Yercaud

Introduction and Histroy : Yercaud is a hill station near Salem, Tamil Nadu. It is part of the Servarayan range of hills in the Eastern Ghats. Located at altitude of 1,500 meters the town derives its name from lake located at its center of a forest. In the local language Tamil ‘Yeri’ means ‘lake’ and ‘Kaadu’ means ‘forest’. It is known for coffee plantations and orange groves. It also has an orchidarium run by the Botanical Survey of India. The main crop of Yercaud is coffee, which was first cultivated on the ‘Grange Estate’ in the year 1820, the year in which coffee plants were brought from Africa to Yercaud by Mr. M.D. Cockburn. The highest point in Yercaud is the Servarayan temple, which is situated at a height of 5326 feet. Hence the Yercaud hill area is called Shevaroy Hills.

What To See : As a small but very attractive tourist place, Yercaud offers multiple tourist attractions. Starting from the list of lakes like The Big Lake Or Emerald Lake and Ornamental Lake there are multiple attractions like Arthur, Interesting rocks like Lady’s Seat, Gents Seat and Childrens Seat, Silk Farm, Rose Garden, Pagoda Point, Monfort School, Retreat, Kiliyur Falls, Sri Raja Rajeswari Temple, Shevarayan Temple, Bears Cave, Kottachedu Teak Forest, Bears Hill, Tipperary View Point and White Elephant Tooth. The wild life includes bison, deer, rabbits, hares, foxes, mongoose, squirrels, partridges, snakes, bulbuls, kites, sparrows, swallows and the bird of paradise. Yercaud experiences salubrious climate and is pleasant to be visited any time of the year. However summer is the best time to visit as the summer festival is held during mid of May.

Things To Do : As Yercaud was one of the attractions for the British, multiple options are available for staying. Multiple budget, luxury and resorts are available at a range of price points. Accommodation charge per day can go up to 5000 rupees per day.

Mode Of Transport : Tiruchirapalli or Trichy is the nearest Airport located about 165 Kilometers from Yercaud. The nearest railway junction is Salem (36 Kms), which is well connected with other parts of South India. It is well connected by road with nearby cities like Coimbatore (190 Kilometers), Bangalore (220 Kilometers) and Chennai (357 Kilometers).

Related links :• Tourist information: http://www.yercaud.com/
See also (Nearby places): Salem, Kothagiri, Yelagiri and Coorg are some of the nearby hill stations to Yercaud.

Vellore Fort

Introduction And History : Vellore is about 145 Kilometers south of Chennai, which is one of the vibrant cities in Tamilnadu. The Fort of Vellore is located in Vellore was built by the Nayakar captains of the Vijayanagara Empire during the 16th Century. During the 17th century it was captured by Muslim rulers from Bijapur, which was then taken by the Marathas and Daud Khan of Delhi during 18th century. After the British held their foot firmly in India, they took control of this fort in 1768 and held it under their control till Indian independence came in 1947. The fort was constructed with large granite blocks, which is known for its grand walls, wide moat and robust masonry. It covers about 133 acres of area, which houses a Temple, a Mosque and a Church, the famous Vellore Christian Hospital, and many other buildings that are now used as public offices.

What To See : There is a big moat around the fort, which was full of crocodiles to prevent the fort from enemies. It is still filled with water and well preserved and called as Jalagandeswara temple. There is a Museum in the fort which contains old sculptures, paintings and handicrafts. The modern CSI Church, located just near to the Fort contains old British cemetery, which has graves of British officers killed in the final campaign against Tipu Sultan. It is better to visit Vellore apart from March to May, as summer at Vellore gets very hot.

Accomodations : Vellore offers economical accommodation options to suite all type of travelers. For a decent accommodation, it costs 200 rupees per day which can go up to 800 rupees for a luxury hotel.

Mode Of Transport : Chennai is the nearest Airport, which is located about 145 Kilometers from Vellore. It is well connected by train with almost all major destinations in Southern India. Katpadi is the nearest railway station, which is located about 7 Kilometers from the city. It is also well connected by road with Chennai and nearby states Karnataka and Andra Pradesh.

Related links :
• Tourist information: http://www.vellorecity.com/
• Official Vellore website: http://www.vellore.tn.nic.in/

See also (Nearby places) :Sripuram Temple, Amirthi Zoological Park, Kavalur Observatory, Yelagiri, Ratnagiri Temple, Sripuram, Vallimalai and Balamathi are the major nearby tourist attractions.

Trichy

Introduction and History : Tiruchirapalli, commonly known as Trichy is located in the bank of Cauvery river. It is the Tamil Nadu’s fourth largest city, which was a citadel of the early Cholas which later fell to the Pallavas. In the modern days the city Trichy is famous for its Rock Fort. Today it stands as a monument where the wars of the Carnatic were fought in the 18th century during the British-French struggle for supremacy in India. The city is also one of the important industrial centers in Tamilnadu, which is famous for artificial diamonds, cigars, handloom cloth, glass bangles and wooden and clay toys. Apart from the Fort, the city offers multiple interesting tourist destinations which include several Churches, Colleges and Missions dating back to the 17th century.

View Larger Map

What To See : As mentioned above the rock fort is the main tourist attraction of Trichy. This temple of rock fort is situated on a massive outcrop of rock, with height of 83 meters upwards, which can be reached by 437 steps cut into the rock. There is a Sri Thayumanaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the temple apart from Uchii pillayar temple which is situated on the top. The Srirangam (8 Kilometers from the city) is an important spiritual destination for Vaishnavites is situated on a tiny island formed by the bifurcation of the river Cauvery at a place called Mukkombu. This is the adobe of Sri Ranganatha, a form of Lord Vishnu is situated here. Srirangam rajagopuram is a delight to watch for any tourist. Thiruvanaikaval Jambukeswara Temple, St. Louru’s Church, Nathervali and Mukkombu are other tourist destinations of the City. Trichy can be visited throughout the year.

Accomodations : Various types of hotels and resorts are available to suit all budgets. Many hotels charge from 500 up to 2000 rupees per day.

Mode Of Transport :Trichy has an Airport, which is located at 5 Kilometers from the city. It is well connected with other domestic and international locations. It is also an important railway junction of Tamilnadu, where trains connect the city to all parts of India. It has a national highway connecting the city by road as well. Local transport is available via rickshaws and taxis.

Related links :
• Official website: http://www.trichy.tn.nic.in/
• Tourist information: http://www.trichy.com/

See also (Nearby places):Kallanai, Viralimalai, Sittannavasal, Puliancholai and Samayapuram mariyamman temple are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

Tirunelveli

Introduction And History : Tirunelveli is a city in Tamil Nadu, which is one of the oldest cities in India. Its history dates back to 1000 BC. It is located on the banks of river Tamiraparani, which is one of the perennial rivers in Tamilnadu. Tirunelveli is also often called the ‘Halwa City’ for its very famous sweet Halwa. It is believed that Vedasarma, a staunch devotee of Shiva, on his pilgrimage from the North to the South was invited by Lord Shiva in his dream to his abode on the banks of the sacred river Tamiraparani. Ever since the British entered India and, on acquisition from the Nawab of Arcot in 1801, the British formed the district. The city also an epitome of many smaller kings who bravely fought against the British regime.

View Larger Map

What To See : District Science Centre, V. O. Chidhambaram Pillai Memorial Hall, Swamy Nellaiappar Temple , Krishnapuram Temple, Manimuthar dam, Panathirtham Falls, Pulithevan Palace, Mancholai, Kappal Matha Church, Pottalpudur Dhargha, Chathedral Church and Agasthiyar falls are some of the major tourist attractions in the city. October to February is the best time to visit Tirunelveli.

Accomodations : Various types of hotels and resorts are available to suit all budgets. Many hotels charge from 500 up to 2000 rupees per day.

Mode Of Transport : Tuticorin is the nearest Airport, which is located at a distance of 28 Kilometers from Tirunelveli. Tuticorin airport sees very less flights but Trivandrum airport that is around 150 kilometers in Kerala has regular flights for various cities in India as well as South and West Asia. It has a well connected and extremely busy railway junction in Tamilnadu, which connects the city with all the major cities in India which includes Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Trichy, Tanjore and Kanyakumari. The city is located on the National Highway number 7 (NH-7), which is well connected to all the major cities of Peninsular India.

Related links :
• Official website: http://www.nellai.tn.nic.in/
• Tourist information : http://www.tirunelveli.com/

See also (Nearby places) : Tenkasi, Manapad, Kulasekarapattinam and Pananasam are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

Thiruvannamalai

Introduction And History : The city of Thiruvannamalai is an ancient city, located in Tamil Nadu state. It was named after the holy mountain ‘Tiruvannan Malai’, which is considered to be older than The Himalayas. With the history of more than 3000 years, its history extends back to Tamil Sangam age. The circumambulation of the mountain, popularly known as ‘Girivalam’ is one of the famous spiritual festivals of this place. The Arunachala temple, which is located in the mountain was constructed by Vijalaya Chozan and the contributions has been extended by continuous kingdom and people. This city is full of spiritual ashram built by spiritual gurus like Seshadri Swamigal, Ramana Maharshi and Yogi Ramsuratkumar. These great yogis were believed to attained eternity from Thiruvannamalai.

View Larger Map

What To See : Arunachaleshwar Temple, Ramanasramam, Sathanur Dam, Gingee Fort, Fortification Walls, Kalyana Mahal, Barracks and Stables, Prisoner’s well and Citadel on Rajagiri hills are some of the major tourist destinations in Thiruvannamalai. Visitors all around the world travel to this city during the month of November and December.

Accomodations : As Thiruvannamalai is one of the most important spiritual destinations in Tamil Nadu, it offers multiple accommodation options at a economical price. Accommodation is available starting from 400 rupees per day.

Mode Of Transport : Chennai is the nearest airport, located at 195 Kilometers from Thiruvannamalai. Tindivanam is the nearest major railway station located at 63 Kilometers. The railway line between Vellore and Villupuram passes through Thiruvannamalai, where passengers can board a passenger train to Vellore. Thiruvannamalai is well connected to many cities and towns in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh by road..

Related links :
• Tourist information: http://www.geocities.com/tiruvannamalainet/
• Arunachaleswarar temple: http://www.arunachaleswarar.com/

See also (Nearby places) :Sathanur dam, Padaveedu and Javadu Hills are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

Rameshwaram

Introduction And History :The town of Rameshwaram is located in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu state. It is an island separated from mainland by the Pamban channel. It is very near to Jaffna Peninsula of Sri Lanka. This place has got both historical and spiritual importance as it is considered to be one of the holiest places for Hindus, in the similar lines of Varanasi. It is a vibrant pilgrim centre, with travelers visiting from all over the country. According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Rama built a bridge Ram Setu(Adam’s Bridge) across the sea to Sri Lanka with the help of army consisting monkeys to rescue his wife Sita, from her abductor Ravana. This is also the place where Rama worshipped Shiva, which became the name of the town - Rameswara (”lord of Rama”). It is the abode of one of the 12 Jyothir lingas of India.

View Larger Map

What To See : The Ramanathaswamy Temple is the main attraction of this little town. To worship Lord Ramanatha or Ramalinga, the hallowed sand Lingam made by Sita and installed by Sri Rama, pilgrims enter through the eastern shrine. Apart from the main shrine the town has multiple other attractions which include Parvathavardhini, Vishwanatha and Visalakshi, Sayanagruha (Palliyarai), Jyothirlinga and Sethumadava. As this place is believed to be where Rama spent a significant amount of time there are many monuments relating to Ramayana also. Ramarpadam is a place one can fine footsteps of Lord Rama and Sita Kund is a sacred pond which is named after Sita. The Floating stones (Hanuman Temple) and Sugreevar theertham are some other attractions. Between January and March is the best time to visit Rameshwaram.

Accomodations :As it is one of the important pilgrimage centers in Tamilnadu, Rameshwaram offers multiple accommodation options. The government of Tamilnadu promoted TTDC hotels are very economical and comfortable to stay with. Accommodation charges can range from 500 to 3000 rupees per day.

Mode Of Transport : Madurai is the nearest Airport, which is located about 163 Kilometers away from Rameshwaram. It has well connected rail network with trains connecting to all major cities in Tamilnadu which includes Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Tanjavur and other important cities. The two kilometer long Indira Gandhi Bridge connects the island of Rameshwaram with the mainland of Mandapam. It is also well connected by road with other cities. For local transportation taxis, auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws and Tongas are available. Also city bus service is available in the island.

Related links:
• Tamilnadu Tourist website: http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/
• Rameshwaram tourist information: http://www.rameswaram.co.in/

See also (Nearby places): Kodaikanal, Madurai, Uthirakosamangai, Devipattinam, Water Bird Sanctuary,Erwadi and Uppoor are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

Pondicherry

Introduction And History :Pondicherry is located on the east coast of India, located about 162 Kilometers south of Chennai. From being a tiny fishing village in the 18th Century, this union territory had turned into a grand port city, thanks to its geographical advantage. The history of Pondicherry traces back to 16th Century, when the French first set foot here and left a part of them their finished in 1954. Further history traces its origin to Saint Agasthya, the revered sage of the south. The excavations near Pondicherry at Arikamedu reveal that a Roman settlement existed 2000 years ago. Even today French is widely spoken and some of their games are very common among the civilians. The seaside villas and cobbled streets give a nostalgic French influence.

View Larger Map

What To See :Pondicherry is a tourist’s delight as it offers multiple tourist attractions which include spiritual places like temples and churches, beaches, heritage buildings and monuments. Arikamedu Archaeological Excavation, Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville, Auroville Beach, Aayee Mandabam, Botanical Garden, Chunnambar Boat House, Bharathi Park, Immaculate Conception of Mother Mary Cathedral, Sacred heart Of Jesus, Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Pondicherry Museum, Pondicherry Beach and Romain Rolland Library are some of the major tourist attractions.

Accomodations :Pondicherry offers multiple options and various types of hotels, guest houses, heritage hotels and beach resorts. Accommodation would start from 500 rupees per day, which will go up to 5000 rupees per day.

Mode Of Transport : Chennai is the nearest Airport, which is well connected with all major domestic and international destinations. From Chennai, Pondicherry can be reached by bus which takes about 3.5 hours by bus. Villupuram is the nearest railway junction, which is fairly well connected with major cities of Tamilnadu. Local travel is mainly in form of taxis.

Related links:
• Official tourist information: http://tourism.pondicherry.gov.in/
• Government website: http://www.pon.nic.in/

See also (Nearby places):

Madurai

Introduction And History : Madurai is one of the ancient and great temple towns of Tamilnadu. It is situated on the banks of river Vaigai, which has a very rich history and heritage which is more than 2000 year old. It was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD, which was also the capital city for the great Pandya kings.The Pandyan King Kulasekarar built a great temple and created a lotus shaped city around the temple. It is believed that on the day the city was to be named, Lord shiva blessed the land and its people with a divine nectar, which is called as ‘Madhu’, from which the city derives its name from.

View Larger Map

What To See : Badami is very famous for its carved rock temples, made of soft Deccan red stone. The main cave temples are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Jain saints. Bhuthanatha Temples, Badami Fort, Archaeological Musuem, Aihole, Durga Temple, Ravanaphadi Cave, Bhagavati Temple and Pattadakal are the major attractions in Badami. The ideal time to visit Badami is between September and February. Madurai can be visited throughout the year.

Accomodations : As Madurai is one of the important tourist destinations in Tamilnadu, it offers multiple options for accommodation. Various types of hotels and resorts are available to suit all budgets, which charge from 500 up to 3000 rupees per day.

Mode Of Transport :Madurai has an Airport which is 10 Kilometers away from the city. It has flights frequently connecting to Chennai, Bangalore and Coimbatore. It is also one of the important railway junctions in Southern India, which has both broad and meter gauge rail roads. It has five bus stands in the City, which connects it to almost all major cities nearby. Bus frequencies are also very good.

Related links:
• Official information: http://www.madurai.nic.in
• Tourist information: http://www.madurai.com/

See also (Nearby places): Kodaikanal, Vaigai Dam, Suruli hills, Thekkady, Countrallam, Rameshwaram and Palani hills are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

Kodaikanal

Introduction and History: Kodaikanal called as ‘The Princess of Hill Stations’, is situated on the southern crest of the upper Palani Hills near Madurai(120 kilometers) in Tamil Nadu at an altitude of 2,133 meters (6,998 ft). Although it is not known who first used this name, it is commonly interpreted as The Forest of Creepers. The earliest specific references to Kodaikanal and the Palani Hills go back to Tamil sangam literature of the early Christian era. The beautiful blue Kurinji flower that a bloom only once in 12 years is unique to this place. Renowned for its educational institutions and appreciated for its serene beauty that includes pristine lakes, mighty rocks, well-maintained botanical gardens, giant eucalyptus trees and charming waterfalls, the hill station offers the complete romantic destination for honeymooners.

What to see and when to go: Bryant Park, Shenbaganur Museum of Natural History,
Kodaikanal Observatory, Astronomical Science museum, Astronomy library, Kurinji andavar murugan temple are some of the tourist attractions. The peak season is from April to June and from September to October. Short treks and striking views are plentiful in Kodaikanal. Kodaikanal Lake, Croaker’s Walk, Green Valley View, Pillar Rocks Guna Caves and Dolphin’s Nose are some of the other attractions of the place.

Accommodation: There are at least 50 hotels catering to all categories of tourists and over 30 south and north Indian, continental, western and Chinese restaurants. The TTDC run Hotel Tamil Nadu on Fern Hill Road is one example where comfortable accommodation is provided to tourists.

Mode of Transport: Kodaikanal is connected by road with Chennai (520 kilometers), Ooty (264 kilometers), Trichy (197 kilometers), Coimbatore (175 kilometers), Kumili (160 kilometers), and Madurai (120 kilometers). Regular bus services are available from Madurai, Palani, Kodaikanal Road, Theni, Dindigul, Tiruchirapalli, Kumuli (Thekkady) and Coimbatore. Taxis and vans are available for local transportation. There are no auto-rickshaws in Kodaikanal. The nearest airport is at Madurai (120 kilometers).The nearest railway stations are the Kodai Road Railway Station (80 kilometers) and the Palani Railway Station (64 kilometers).

Related links:
• Tourist information: www.kodaikanal.com

See also (nearby places): Silver Cascade, Berijam Lake, Ooty and Yercaud.

Port Blair

Introduction and history: Port Blair is the classic, small but picturesque town which is the capital of Andaman and Nicobar islands off the east coast of India. It also serves as a major base for the Indian Navy. Owing to its silent beaches, crystal clear waters, exquisite coral life and virgin islands, it is often referred to as a Tropical Paradise that has recently received the appreciation of divers and nature-lovers alike. It is named after Lieutenant Archibald Blair of the East India Company. The imposing Cellular jail (nicknamed ‘Kala-pani’) is the sole reminder of the gloomy times when Port Blair served as a penal colony for the British during the Indian independence movement.

What to see and when to go: The Cellular jail, Samudrika Marine museum, Anthropological museum, The Zoo and forest and fishery museums all have something unique to offer. The best time to visit these tropical islands is between mid November and April.

Things to do: Water Sports complex is famous for snorkelling, boating, wind surfing and even water-skiing. Trekking the Mt. Harriet, pleasant beach walks by the Corbin’s cove, visits to the beautiful islands nearby. Cinque Island has some of the finest coral reefs. The Samudra, Port Blair Underwater and Andaman’s Adventure Sports provide experienced guides and dive equipment to go scuba diving–a journey that is sure to enthral any visitor.

Accommodation: Hotels accommodating all ranges are available. Rents can vary from as low as 100 rupees to as high and expensive as 5000 rupees per day. Middle range hotels charge around 700 rupees.

Mode of transport: Due to the hilly terrain, bicycling can be difficult. Bikes and motorcycles can be rented. Taxis are also available. For inter-island movement regular ferries and boats are the best choice. Port Blair can be reached by regular flights from Kolkata and Chennai.

Related links:
• Tourist information: http://www.andamanisland.com

See also (Nearby places): Neil Island, Long Island, Rangat, Cutbert Bay beach, Mayabunder, Diglipur and Little Andaman Island.

Next Page »