|
Tiruchirapalli
A commercial town just
northwest of Thanjavur. Here south India's most profusely carved temple
dapples with light that seeps through countless pillared halls, and
reflects from shimmering oil lamps onto gods, saints and maidens peeping
from every wall, column and gateway.
Rameswaram
On the long spit of
land reaching towards Sri Lanka, and Kanyakumari, at India's southern tip
(the auspicious meeting point of the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and
the Arabian Sea) are both important pilgrimage centers, with the added
attraction of welcome cool breezes and vistas over the sea.
Kodaikanal
This famous Hill
Station is on the Palani Hills about 120 km north-west of Madurai. It is
famous for its Water falls. Kodaikanal is very dear to the Botanists
mainly because of a shrub called KURINJI, which flowers only
every 12 years, and the next blossoming is expected to be in 2004.
The Nilgiris
The Nilgiris is the
oldest and second highest mountain range of India after the Himalayas. It
is part of The Western Ghats and the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It
presents a splendid variety of wild life such as the Nilgiri Tahr, mouse
deer, barking deer and sambar, langur, flying squirrels, four-horned
antelopes, gaur etc. A variety of bird life is also present.
Doddabetta, Kolari
Betta Peak, Mukrthy Peak, Mukurthy and Mudumalai National Parks, The
Nilgiri Peak etc are tourist attractions. The Nilgiris is the most popular
region in Tamil Nadu for Trekking.
Ooty
Ooty, also known as
Udhagamandalam or Ootacamund, is the Headquarters of the Nilgiri District
of Tamil Nadu. It is the first Hill station in India established by the
British during the 19th century. Ooty is a place for out-door
activities. The Botanical Gardens of 1848, the famous Flower Show there
usually in May, the Horse Races, the Horse Riding, Boating, St. Stephen’s
Church, which is the oldest Church in the Nilgiris built in 1829, are
major attractions.
Madurai
On the banks of the
river Vaigai, is one of the oldest cities in South India. It is a centre
of learning and pilgrimage. There are several tourist attractions.
Wildlife Sanctuary
A vast spread of
deciduous forest dominated by teak, offers a good chance of spotting elephants and dholes, wild pack-hunting dogs,
tigers and leopards. Annamalai Sanctuary, closer to Kodaikanal in
the Palani hills, is better known for its lion-tailed macaques (black-maned
monkeys). The wetlands of the coast provide perfect resting places for
migratory birds, whose numbers soar during the winter monsoon at
Vedathangal, near
Madras, and Point Calimere. |
