Tamil Nadu State

Region · 🇮🇳 India

Population 72,147,030

Area 130,727 km²

Time zone Asia/Kolkata

Official website www.tn.gov.in

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Featured Lists

KARTY JazZ / CC BY-SA 4.0

Tamil Nādu Essentials

Tamil Nadu showcases the evolution of Dravidian architecture through the Chola-era Brihadishwara Temple and the Pallava-era rock-cut monuments of Mahabalipuram. The state's religious heritage is anchored by the vibrant gopurams of Madurai’s Meenakshi Temple and the coastal shrines of Thiruchendur. Beyond spirituality, the colonial-era Fort St. George in Chennai and the steam-powered Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO site climbing through the Western Ghats, highlight the region’s diverse historical influences.

13 places

Ravichandar84 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Tamil Nadu Top Sights

This collection highlights Tamil Nadu’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, spanning over a millennium of architectural and engineering history. The Pallava-era monuments of Mahabalipuram showcase 7th-century rock-cut caves and monolithic rathas. The Great Living Chola Temples, including Brihadishwara and Airavateswarar, represent the peak of Dravidian temple architecture with intricate stone carvings and massive vimanas. Completing the list is the 1908 Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a narrow-gauge rack railway climbing the Western Ghats.

7 places

Rosa Schnee / CC-BY-SA

Ancient Hidden Gems

Tamil Nadu’s architectural landscape spans millennia, from the 2nd-century Jain cave paintings of Sittanavasal to the towering 11th-century Chola craftsmanship of the Brihadisvara Temple. This collection highlights the Pallava dynasty’s rock-cut mastery at Mahabalipuram, including the iconic Shore Temple and monolithic Five Rathas. Beyond these UNESCO-listed sites, the list explores the prehistoric burial grounds of Adichanallur and the atmospheric ruins of Dhanushkodi, a town abandoned after the 1964 cyclone. These sites preserve the region's evolution from megalithic origins to sophisticated Dravidian temple architecture.

9 places

Coastal Escapes

Tamil Nadu's coastline stretches over 1,000 kilometers along the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. This collection highlights significant maritime landmarks, including the triangular Chennai Marina Lighthouse—one of the few in India equipped with an elevator—and the historic British-built structure at Muttom. The list also features diverse coastal landscapes, from the bustling promenade of Elliots Beach to the secluded shores of Kulasekharapatnam, known for its historic temple and annual Dasara festival.

20 places

M.arunprasad / Public domain

Scenic Parks & Viewpoints

This collection spans Tamil Nadu’s diverse landscapes, from the 7th-century UNESCO-listed rock-cut temples of Mahabalipuram to the high-altitude botanical gardens of Ooty. It features significant natural landmarks like the National Fossil Wood Park, containing petrified trees millions of years old, and prominent water bodies like the man-made Kodaikanal Lake and the natural Yercaud Lake. High-altitude viewpoints, including Lady’s Seat and Loam’s View, offer panoramic perspectives of the Western and Eastern Ghats, while Gandhamadhana Parvatham provides a vantage point over Rameswaram island.

9 places

Signalarun / CC BY-SA 4.0

Cultural Landmarks

This collection highlights the diverse architectural heritage of Tamil Nadu, featuring the 17th-century Danish Fort Dansborg in Tranquebar and the intricate teak woodwork of the Travancore-style Padmanabhapuram Palace. It includes the memorial fort of Veerapandiya Kattabomman at Panchalankurichi, the ornate Chettinad craftsmanship of Kanadukathan Palace, and the historic Eraniel Palace. These landmarks illustrate the region's varied history through colonial fortifications, royal residences, and traditional Dravidian-influenced design.

5 places