period of 15 years and finally finished in 1653rd

George town grew in the area of the fort and got its first municipal charter in 1688 by James II, making it the oldest municipality in India. During the 18th and 19 century, the French and British companies competed for supremacy in India. In the 19th century the city became the seat of Madras Presidency, one of the four branches of the British Empire in India. After independence, it continues to grow into what is now a significant southern gateway.

COONOOR : Coonoor is surrounded by tea plantations, and at a height of 1850 m, Coonoor is the first of the three Nilgiri hill station-Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Recommend and Coonoor - that you come to when leaving behind the southern plains. Like

Ooty, is the toy train line from Mettupalayam. While Recommend had Kota, and Ooty the Todas as Coonoor was home to the Coon hill tribe. (The suffix 'oor', means village.) This now bustling city seems rather crushed between the hills and it is only after climbing out of the busy market area by bus and train terminals, you get a feel for what hill stations were originally about. For this reason, for most of the better homes are in Upper Coonoor

THANJAVUR: Thanjavur was the ancient capital of Chola kings whose origins go back to the beginning of the Christian era. Power struggles between these groups were a constant feature of their early history, with some gaining ground at different times. The Chola 'trip to empire building came between 850 and 1270 AD, and at the height of their power. Probably the greatest Chola emperor Raja Raja, who was responsible for building the Temple Brihadishwara (Thanjavur main attraction) and his son Rajendra-I whose navy competed with the Arabs for control of Indian Ocean trade routes, and who was responsible for bringing Srivijaya under Chola control.

Thanjavur is famous for its distinctive art style, which is usually a combination of travel and painted surfaces. Krishna is the most popular of the depicted gods and the Thanjavur school of his skin is white instead of the traditional blue-black.

The enormous gopurams of Brihadeshwara Temple dominate Thanjavur. The temple itself, between Grand Anicut Canal and the old town is surrounded by fortified walls and a moat. The old town, also used to be just as closed, but most of the walls have now disappeared. What remains are winding streets and alleys and the extensive ruins of the castle in Nayakas in Madurai.

COIMBATORE : One of the major cities in Tamilnadu, Coimbatore is called the 'Manchester of South India', and is the third largest city in the state. The headquarters of Nilgiri region, its exposure to the Palghat Gap in the Western Ghats Coimbatore a health care quality climate. A highly industrialized city, the center of textile manufacturing in the state - there are over a hundred mills in and around Coimbatore. Primarily a business center, it is known for the manufacture of motor pump sets and various technical and electronic goods.

UDACAMANDALAM (Ooty): This famous hill station in Nillgiri Hills was founded by the British in the early part of the 19th century to serve as summer headquarters of the Madras government. Until about two decades ago, resembled "snooty" Ooty an unlikely combination in southern England and Australia: one-storey stone houses, Bijou fenced flower gardens, green, winding streets and tall eucalypt stands covering the otherwise barren hilltops.

The other great reminders of the British period are the stone churches, private schools, Ooty club, various Maharajas' summer palaces and terraced botanical gardens.

Udhagamandalam (Ooty), is spread over a large area amongst rolling hills and valleys. Between the lake and racecourse are the railway station and bus stand. From one of these is a 10 minute walk to the market area and 20 minutes to Ooty real center, Charing Cross (junction of Coonoor, Kelso and Commercial roads).

MADURAI : More than 2500 years old ancient city situated on the banks of the River VAIGAI Madurai is believed to have been built by the Pandyan King Kulasekara. Legend has it that drops Maduram (nectar) fell from Lord Shiva's locks when he came to bless his people to construct a temple for him. Madurai's history can be divided into four periods, beginning over 2000 years ago when it became the capital of the Pandyan Kings. Apart from a brief period fell to Chola, Pandyan Madurai continued until the decline of the empire. The 200 year old reign Natakas marked the golden era when art, architecture and learning scaled new heights.

THIRUCHIRAPPALLY : The most famous landmark in this bustling city is the Rock Fort Temple, a magnificent monument perched on a massive rocky outcrop which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city. This is achieved by a flight of steep steps carved into the rock and from its summit you get a fantastic view over the city and its other main landmark. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. This temple is one of the largest and most interesting temple complexes in India, built on an island in the middle of the Cauvery River and covering a staggering 2.5 square kilometers.

Trichy itself has a long road back to centuries before the Christian era, when it was a Chola citadel. The town and its fort as it stands today was built by the Nayak of Madurai. It was one of the major centers around the wars in Karna Semitic was fought in the 18th century during the Anglo-French struggle for supremacy in India.

The most famous landmark in this bustling city is the Rock Fort Temple, a magnificent monument perched on a massive rocky outcrop which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city. It is reached by a flight steep steps carved into the rock and the summit you get a great view over the city and its second major milestone, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. This temple is one of the largest and most interesting temple complexes in India, built on an island in the middle of the Cauvery River and covering a staggering 2.5 square kilometers.

Trichy itself has a long road back to centuries before the Christian era, when it was a Chola citadel. The town and its fort as it stands today was built by the Nayak of Madurai. It was one of the major centers around the wars in Karna Semitic was fought in the 18th century during the Anglo-French struggle for supremacy in India.

VELLORE : Vellore, 145 km from Chennai, is a dusty, semi rural bazaar town. For tourists, it is remarkable only for Vijaynagar fort and its temple, which is in a good state of preservation and worth visiting. The city has a modern church built in an old British cemetery, which contains the tomb of a captain who died in 1799 'of overwhelming fatigue held in glorious campaign which ended in defeat Tipoo Sultan'. Also here is a memorial to the victims of the little known 'Vellore Mutiny' in 1806. Mutiny was launched by the second son of Tipoo Sultan, who was incacerated in the fort at the time, and was killed by a task force sent from Arcot. Vellore is now best known for his hospital, one of the best in the country. The people who come here from all over India for medical help give this humble town a cosmopolitan feel ..

RAMESWARAM : Rameswaram known as the Varanasi the south, Rameswaram is a major pilgrimage center for both Shaivites and Vaishnavaites as it was here that Rama (an incarnation of Vishnu in the Indian epic Ramayana) offered thanks to Siva. At the city's core is Ramanathaswamy temple, one of the most important temples in southern India.

Rameswaram is an island in the Gulf of Mannar, connected to the mainland at Mandapam by rail and by one of India's technical wonders, the Indira Gandhi Bridge. The bridge took 14 years to build and was opened by Rajiv Gandhi in late 1988.The city is located on the island's eastern side and used to be the port from where the ferry to Talaimannar (Sri Lanka) departed before passenger services were suspended more than a decade ago . Consequently, there are now very few foreign visitors.

KANYAKUMARI : Kanyakumari was once referred to as "ALEXANDRIA the East". This place has been a major center for the arts, culture, civilization and pilgrimage for years. It was also a famous center for commerce and trade. In the early part of the 8th century AD, Islam entered the southern part of India through sea route with traders and Missionaries. Through St.Thomas, Christianity arrived in this area in 52 AD Islam, Christianity and Jainism religions have greatly contributed to the architectural wealth and literal heritage of this place. Kanyakumari was also under control of the Chola, the Pandya and the Cheras Nayak who was the great rulers of South India. The architectural beauty of temples are the beautiful work of these rulers.

KANCHIPURAM : Kanchipuram is one of the seven sacred cities in India and was successively the capital of the Kingdom of the Pallava, Chola, and rajas of Vijayanagar. During the Pallava times, it was briefly occupied by Chalukyans of Badami, and by then the battle Rashtrakutas fortunes of Pallava kings reached a low ebb Kanchipuram is a temple town and its many gopurams can be seen far away. Of the original 1000 temples, there is still about 125 left scattered across the city. Many of them work in the later Chola and Vijayanagar kings. Kanchi is also famous for its hand-woven silk fabrics. This industry originated in Pallava times, when the tissues were contracted to produce clothing and textiles for kings. Other than the temples, Kanchipuram is a dusty and fairly nondescript town and there is little to see or do, except when the temple car festivals take place.

MAMALLAPURAM : The city of temples, sand and sea - Mamallapuram, formely known as Mahabalipuram is world renowned for its beautiful Shore Temple. It was once the main port and naval base in the great Pallava kingdom and was later made the capital of this dynasty.

'Mamall', meaning the great wrestler was the name given to king Narasimha Varman I. Most of the temples here are dedicathe Lord Shiva and Vishnu, were completed between 630 AD and 728 AD during the reign of Narasimha Varman II.

At the annual Mamallapuram Dance Festival, sand, water and temples, which is the reason for the graceful and evocative dancers who celebrate the ancient Indian culture and tradition. This picturesque little town of Mamallapuram is enriched with old and beautiful sculptures. Each of the beautiful works of art has a story to tell. Like the large bas relief, which tells the story of Arjuna's penance. Arjuna here, is shown standing on one leg to please Lord Shiva into helping him win back Pandava empire.