Tamil Nadu Tour Packages

Tamil Nadu is the southernmost state of India and the sixth largest by population. It contributes nearly 24% to India’s GDP, making it the second largest economy in India. The state is a leader in several manufacturing sectors, including automobile, auto components, engineering, pharmaceuticals, leather products, chemicals, plastics, and garments.

The state is also a major tourist destination attracting Indian and foreign nationals for its temples, archaeological sites, hill stations, and heritage sites. People also visit ancient cities like Madurai, Kanchipuram, Thanjavur, Chidambaram, and Karaikudi to learn more about their heritage and traditions.

Music and dance lovers can explore the many gana/natya sabhas or music/dance academies in Chennai or visit towns like Thiruvaiyaru. The Madras Music Festival is one of the country’s most prestigious festivals. If folk music, dance, and street plays or performances are up your alley, you must check Madurai. Thanjavur is famous for its traditional Tanjore paintings. Mahabalipuram and Myladi (Kanyakumari) are well known for stone carving. Vadasery in Kanyakumari is renowned for its ancient temple jewellery art.

Tamil Nadu’s hill stations are famous among honeymooners, with Ooty and Kodaikanal being the most visited honeymoon destinations.

It’s also a foodie destination, with cities like Madurai famous for serving hot, piping food day and night. When booking Tamil Nadu tour packages, call us or message us on Instagram if you’d like us to include late night food walks and trails.

Tamil Nadu is also known to be a safe destination. While crime exists, it is not as rampant. Tamilians are fairly tolerant of different religions and beliefs and helpful as well.

• Tamil Nadu is home to over 33,000 temples
• The Vaan Irai Kal, aka Krishna’s Butterball, a massive granite boulder in Mahabalipuram, stands on a slippery slope of rock and hasn’t been moved for over 1200 years.
• The Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam is the largest Hindu temple in India.
• The entire Brihadeeshwara Temple was built without binding agents but with interlocking stones the temple structure remains intact even after 1000 years.
• Pichavaram is the 2nd largest mangrove forest in India
• The Chennai Municipal Corporation, established in 1688, is the second oldest in the world
• Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu is mainland India’s southernmost tip
• Adam’s Bridge, or Ram Sethu, was once a land bridge that connected India and Sri Lanka.
• Marina Beach in Chennai is the second longest beach in the world and the longest in India
• The Kallanai Dam, or Grant Anicut, is the oldest manmade canal in India, built in the 2nd century CE.
• Bharatnatyam, India’s oldest classical dance form, originated in Thanjavur.
• Bharatamuni codified it in his book Natyashastra.

• In summer, temperatures in some areas can reach up to 42°C in some cities – remember to dress accordingly.
• Most temples follow a strict dress code in temples. Some temples in southern districts like Kanyakumari require men to remove their upper body garments. You can, however, wrap a shawl or towel.
• Women must dress modestly and avoid revealing clothes in temples.
• While tap water can be safe in most places, we suggest you stick to bottled water for safety
• If Madurai is on your itinerary, reserve a separate day for street food, as this city is generally considered the street food capital of the state.
• Read up on Tamil history before visiting cities like Thanjavur and Chidambaram – it will help you appreciate the art and architecture of the temples.
• If you’re interested only in temple architecture, opt for a curated Tamil Nadu tour packages itinerary that delves into the history and heritage of the ancient Pandya and Chola dynasties.

With its huge temples, intricate rock carvings, divine music, and a vast repertoire of folk culture, Tamil Nadu is undoubtedly the cultural heartland of India. However, you need an expert guide to help you understand and appreciate the state’s nuanced heritage and explore its rich cultural sites. With GT Holidays’ Tamil Nadu tour packages, you will get a front seat experience of the land and its people, history, art, architecture, food, culture, customs, and philosophy. Here are some reasons you must visit the ancient Tamil land or Tamilagam as it is colloquially called.

Dravidian temples reflect ancient Indian Agama (worship manual) and Shilpa Shastras and are a storehouse of exquisite traditions. The temples’ intricate sculptures, paintings, and inscriptions received royal patronage. It was considered war ethics in ancient times (yuddha dharma) that an invading army never touched any place of worship, irrespective of who won. The temples thus became a platform for the erstwhile royal kingdoms aiming for posterity to showcase their power, strength, and devotion.

Unlike in the North, where plundering Islamic invaders destroyed temples, the South did not have to bear the brunt of Islamic invasions. As a result, Tamil Nadu is often described as the Land of Temples thanks to 300,000 more temples, some of which are over a thousand years old.

Some of the popular temples we will cover with your Tamil Nadu tour packages include:

• Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Temple, Madurai:  This temple symbolises the union of Goddess Meenakshi (believed to be a manifestation of Goddess Parvati) and her husband Sundareshwarar (believed to be a manifestation of Lord Shiva). The locals rever Meenakshi as a divine ruler who was the daughter of Malayadhwaja Pandyan, a ruler of the Pandya Dynasty that ruled southern Tamil Nadu. She was a just queen and loved her subjects. The temple is originally believed to be over 2000 years old but was rebuilt by several dynasties ruling Madurai. The highlight of this temple is the Ayiramkal Mandapam or Thousand Pillared Hall.
• Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam:  This temple is dedicated to Lord Ranganathan (a manifestation of Lord Vishnu) and his wife Ranganayaki (a manifestation of Goddess Laksmi). It is one of the largest temples in India and is mentioned in several Puranas and itihasas, including the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Another highlight of this temple is the Golden Vimana.
• Brihadeeshwara Temple, Thanjavur:  This temple is over 1,000 years old and is called Peruvudaiyar Kovil in Tamil. It was built by the great Chola king Raja Raja Cholan. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Besides the intricate sculptures and paintings, the temple is famous for its hollow vimana, which holds an 80-ton granite boulder. Another unique aspect of this temple is that the entire temple is constructed without any binding agent but rather on a system of interlocks.
• Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram: This is one of the most visited temples in South India and is part of the Char Dham yatra initiated by Adi Shankaracharya. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Rama performed sanctifying rituals here to absolve himself from the sin of killing a Brahmin, Ravana. He is believed to have consecrated the Shiva linga in the temple. A unique feature of this temple is the 22 holy wells situated within and outside the temple – bathing in each of these temples is believed to absolve a person of his sins.

Besides the above, there are several noteworthy temples in the state. Some of them include Bhagavathi Amman Temple, Kanyakumari, Airavatheswara Temple, Darasuram, Alagar Kovil, Alagar Kovil, Ekambareshwarar Temple, Kanchipuram, Adi Kumbeshwarar Temple, Kumbakonam, Natarajar Temple, Chidambaram, and the Kapaaleshwarar Temple, Chennai. Tamil Nadu has ancient temples dedicated to each of the nine planets and a temple dedicated to the sun. You’ll need a separate temple Tamil Nadu tour package itinerary to cover even 20% of the temples in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu is home to one of the world’s oldest continuous civilisations. Tamil Nadu means the land of the Tamil people. The ethnic group of Tamilians probably migrated to South India from the Indus Valley Civilisation. Genetic studies, however, claim Dravidians to have migrated from the Horn of Africa.

Irrespective of where they migrated, there is no doubt that regions in and around Tamil Nadu once supported a prosperous civilisation. Archaeologists have uncovered several sites that reveal an ancient civilisation that thrived over 3000 years ago. Some of these include:

• Keezhadi: This is a Sangam-era settlement that could date back to the 6th century BCE. Archaeologists have discovered artefacts that prove ancient Tamilians were a well developed agrarian society that used minerals like aluminium, silica, lime, and magnesium for construction.
• Poompuhar: Archaeologists have found evidence of an ancient port city that existed in the early Sangam period and was even mentioned in several Sangam-era literature. Some of the artefacts excavated here claim a civilisation that dates back to the 4th century BCE.
• Adichanallur: In 1876, a German archaeologist discovered burial urns that probably belong to the Iron Age and could be around 905 to 696 BCE. Some of the materials discovered here include gold, metals, and human remains that prove the existence of a Sangam-Era civilisation that was fairly bustling with commerce, trade, and agriculture.
• Palayarai: This city was once the capital of the Cholas but was originally under the rule of Muttaraiyars, feudatories to the Cholas. It was once the residence of Sundara Parantaka II. Archaeologists have found evidence of an ancient civilisation, including terracotta spouts, stone beads, glass and shell bangle pieces, and blackware.

But excavation sites aren’t the only archaeological sites. For instance, Mamallapuram was once a historic port town, parts of which were buried either by a tsunami or coastal cyclones. Rama Sethu, or Adam’s Bridge, is another archaeological site that once connected India to Sri Lanka.

Tamil Nadu is home to uncountable historic and heritage monuments, making it a paradise for history buffs. It was ruled by several dynasties, including the Pandyas, Cholas, Cheras, Pallavas, Nayakars, Ays, Tondaimans, and the Marathas. These rulers left their imprint through architectural masterpieces like temples, palaces, forts, and rock-cut caves.

Some of the heritage monuments in your Tamil Nadu tour packages include:

• Mahabalipuram: This historic town on the Coromandel Coast is famous for its rock-cut temples built during the reign of the Pallavas, who ruled South India from the 3rd to the 9th century CE. It was an important centre for maritime activities but was submerged long ago, probably due to tsunamis or coastal cyclones. Some of the noteworthy monuments in the town include The Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas, Arjuna’s Penance, Descent of Ganges, Krishna’s Butterball, Mahishashuramardhini Caves, and the Varaha Caves.
• Airavatesvara Temple: This 12th century Shiva temple, built by Rajendra Chola, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple is famous for its intricate sculptures, especially the chariot of Tripurantaka, the pillars with a yali base, and the carvings on the ceiling of the different mandapas.
• Tirumalai Nayak Palace: The Nayakars who ruled Madurai in the 17th century built an enormous palace to showcase their power and strength. The original palace was designed by an Italian architect who used large columns, beautiful statues, intricate woodwork, and paintings to decorate the interior. When the structure suffered damage, Thirumalai Nayakar’s grandson took with him the gems and woodwork to construct his palace. Thankfully, Lord Napier restored it later.
• Gingee Fort: This medieval fort was praised by warriors like Chhatrapati Shivaji and even the British and considered impregnable. In fact, many of its underground tunnels and secret passages have yet to be explored. Ananta Kon originally built the fort in the 12th century but later passed to several other rulers, including the Nayakars and Marathas.

Besides the above, Tamil Nadu has several Jain (called Samanars ) rock-cut caves. Some popular ones include Sittanavasal in Pudukottai, Samanar Malai near Madurai, Yanamalai near Madurai, and Chitharal Caves in Kanyakumari. If you’d like to add these to your Tamil Nadu tour packages, call us at 9940882200.

Thanks to the Western and Eastern Ghats passing through Tamil Nadu, the state is home to several hill stations and forests, providing sanctuary to several biodiversity hotspots. In fact, of the 39 World Heritage Sites on the Western Ghats, five are in Tamil Nadu. Some of these hill stations are home to tea and coffee estates and a haven for adventure lovers. Popular hill stations included in our Tamil Nadu tour packages are:

• Ooty: Udhagamandalam was once a British summer resort in the heart of the Western Ghats. Its charm and beauty have earned it the nickname Queen of Hill Stations. Some of its highlights include the Doddabetta Peak, Ooty Lake, Botanical Gardens, and the legendary Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
• Kodaikanal: If Ooty is the Queen, Kodaikanal is the Princess of Hill Stations. It is famous for its shola forests, rolling hills, cascading waterfalls, and the renowned kurinji flowers that bloom once in 12 years. Some of Kodaikanal’s highlights include exotic fruits that grow only in the Palani Hills, Coaker’s Walk, Shola Falls, Guna Cave, and the picturesque pine forests.
• Yercaud: This quaint hill station is part of the Eastern Ghats and situated atop the Servarayan Hills. Yercaud is famous for its coffee and tea plantations, winding roads, and picturesque viewpoints. Some of Yercaud’s highlights include Lady’s Seat, Killiyur Falls, and Emerald Lake.

But countless small hill stations along the Western and Eastern Ghats offer a quick getaway to locals and tourists. These include Valparai, Kotagiri, Coonoor, Manjolai, Kolli Hills, and Meghamalai. There are also plenty of nature parks along these mountain ranges that are home to wildlife sanctuaries and nature parks. These include Aanamalai Tiger Reserve, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kalakkadu Tiger Reserve.

Tamil Nadu is known for its varied cuisine, influenced by its regional geography. For instance, Chettinadu cuisine is influenced by the Chettiar community’s spice trading history and exposure to Southeast Asian flavours. Similarly, Nanjilnadu cuisine is influenced by its fertile lands, abundance of coconut, and proximity to Kerala.

Multiple rulers have also influenced Tamil Nadu cuisine. For instance, the Marathas probably invented the sambhar. Similarly, Muslim influences brought a regional variety to the ubiquitous biryani. Some of Tamil Nadu’s regional biryanis include: Ambur biryani, Chennai biryani, Dindigul biryani, Arcot biryani, Rawther biryani, and the legendary Bhai-veetu kalyana biryani (Muslim wedding style biryani).

Traditional Tamil Nadu food is served on a banana leaf with several courses of rice, curries, and various vegetable accompaniments. Some of the staples in your Tamil Nadu tour packages include dosa, idly, appam, kuzhi paniyaram, vadai, and the delectable filter kaapi.

Like any other part of India, Tamil Nadu is a land of festivals. People from different religions, communities, and cultures continually celebrate throughout the year. For instance, the three-day harvest festival, Pongal, is celebrated to honour the sun god, praying and thanking him for a bountiful harvest. The highlight of the festivities is the jallikattu, a traditional bull taming festival. Thaipusam is an important festival where Lord Murugan received the Vel, or divine spear, from his mother, Goddess Parvathi.

Soora Samharam is another festival celebrating Lord Murugan or Karthikeya’s victory over the demon Surapadman. Karthikaideepam is another festival that celebrates Lord Muruga’s origin. Needless to say, Lord Muruga holds a central place in Tamil culture and is often called Tamil Kaduvul or Tamil God.

Music aficionados must not miss the Thiruvaiyaru Festival, where thousands of musicians come together to sing compositions by the renowned composer Thyagarayar.

Tamil Nadu is home to several classical and folk dance styles, including Bharatanatyam, karagattam, oyilattam, silambattam, bommalattam, and theru koothu. There are several festivals dedicated to these dance forms. For instance, Natyanjali is held in Chidambaram as a tribute to Lord Nataraja. The Madurai Chithirai Festival is another popular occasion that celebrates the celestial marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Meenakshi.

Similarly, the Margazhi Mahotsavam is held during the month of Margazhi across Chennai to celebrate classical and dance.

Tamil Nadu is also famous for its handloom silks. While mainstream tourists visit Kanchipuram for the famous Kanjivaram silk sarees, connoisseurs of Indian sarees also visit Arani, Dharmavaram, and Chettinadu for their traditional handloom sarees.

While Thanjavur is famous for its handmade dancing dolls, paintings and bronze sculptures, Mahabalipuram is well known for its intricate stonework. Similarly, Nachiyarkovil is renowned for its brasswork, and Karaikudi is famous for the Athangudi tiles.

Pondicherry is a Union Territory and not part of Tamil Nadu state. Yet, most travel agents include it in Tamil Nadu tour packages as the state is culturally very similar to the state. The place is known for its laidback lifestyle, Aurobindo Ashram, clean beaches, and French colonial architecture.

Some popular attractions in Pondicherry include Paradise Beach, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Rock Beach, Auroville, and several other beaches.

Tamil Nadu has a tropical climate with warm temperatures throughout the year, except for high altitude places along the Western and Eastern Ghats. The annual maximum temperature ranges from 32°C to 33°C, with some cities like Madurai and Vellore experiencing around 40°C. The best time to pick Tamil Nadu tour packages is from December to February, when the average temperature ranges from 25°C to 29°C.

Tamil Nadu experiences three seasons: summer, monsoon, and winter. Each season has a distinct climate and is known for traditions that celebrate the weather. Here’s a quick rundown of the seasons to help you choose the best Tamil Nadu tour packages.

Summers in Tamil Nadu are hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 30°C to 40°C. In some cities, like Madurai, Erode, and Vellore, the temperature can even reach 42°C. Temperatures in high altitude places like Ooty, Kodaikanal, Yercaud, and Kolli Hills remain at a pleasant 30°C, with occasional rains bringing the temperatures further down. Temperatures in coastal areas like Kanyakumari and Mahabalipuram have moderate temperatures at 35°C.

Despite the scorching sun, there are plenty of places that provide a perfect escape. Hill stations like Ooty, Kodaikanal, Yercaud, Coonoor, and Yelagiri attract tourists from across the world. Some of the festivals you can enjoy with your summer Tamil Nadu tour packages include:

• Ooty Flower Show – May
• Kotagiri Vegetable Show – May
• Kodai Viza, Kodaikanal – May
• Madurai Chithirai Thiruvizha – April -May

Southwest clouds bring moderate to heavy rains in Tamil Nadu, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C. However, the southwest rains are relatively weak, with only areas near the Western Ghats receiving heavy rainfall. The state gets its major share of rains through the Northeast monsoon between October and December. These clouds cause heavy rainfall and significant floods, especially in coastal cities like Chennai and Cuddalore.

The cooler temperatures and lush greenery bring about a surge of tourists in places like Courtallam, Meghamalai, and Kanyakumari. It’s also a great time to explore the many wildlife sanctuaries across the state. Some of the places you must visit or events you can enjoy with your monsoon Tamil Nadu tour packages include:

• Courtallam – Famous for its waterfalls, temple visits, and trekking
• Yercaud – Famous for its waterfalls, lush greenery, and mesmerising viewpoints.
• Adi Perukku – Celebrated between July and August.
• Navrathri – Celebrated between September and October. Famous for golu, a festive display of dolls and figurines.

This is peak season and the best time to choose Tamil Nadu tour packages. A lot of places in the state receive winter rainfall during December. The average winter temperature during this time is between 20° and 28°C. The weather is comfortable and perfect for outdoor visits. High-altitude places like Ooty and Kodaikanal experience temperatures around 10 to 12°C, and can also drop to 5°C.

It’s also a great time to experience some of Tamil Nadu’s cultural festivals like Pongal, Karthigai Deepam, and Diwali. While the beaches are enjoyable all year round, the temperatures are exceptionally pleasant during winter. Some of the attractions you can enjoy with your winter Tamil Nadu tour packages include:

• Pongal Festivities – January. Famous for jallikattu, bullock cart racing, folk dances, & competitions.
• Margazhi Mahotsavam – December. Dance and music performances across Chennai.
• Natyanjali – February. Dance festival in Chidambaram
• Thyagaraja Aradhanai – January. Music festival in Thiruvarur.

Tamil Nadu is a treasure trove of heritage destinations, including ancient temples that stand out for their architectural splendour, ancient yet ageless cities, picturesque hill stations, pristine beaches, and untamed forests that are teeming with wildlife. Some of the top tourist attractions you will visit during your Tamil Nadu tour packages include:

The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple was built in honour of the legendary queen Meenakshi, the daughter of the Pandya King Malayadhwaja Pandyan. She was born out of a sacrificial fire and is believed to be a divine representation of Goddess Parvathi. While the current temple has undergone several renovations by succeeding kings who ruled Madurai, the original temple is believed to have existed since the 10th century BCE.

It is one of the largest temples in South India, covering over 15 acres and 14 gopurams, the tallest standing at 52 metres. Some of the highlights of the temple include the Ayiramkaal Mandapam, or the 1000 pillared hall with unique design in every pillar, and the Portamarai Kulam, or the Golden Lotus Tank, believed to have been created by Lord Shiva himself.

The 10-day Madurai Chithirai Festival is held annually to celebrate the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Meenakshi.

The Brihadeeshwara Temple, built in the 11th century by Raja Raja Chola I, is the largest Hindu temple in India. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its intricate sculptures, paintings, and grand architecture, which used sacred geometry and advanced structural engineering principles.

Raja Raja Perunthachan conceived the temple – Raja Raja Cholan even built a temple dedicated to the architect within the temple.

The highlight of the temple is the main vimana, which is hollow and holds 80 tons of granite on top of it. The entire building is made using granite with an interlocking mechanism and without any binding agent. This is surprising because the closest granite source was 60 km west of the temple.

The huge Nandi at the temple entrance was carved out of a single rock and added later to the temple. Thanks to various epigraphical evidence within the temple, we can learn about life during the 12th century.

When visiting the Brihadeeshwara Temple, don’t forget to visit the nearby Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, built by Raja Raja I’s son, Rajendra Chola. This temple has the same design and name, except that it is smaller and has more intricate designs.

Mamallapuram, or Mahabalipuram, was once a port town named after the Pallava king Narasimhavarman, also called Mamalla. The temple town was known to foreign voyagers since the 7th century and was even mentioned by Marco Polo. The latter mentioned the Seven Pagodas, referring to the Seven Temples that stood on the shore. Today, only one of the seven temples exists, while the rest are believed to be submerged.

While most of the art and architectural masterpieces were built during Narasimhavarman’s time, his father, Mahendravarman I, laid the foundation for the rock-cut temples.

Some of the iconic attractions in the temple town include the Adi Varaha Perumal Cave, which was built before the 5th century CE and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Mahishashuramardini Cave is dedicated to Goddess Durga.

The Descent of the Ganges, or Arjuna’s Penance, is an open relief sculpture narrating tales from the Mahabharata. Pancha Ratha, or Five Chariot, is another structure carved from a single stone. Some sculptures and bronze statues, once buried under the sea, were revealed during the 2004 tsunami.

The rock-cut temples, cave temples, and monolithic rathas are now recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameshwaram is one of the Char Dhams established by Adi Sankara. It is also one of the 12 jyotirlingas or divine places of Lord Shiva. The temple has two lingas: the Ramalinga, supposedly built by Rama from sand, and the Vishwalinga, brought by Hanuman from Kailash. It is believed that Lord Rama prayed to the linga while performing the Brahmahathi dosha pooja to absolve himself from the sin of killing Ravana, a Brahmin.

People visit the temple to absolve themselves of karmic debts and perform after death rituals for loved ones who have passed away. Performing thila homam at the Ramanathaswamy Temple also helps remove pitru karma dosha, i.e., negative karma from ancestors that causes problems for their descendants.

This 15-acre temple is punctuated by lofty gopurams and has a massive nandi at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. It is believed that the shrine was a thatched roof until the 12th century when Pandyas built it and later renovated it by successive dynasties, including the Sethupathy rulers of Ramnad.

The Vivekananda Rock Memorial was the dream child of Eknath Ranade, who wanted to commemorate Swami Vivekananda’s birth centenary. Funding for the memorial came from across the country, including the governments of the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Today, the monument is one of the most visited sites in the states and a prime tourist attraction in Kanyakumari.

The memorial is established on the rock where Swami Vivekanand undertook penance, seeking divine guidance for his mission in life. It is believed that he received enlightenment here.

The memorial was modelled after the Ramakrishna Math in Belur and was inspired by Dravidian and West Bengal architecture.

It is divided into two sections the actual mandapam and the Sripada Rock. The latter is believed to be the place where Devi Kanyakumari performed penance, seeking Lord Shiva as her groom. People often meditate at the Dhyana Mandapam within the main mandapam.

The Tamil Nadu government recently built a glass bridge connecting the Rock Memorial to the adjacent Thiruvalluvar Statue.

The Velankanni Church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Popularly called Lourdes of the East, the Velankanni Church is one of the most popular pilgrimages for Catholics in India. The church dates back to the 16th century when Mother Mary is believed to have saved Portuguese sailors struggling in a fierce storm in the Bay of Bengal.

Over time, the Virgin Mary is believed to have performed several miracles, healing the sick and prompting Pope John XXIII to raise the Shrine to the status of a Basilica. During the 2004 tsunami, it is believed that while the neighbouring structures were completely destroyed, the basilica was completely untouched, even though it was only 100 metres from the sea, saving over 2000 people attending the weekly mass.

The Temple is built in Gothic architecture, with red tile roofs in Gothic and Portuguese styles and intricately decorated interiors depicting the lives of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary.

The temple’s highlight is the 10-day annual festival, during which the statue of the Virgin Mary is carried across the streets of Nagapattinam.

The Parthasarathyswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Parthasarathy, i.e., Krishna, who was a charioteer for Arjuna in the Mahabharata. The temple was built between the 6th and 8th centuries CE by the Pallavas and later renovated by the Cholas and the Vijayanagara Kings.

It is one of the 108 divyadesams mentioned in the literary works of Tamil saints. An ancient story associated with the temple suggests that King Sumati and Sage Atreya built it.

The Pallava Kings originally built the temple, but it was later renovated by the Cholas and the Vijayanagara Kings. The highlight of the temple is the main deity, Lord Krishna, who does not carry weapons and has a moustache. The sacred tank within the temple is surrounded by five holy wells and is considered holier than the Ganges.

The 10-day Brahmotsavam between April and May and the Vaikuntha Ekadasi are celebrated with enthusiasm in the temple.

The Kapaaleshwarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was probably built in the 7th century by the Pallavas. The Chola and Vijayanagara kings later renovated the temple. The temple is closely related to its neighbourhood, Mylapore, one of Chennai’s oldest residential areas. It is believed that Goddess Parvathi performed penance to relieve herself from the curse of being turned into a peahen. Pleased with her penance, Lord Shiva freed Goddess Parvathi from her curse and turned her into her original form. Thus, Mylapore or Thirumylai means land of peacock scream.

The temple is mentioned in several Shaivite hymns and is home to the Punnai tree, believed to be one of the oldest trees in Chennai.

The temple is built in the Dravidian style and has two main gopurams. The highlight is the massive tank beside the western entrance.

The temple celebrates the 10-day Brahmotsavam between March and April, during which thousands of pilgrims seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and his wife, Karpagambal.

Portuguese explorers constructed the Saint Thomas Cathedral and Basilica in the 16th century, which the British later renovated in the 19th century. The church was built over the tomb of Thomas the Apostle, preserving the saint’s bones and the lance that pierced him.

The church’s underground has a small chapel and a cave, where the saint is believed to have hidden himself after being attacked. The church also has the famous bleeding cross carved into the rock by St Thomas. The blood stains on the cross are believed to reappear even after cleaning them.

The entire church is built in Neo-Gothic style and has impressive interiors with wooden pews, stained glass paintings, and a statue of the revered saint, believed to be his last resting place.

The Rockfort Temple, or Uchi Pillaiyar Kovil, is a 7th-century temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. It gets its anglicised name from the rock on which the temple is built. While the Pallavas smoothed the rock and built the temple’s base structure, the Nayakars of Madurai fortified the rock and completed the temple.

The complex includes three temples: the Ucchi Pillaiyar Temple, the Thayumanavar Temple, and the Manikka Vinayagar Temple.

The Chithirai Festival, held between April and May, is the highlight of the temple and is celebrated for 15 days.

The view from the top of the temple is picturesque, offering a panoramic view of the Kaveri River and Srirangam Temple.

This 1st century temple was originally built by Dharmavarma Chola and later rebuilt by several dynasties, including the Cholas, Pandyas, Hoysalas, and the Vijayanagara kings. Covering over 156 acres, the Srirangam temple is considered the largest in India and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is one of the holiest shrines for the Vaishavites and is called Bhoologa Vaikundam.

The temple has 24 gopurams and is located on an islet between the Kaveri and Kollidam Rivers. The Rajagopuram, or primary entrance tower, is over 236 feet and is the tallest in Asia. Several inscriptions within the temple explain numerous grants offered by kings to the temple.

The temple’s highlight is the vimana, which supposedly came during the Samudra Manthan or the churning of the ocean.

The most important festival associated with the Ranganathawamy Temple is Vaikuntha Ekadashi, celebrated between November and December.

The grand Airavatheshwara Temple was constructed in the 12th century by Rajaraja Chola II and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Named after Airavat, the white elephant of Lord Indra, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is famous for its intricate sculptures, bronze castings, unique architecture, and carvings that explain life in the Chola kingdoms during the 12th century.

Some of the temple’s highlights include the musical steps, which, when struck, produce the seven musical notes: sa, re,ga, ma, pa, da, and ni. Detailed miniature carvings within the temple pillars feature gods, goddesses, humans, and animals all crafted within a small space.

The Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram is deeply connected to Shaivism. The temple town was once called Thillai, meaning Lord Shiva, referring to a Shiva statue that existed here. The Cholas constructed the temple in the 10th century when Chidambaram was their capital city. It is mentioned in several ancient Shaivite scripts and Sangam literature.

The highlights of the temple are the four gates located in four directions with carvings of the 108 poses of Bharatanatyam. It was here that the Rajaraja Chola I discovered the Tevaram. Chidambaram Ragasyam, or the secret message of Chidambaram, is a legendary belief that there’s a hidden message conveyed through the embossed figure near the shrine of Lord Nataraja.

Unlike other temples, which have a tangible idol of the deity, the temple’s sanctum sanctorum is empty, symbolic of the ultimate reality the cosmic truth.

The temple is well known for its architectural features and for being the centre of the earth’s magnetic equator. It demonstrates our ancestral knowledge of astronomy, geometry, and topography. It is built using the divine proportion or Golden Ratio of 1.618, often seen in nature.

If you’d like to learn more about the mysteries surrounding the Chidambaram Temple, read here. (https://www.mystreal.com/god/chidambara-rahasyam/) 

A visit to Ooty is incomplete without a train ride on the toy train, a meter-gauge train that runs from Metupalayam to Ooty. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway recently completed 125 years and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 46 km track takes around 4.8 hours uphill and 3.6 hours downhill.

Call us if you’d like to add a ride on the toy train to your Tamil Nadu tour packages.

Tamil Nadu is known for its culture, with ancient cities packed with history, heritage, and culture. Some of the top tourist cities included in your Tamil Nadu tour packages include:

The capital city of Tamil Nadu is the state’s commercial and cultural hub. The city was called Madarasapatinam and shortened to Madras by the British. The British East India Company transformed an old sleepy village into a trading post and a bustling city. They also built Fort St George and a factory by the port.

While Chennai is a modern city, it is also an important city for art, music, and dance aficionados, thanks to its multiple music and dance academies.

With its splendid coastline, ancient temples, multicultural experiences, and shopping options, Chennai is truly a metro city. Some of the key attractions in the city include:

• Kapaaleshwarar Temple, Mylapore
• Parthasarathy Temple, Triplicane
• Fort St George
• St Thomas Cathedral and Basilica, Santhome
• Marina Beach
• Government Museum, Egmore
• Nalli Silks
  
  If you’d like to skip other Tamil Nadu tourist attraction and only visit Chennai, check out our Chennai Tirupati tour packages.

This city is the southernmost point of Mainland India and is famous for the Triveni Sangam, or the confluence of three water bodies the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea. Kanyakumari is also home to the tail end of the Western Ghats, which ensures picturesque locations, dense jungles, and verdant greenery.

The city was once ruled by the Ays and later by several other dynasties, including the Pandyas and Cholas and later by the Travancore kings. Its geographical and cultural proximity to Kerala makes it unique compared to other places in Tamil Nadu.

The area near the Western Ghats is a biodiversity hotspot and home to several animal and plant species, some of which are endemic to its forests. Some key attractions in Kanyakumari include:

• Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue
• Bhagavathi Amman Temple
• Adi Kesava Perumal Temple
• Maruthuvazhmalai
• Thiruparappu
• Chitharal Caves
• Suchindrum Temple
• Mathoor Hanging Bridge
• Padmanabhapuram Palace

Formerly called Madura, the city is a major cultural capital of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the Vaigai River and is often called Thoonga Nagaram or the City that Never Sleeps. Madurai is over 2500 years old and one of Tamil Nadu’s most ancient cities. It is the seat of the ancient Sangam literature and is even mentioned in epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata and Chanakya’s Arthashastra.

The city was once the capital of the Pandyas and was later ruled by Nayakars, Cholas, and Kalabras. It was once a literary capital, with ancient scholars, saints, and pundits at the centre of the Tamil Sangam, an academy of Tamil scholars who preserved and created Tamil literature.

Some of the places you will see with your Tamil Nadu tour packages include:

• Meenakshi Amman Temple
• Alagar Temple
• Tirumalai Nayakkar Mahal
• Thiruparakundram Temple
• Yanai Malai Hills
• Vandiyur Mariamman Temple

Thanjai, or Thanjavur, was once an important centre for religion, art, and politics. It was the Chola capital between the 9th and 11th centuries. The city lies on the fertile Kaveri Delta and is often called the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu. It is renowned for its spectacular temples, traditional paintings, classical music, and bronze art.

While the Cholas established the city, it was subsequently ruled by the Pandyas, Nayakars, Nayaks, and the Marathas. Some of the notable places you can visit in Thanjavur include:

• Brihadeeshwara Temple
• Gangaikonda Chola Puram Temple
• Airavateeshwarar Temple
• Saraswati Mahal Library
• Swamimalai Temple
• Maratha Palace
• Thiruvaiyaru
• Tranquebar Beach Town

Trichy, or Tiruchirapalli, is a major city in Tamil Nadu located on the banks of the River Kaveri. It is an ancient city whose recorded history dates back to the 3rd century BCE. It was an important regional centre for the various dynasties that ruled here, including the Cholas, Pandyas, Pallavas, Kalabhras, Hoysalas, and the Nayaks.

Some of the top tourist attractions in the city include:

• Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam
• Rock Fort Temple
• Jambukeswarar Temple
• Samayapuram Mariamman Temple
• Kallanai
• Vekkali Amman Temple

Thanks to the vast number of temples surrounding it, this city has earned the sobriquet “Land of a Thousand Temples.” The city is also famous for its traditional silk handloom sarees, popularly called Kanjivaram. This ancient city dates back to the 2nd century BCE and is mentioned in the Puranas and the Mahabharata.

The Pallavas built it, and later, it was ruled by Cholas and Vijayanagara Kings. It was the centre of education for the Jains and the Buddhists between the 1st and 5th centuries. Some of the tourist attractions in Kanchipuram include:

• Kailasanathar Temple
• Kanchi Mutt
• Kamakshi Amman Temple
• Ekambareshwarar Temple
• Varadaraja Perumal Temple
• Vaikuntha Perumal Temple
• Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

Udhagamandalam, or Ooty, is one of the most popular hill stations in South India and is located in the heart of the Western Ghats. This charming hill station was first established by the British as their summer retreat resort. In addition to the many tourists who visit the city for its abundant greenery and lush shola forests, the Queen of Hills produces some of the best teas, fresh vegetables, and fruits.

The highest peak, Doddabetta, is 2240 metres above sea level and is famous for its beautiful villages, lakes, streams, and meadows. The tour’s highlight is the top train ride from Mettupalayam to Ooty. Some of the key places you can explore in Ooty include:

• Avalanche Forests
• Doddabetta Peak
• Tea Factory and Museum
• Ooty Lake
• Emerald Lake
• Botanical Gardens
• Mudumalai Forest Reserve
• Pykara Falls
• Nilgiri Mountain Railway Line

Rameshwaram is an ancient city that was once a transit point for people visiting Sri Lanka. The city is situated on Pamban Island and is separated from Mainland India by the Pamban channel. The city is mentioned in several epics, including the Ramayana, where Lord Ram is believed to have crossed the Ram Sethu or Adam’s Bridge along with his vanar sena to defeat Ravana. Archaeological and geological evidence points to the existence of a bridge between the two countries.

The word Rameshwaram literally means Lord of Rama and refers to Shiva, the presiding deity of the Ramanathaswamy Temple. The town was at the centre of Shaivism when Adi Sankaracharya visited the place and established it as one of the Char Dham sites, the others being Badrinath, Puri, and Dwarka. A pilgrimage to Kashi is believed to be incomplete without a visit to Rameshwaram.

Besides the Ramanathaswamy Temple, around which the city is built, Rameshwaram is known for Dhanushkodi, a deserted town closest to Sri Lanka. It is also home to the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, which is home to several species of corals, molluscs, birds, and marine animals like dolphins and whales. The beaches around the marine park are among the most pristine in the country.

Some of the places to visit in Rameshwaram with your Tamil Nadu tour packages include:

• Ramanathaswamy Temple
• APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial
• Viloondi Theertham
• Lakshamana Theertham
• Pamban Islands
• Dhanushkodi
• Agni Theertham
• Ariyaman Beach

Karaikudi is the largest city in Sivagangai District and part of the Chettinadu Region. It is intricately linked to the Chettiar Community, a trading community that travelled far into the Southeast, trading spices and gems and lending money to kings and businesses. These traders built considerable mansions in and around Kariakudi with timber from Burma and other Southeast Asian countries where they traded.

While the town’s history can be traced to the 1700s, it was a scattered settlement until the 1900s, when infrastructure built around the settlements made them habitable.

The city is famous for its vast Chettinadu mansions that are opulent and teeming with art and paintings. Some of the places you must visit in Karaikudi include:

• Thirumayam Fort
• Pillaiyarpatti Vinayagar Kovil
• Chettinadu Palace, Kanadukathan
• Athangudi Palace
• Keeladi Heritage Musuem
• Aayiram Jannal Veedu or Thousand Window House
• Kundrakudi Murugan Temple
• Sivagangai Palace

Tirunelveli is an ancient city with a recorded history of over 3000 years. It is mentioned in the epic Ramayana and many Sangam literary works. The name was cited in the Tevaram, a collection of Shaivite hymns composed in the 7th century.

The city is situated on the banks of the Thamirabharani, whose water is famous for its unique mineral-rich qualities. Tirunelveli is an educational hub with multiple schools and colleges established in the British era. It is also renowned for its halwa, a sweet made using wheat.

Tirunelveli was an important city during the Pandya rule who divided the region into different regions depending on its geography. The region is also famous for its wild forests and abundant greenery.

Some of the popular tourist attractions in this city include:

• Nellaiappar Temple
• Agasthiyar Falls
• Manimuthar Falls
• Manjolai
• Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

Courtallam, one of Southern Tamil Nadu’s famous forest areas, was once part of Tirunelveli until it was carved into a separate district.

Tamil Nadu is heaven for shopping enthusiasts, with several options for different budgets. While Chennai is famous for its international standard malls and boutiques, the city has plenty of budget friendly shopping options.

It is an excellent place for Kanjivaram saree lovers, with Nalli Silks setting the benchmark for handloom sarees. Sowcarpet in Chennai is full of different streets and is famous for its unique products. To buy fabrics and accessories like glass bangles, jhumkas, and tribal jewellery, head to Mint Street. Head to Anderson Street to buy plastic materials and decorative items. To shop for spices, dry fruits, and other provisions, head to Audiappa Naicker Street.

T-Nagar is also a great place for shopping enthusiasts, with an entire lane dedicated to apparel. Some popular shopping places in Chennai include Pantheon Road, Parrys Corner, Ritchie Street, Burma Bazaar, and Luz Corner.

Some of the places you must buy during your Tamil Nadu tour packages include:
Kanchipuram: Kanjeevaram Sarees

Thanjavur: Tanjore paintings, bronze statues, dancing dolls, silk sarees, brass sculptures and musical instruments.

Madurai: Sungudi sarees, Kumkum, cotton sarees, and handicrafts.

Bhavani, Erode: Bedsheets

Kanyakumari – Handloom sarees, coir products, banana chips, jackfruit chips, temple jewellery, spices, cloves, stonecrafts, and seashell crafts.

Mahabalipuram: Stone sculptures, soapstone handicrafts, seashell artefacts

Rameshwaram: Dry fish, sea shell art, conch

Ooty: Tea, chocolates, aromatherapy oils, plants, exotic fruits

• While Tamilians are happy to help, do not insist on them speaking Hindi with you. 
• Do not discuss skin color with Tamilians as this is a sensitive issue
• Tamilians are fairly tolerant towards all religions – do not degrade any religion, irrespective of whom you talk to. 
• Certain political and entertainment figures are highly celebrated in Tamil Nadu – do not insult MGR, Rajnikant, Vijay, or other celebrities. 
• Beef is commonly eaten in some districts like Kanyakumari – do not look down upon these habits. 
• Eating with hands is common across Tamil Nadu. Do not insult people who do this. But you are free to follow your own culinary habits like eating with a spoon or fork.
• Avoid isolated places and do not go out alone late in the night. 
• When visiting temples and other heritage places, dress modestly. 
• Do not carry camera or phone inside temples 
• Men do not usually sit next to women in trains and buses, unless they know each other. This rule is however a lot relaxed today, especially in cities. 
• People don’t take kindly to your comments about their religious or superstitious beliefs

The Sangam literature divides land into five landscapes: Kurunji, Marudham, Mullai, Neithal, and Paalai. Each of these landscapes is characterised by its unique flora, fauna, and cultural aspects, which in turn affect people’s diets. For instance, Neithal refers to coastal landscapes, and people from this region primarily consume fish and other seafood. Similarly, people from the Marutham landscape (agricultural pastoral lands) were largely vegetarian and consumed rice along with a wide variety of vegetables.

While these differences are becoming increasingly blurred, the state’s multiple regional cuisines draw influences from these categorisations. For instance, Chettinadu cuisine falls into the Neithal region, i.e., on the seashore, with its people indulging in maritime trade and architecture. True to the description, the Chettiars indulged in maritime trade and consumed seafood. However, after they migrated to drier regions, their food was dominated by mutton, poultry, and spices.

To truly understand Tamil Nadu cuisine beyond the regular dosa and filter coffee, you must understand the state’s different regional cuisines. These cuisines can be divided into:

As earlier said, the Nattukottai Chettiars once lived in Kaveripoompatinam but later moved to the drier regions of Sivagangai. Their food, which was once dominated by seafood, turtle meat, etc., came to be influenced by mutton, poultry, dried vegetables, and spices. The latter was due to their trade with Sri Lanka, Burma, and other Southeast Asian countries.

Today, Chettinadu cuisine is characterised by its generous use of oil and spices like cinnamon, pepper, chillies, and kalpasi. The Chettiars are famous for their elaborate breakfast spreads, starting from kuzhi paniyaram, suiyyam, idiyappam, appam, vellai panniyaram, paal paniyaaram, kozhukattai, uttapam, and kandarappam.

Soups made using bone broth are also common, with mutton elumbu saaru, kozhi kaal saaru, etc., being commonly relished with some organ meat like eeral varuval or liver fry and kudal fry or intestine fry. Famous Chettinadu dishes include Chicken/Mutton Chettinad, Urulai Roast, Vendaikkai Mandi, and Prawn Masala.

The regions surrounding Nilgiris, Erode, Karur, Coimbatore, Bhavani, Pollachi, Palani, and Avinasi are called Kongu Mandalam, and the food in these regions is called Kongunadu cuisine. The food here is characterised by its regional produce, i.e., millets, turmeric, urad dal, sesame, groundnuts, pearl millet, finger millet, short grain rice varieties like ponni, and horse gram. These millets are made into a porridge called koozhu and eaten with freshwater fish or vegetables. Lamb and poultry are also featured in the cuisine, though not as prominently as in Chettinadu cuisine. Food is usually prepared using gingelly and groundnut oil, grown abundantly here. Spices include dry ginger, turmeric, and pepper.

The most famous food in Kongunadu cuisine is arisi paruppu saadam. Other popular dishes include ulundhu kali, Pallipalayam chicken, elaneer payasam, chicken Chintamani, aatukaal paya, and pachapuli rasam. Even desserts are made using millets and sweetened using jaggery and gingelly oil instead of the regular ghee and sugar.

The regions surrounding Kanyakumari are called Nanjil Nadu, and the cuisine is called Nanjilnadu cuisine. The food in this area is characterised by its regional produce, i.e., paddy, coconut, seafood, and fresh vegetables. Nanjilnadu food is very different from other regions in Tamil Nadu in the sense that it is influenced by Kerala cuisine.

Some popular dishes include fish curry, avial, ulunthachoru, sadya meals, ada pradhaman, paruppu pradhaman, theeyal, verum kulambu, and fish fry.

The food here is served in a sequential pattern. A typical sadya starts with rice served with paruppu or dal, sambar, puzhiseri, and rasam, followed by several rounds of payasam, and ends with tamarind or spiced buttermilk. The accompaniments are divided into kichadi and pachadi. Tamarind based gravies are called pachadi and are usually made using ginger, lemon, citron, etc., while curd based gravies are called kichadi and are made using pineapple, beetroot, cucumber, and ash gourd.

Besides the above categories, different communities have their own unique food habits and dishes. For instance, the Brahmin community is known for its different saadams, i.e., curd rice, lemon rice, puliyotharai, vangi bath, coconut rice, and sweets like akkara adisal.

The Marathas influenced food in the Thanjavur region. For instance, the Marathas may have invented the sambar. The kola urundai resembles the Maharashtrian shunt kebab, while the Thanjavur royal heirloom recipes include mashyache kebab, Kesari maas, and kombucha kebab.

The Mudaliyar community are primarily active in the Vellore region. They are famous for dishes like vazhaipoo vadai, prawn varuval, kathirkai chops, and karnakezhangu varuval.

Muslims are colloquially called sahibu, and their food is called sahibu cuisine. While their food changes from region to region, some dishes are iconic. For instance, the Muslims of Kanyakumari are known for their kinatthu appam, orotti, paal aadai, and watilappam. Tirunelveli Muslims are famous for their biryani and thakkadi, a unique dumpling soup.

Madurai is another region famous for its food. The region is famous for its carb-rich and oil heavy food. Popular Madurai foods include jigarthanda, bun parotta, idli, kari dosa, mutton chukka, paruthi paal, elumbu roast, kazhakki, crab omelette, kuda roast, and ayira meen kuzhambu.

With a civilisation that’s over 3000 years old, it’s hardly surprising that Tamil Nadu has a vibrant art and craft culture. The state is a treasure trove of literature, dance, music, and painting. Some of the things you must explore during your Tamil Nadu tour packages include:

Tamil Nadu is famous for manufacturing musical instruments. For instance, the Thanjavur region is famous for making veena and nadaswaram. Tanjore is also famous for bronze statues, paintings, and silk saree weaving. The Athangudi tiles of Chettinadu are famous for their striking geometric patterns and are often used in Chettinadu mansions. Thanjavur’s dancing dolls are equally famous.

The silk crafts of Kanchipuram have been mentioned in several epics, including poems by Kumaradasa. Temple jewellery is one of the oldest crafts, with motifs inspired by temple carvings and often adorned by deities. Vadasery in Kanyakumari is one of the most famous places for making antique jewellery.

Tamil women are also masters of kolam art, which is similar to North Indian rangoli but without the use of colours. Women create complex geometric patterns using mathematical concepts like symmetry, repetition, and recursions.

The regions of Mahabalipuram and Myladi (Kanyakumari) are famous for their stone carving. Thammampatti in Salem is famous for its woodwork. Nachiyarkovil is famous for its intricate brass lamps.

Tamil Nadu is home to the classic dance form Bharatnatyam. The dance originated thousands of years ago and was documented by Sage Bharatha in his text Natya Shastra. The dance form destined to be lost in time was revived by Rukmini Devi Arundale, who founded the Kalakshetra.

The state also has a huge repertoire of folk dance forms, including karagattam, devarattam, oyilaatam, kolattam, kaniyan kootu, poikaal kuthurai, and kavadi aatam. Some of these forms are very ancient and have their roots in tribal traditions. These dances were originally performed during temple festivals to appease the deities.

Music is an essential aspect of Tamil Nadu culture and has a long tradition that dates back thousands of years. Carnatic music has a long history in the state, with musical concepts like swara, tala, and raga described in several epics and puranas. The state is also home to the holy trinity of Carnatic Music – Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, and Syama Sastri. The music scene is vibrant especially in Chennai and Thanjavur. Music fans eagerly away for December when Chennai celebrates the Margazhi Thiruvizha and the Tyagaraja Aradhanai in Thiruvarur during January.

Veena, an ancient musical instrument probably originated in Thanjavur.

But Tamil Nadu is not only home to classical music. It is equally famous for its folk music inspired by nature and dedicated to local deities like Muneeshwaram, Chollamadan, Karuppusamy, and Madurai Veeran. They are considered guardian deities and forms of popular gods like Shiva and Parvathi. Some of the popular folk music include villu paatu, nayyandi melam, and urummi aatam.

Music also plays an important rule in everyday rituals. For instance, oppari is a popular folk song tradition sung by women during a funeral. They also make a unique sound using their tongue, called kulavai during auspicious occasions. This was traditionally done to drown inauspicious words during a celebration and prevent negative energy.