Tamil Nadu

Steeped in history, a holiday in Tamil Nadu offers the enticing prospect of discovering the Tamil-speaking Dravidian heartland, home to a classical civilisation stretching back uninterrupted for over two millennia. The powerful imperial Cholas and the Pallavas, who governed the region for nearly 1,300 years, were active patrons of the arts. They built astounding temples featuring exquisite stone carvings, bronze sculptures and colossal gopurams (gateway towers). In the process, they created the pulsating temple towns for which the region is now famous.

Most visitors to Tamil Nadu start at Chennai (Madras) – a bustling metropolis and a 17th-century creation of the British that preserves many of its colonial-era monuments. Chennai is also a convenient base for visiting Kanchipuram, one of India’s seven sacred cities, renowned as a silk weaving centre for over 400 years. To the south of Chennai, Mahabalipuram is famous for its 7th-century rock-cut temples and exquisite bas-relief carvings.

Further south and along the Coromandel Coast is charming Pondicherry, a small town with a distinctly French character. In the heart of Tamil Nadu, Tanjore and the surrounding small towns are home to the Great Living Chola temples dating back to the 11th century, where Vedic rituals established over 1000 years ago are performed even today. Inland, Madurai is regarded as the cradle of Tamil culture, and an absolute must-do is a visit to the magnificent Meenakshi Amman Temple for the evening lively ‘Pooja’ ceremony.

Exploring the remote Rajakkad coffee estate in the foothills of the Western Ghats makes it possible to discover rural villages while staying in one of the glorious, characterful Chettinad mansions offers the visitor an opportunity to experience the Chettinad’s unique heritage as well as taste its distinctive and mouth-watering cuisine. Set among the striking Nilgiri Hills, the British once considered Ooty as the Queen of the Hill Stations, and it is the jumping-off point for a scenic train ride on the charming British-built Nilgiri Blue Mountain Railway.