The precious gem of South India, Tamil Nadu is home to numerous picturesque beaches, temples which are an architectural marvel, ancient forts, and gorgeous waterfalls. You can enjoy all these wondrous beauties on your trip of Tamil Nadu.
To make your trip more memorable, however, do consider taking the help of a guide who will take you to all the best sights in each city within the limited duration of your stay. They are experts in planning an ideal trip itinerary for each day depending on your individual preference, time available, and budget too. Also, since guides are well-familiar with the locals, they’ll help you get acquainted to the culture, food, music, and dance of each area so that you can enjoy the rich heritage of Tamil Nadu at its best.
Let’s look at the 10 best cities of Tamil Nadu that you shouldn’t miss during your next trip.
Top 10 must visit cities in Tamil Nadu
1) Chennai – The capital city, this should be the first place on your itinerary. After you’ve explored the beauty of this district, you can proceed to the other equally awe-inspiring cities of Tamil Nadu. Start with the most beautiful Marina Beach of Chennai where you can ride a pony, visit the aquarium, and Ice House. Then move on to Fort St. George, and Valluvar Kottam, a renowned historical monument in Chennai.
2) Mahabalipuram – Also known as Mamallapuram, you’d really enjoy all the classical monuments here and the monolithic and cave temples dating back to the olden era. The city gives a peek into the ancient architecture and sculpture of Tamil Nadu. You can start with the Mahabalipuram Temple and Shore Temple and move on to Arjuna’s Penance, a huge rock that is an amazing work of art and is the world’s largest bas-relief sculpture.
Then there are the Krishna Temple, Five Rathas, Mahishasura Mardini Cave, Varaha Temple and the Monolithic Temple. Don’t miss Krishna’s Butterball – a huge stone, just a small tip of which touches the rock creating an impression that the boulder may roll over any minute! The amazing part is that even though the Pallava rulers had tried to move it, but all of them and their elephants together weren’t able to budge it even by an inch! The Open Air Museum is also worth a visit.
3) Kanyakumari – It’s the smallest district of Tamil Nadu but the most magnificent and highly popular too, for it’s the only place in the whole world where you can experience both sunrise and sunset. There’s the Padmanabapuram Palace, Chitharal Jain Rock Cut Temple, Mathoor Hanging Bridge, Thiruparappu Waterfalls, and Mahatma Gandhi Mandap that are all worth visiting.
4) Kanchipuram – Extremely popular for its exquisite silk Kanjeevaram saree, this city is also visited by tourists for a number of other reasons. The city is rich in art and heritage which is reflected in its Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchi Mutt, Kamakshi Amman Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple, Vaikunta Perumal Temple, and Sakunthala Jaganathan Museum of Folk Art. Also visit the Crocodile Bank where you can enjoy watching a wide variety of Indian and African crocodiles, alligators, turtles, and snakes.
5) Kodaikanal – One of the most famous hill resorts of South India, a trip to Tamil Nadu is incomplete without spending a few days at this station teeming with panoramic beauty. Situated at an altitude of 7,200 feet above the sea level amid the Western Ghats, Kodaikanal attracts tourists to its cool and misty weather, a great relief from the otherwise hot and humid climate of Tamil Nadu. You can enjoy row boating in the Kodaikanal Lake, splash in one of the waterfalls, or go horse riding and cycling around the lake.
6) Chidambaram – A town in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram is popularly known as the Seat of the Cosmic Dance, home to the renowned Chidambaram Natarajar or Thillai Nataraja Temple. The world-famous Annamalai University is also situated in this town. Places of tourist interest include Veeranam Lake, BhuVaraha Swamy Temple, and Fort St. David.
7) Madurai – The famous temple town of Tamil Nadu, visitors flock the area to get a glimpse of some of the most magnificent temples of South India here. The most popular is the Sri Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple but there are many others too – a Vishnu Temple at Azhagar Kovil, and Thiruparankundram Temple, for instance. Then there’s Gandhi Museum and Thirumalai Nayak Palace too to catch an insight into the history of the place. Do visit the Teppakulam, a lovely tank where the colourful float festival is held every year.
8) Thanjavur – Commonly referred to as the Granary of South India, the area is one of the largest paddy cultivation districts in the whole of South India owing to its fertile soil. Places of interest here include the Saraswathi Mahal Library and the Big Temple of Brihadeeshwara. Its also famous for its art and painting called as Thanjavur painting which is a classical South Indian painting style.
9) Ooty – The Queen of Hill Stations, not just the ones in Tamil Nadu but of the whole of South India, Ooty or Udhagamandalam attracts tourists in large numbers throughout the year. It’s not just people from India but the world over who pays a visit to this heaven on earth.
There’s so much to see and do here among its gorgeous meadows, pleasant weather, and spellbinding beauty. Do visit the Avalanche Lake, Ooty Lake, Emerald Lake, Ooty Botanical Gardens, Deer Park, Doddabetta Park, Kalhatty Waterfalls, Kamraj Sagar Dam, Mudumalai National Park, and Ooty Rose Garden.
10) Tiruchirappalli – Popularly addressed as Trichy, it’s the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu built around the Rock Fort. There are various temples too from the 1760s which offer a perfect glimpse into the ancient era architecture.
To Sum Up
Tamil Nadu is a must visit for its rich culture, art, and heritage which is worth observing in detail. Alongside, the beaches, hill resorts, and waterfalls also perfectly complete the picture. Do keep a few days handy when traveling to Tamil Nadu to get a complete experience of this beautiful state.
