Top 5 Must See Tourist Places in Tamil Nadu, India

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Kodaikanal is a much sought-after hill station situated at a height of 2135 mts nestled within the grandeur of the southern crest of the upper Palani hill in the Western Ghats. Several tourists to this hill station are reluctant to leave the place wholly spellbound by the charm of serene lake encompassed by wooded hills, orchards of pear trees, the green environs and the captivating waterfalls. Kodaikanal is an ideal summer resort for the travel buffs that are keen to spend quality time with their families away from the madding crowd.

While at Kodaikanal, miss not the star-shaped lake spread over an area of 24 hectares with its splendorous landscape, the Orchidarium that has about 300 species of orchids and other exotic varieties of plants, the famed Astrophysical Observatory built in 1889 for meteorological research purposes, the well-known Bryant Park where the annual horticultural show is held, the many water falls such as Bear Shola Falls, Silver Cascade, Fairy Falls and Glen Falls, which are also popular picnic spots and finally, the Coaker's Walk where there is a Telescope House from where visitors can have a commanding view of the entire valley and surrounding towns.

Udhagamandalam formerly known as Otacamund (Ooty) and often referred to as the "Queen of hill stations" is situated at an altitude of 7,349 feet above the sea level draws hosts of tourists from all over the world.

Apart from its natural splendors, Ooty is home to many spots of tourist attractions like the Botanical Gardens spread over an area of 50-acre, the exotic Rose Gardens covering an area of 10 acres with 2000 variety of rose, the eucalyptus groves with their pleasant aroma, the Mini Garden attached to the children amusement park, the deer park, the alluring Ooty Lake and Doddabetta the high peak.

The Flower Show held during summer months draws huge crowds of visitors from all parts of the world and they stay on to witness the cultural programs in traditional classical arts.

Another famous excursion destination in the vicinity is the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, with its wondrous landscape, open grassland, swamp and valley. For the more adventurous, the Nilgiris near Ooty is a trekker's delight. The visitors can engage in thrilling sports like Hang-Gliding, Angling and Trekking

No tour of Tamilnadu can be deemed complete without a visit to Kanyakumari, the southernmost point of peninsular India and the confluence of three oceans - the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Be here both during dawn and dusk to witness the resplendent sunrises and sunsets.

Visit the Swami Vivekananda Memorial so delicately positioned two rocks separated by about 70 meters within striking distance from the mainland and the Gandhi Mandapam where the urn carrying Gandhiji’s ashes were kept before immersion in the Tri-seas. The unique feature of Gandhi Mandapam is it has been designed in a way that on Gandhiji's birthday (2nd October), the sun's rays directly fall on the place where Gandhiji’s ashes were kept. This is acclaimed by many as a civil engineering feat.

Tourists, regardless of their faiths, offer prayers at the Kanyakumari Temple where the presiding deity Kumari Amman (the Virgin Goddess) is wearing an exceptionally dazzling diamond on her nose that sparkles out to the sea. It is said that She invokes a sense of devotion and tranquility in the minds of every worshipper.

Tamilnadu is an incredible tourist destination in India that has a lot in store for its visitors - the rich culture, the imposing temples, the spectacular beaches, the enchanting hill stations and the many rare historic monuments.

There are several tour packages available that offer tourists to Tamilnadu ample scope to discover the countless fascinating aspects of the state - a veritable treasure trove and a curious blend of nature’s bounty and man-made architecture.