Page 583 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

south india  581

TAMIL NADU

the cradle of ancient dravidian culture, tamil nadu extends from
the Coromandel Coast in the east to the forested Western Ghats in
the west. at its heart is the fertile Kaveri valley, a land of rice fields
and spectacular temples. this is the site of ancient Cholamandalam,
where the Chola kings built magnificent temples at thanjavur and
elsewhere. Great temples also stand at Madurai and Chidambaram,
which witnessed an efflorescence of dance, music and literature under
their enlightened rulers. the 7th-century port-city of Mamallapuram with
its spectacular rock-cut temples is now a World heritage site, while the former
French enclave of Puducherry, and British forts and churches reflect the state’s
colonial history. Many towns in tamil nadu have the prefix “tiru”, which means
sacred, and indicates the presence of a major religious site.

Sights at a Glance
Towns, Cities & Districts Tours
4 Vellore 8 Chidambaram 9 Coromandel Driving Tour
7 Puducherry 0 Gangaikondacholapuram i Tour of the Nilgiris
r Tiruchirapalli q Kumbakonam National Parks
o Coimbatore w Tiruvaiyaru u Mudumalai Wildlife
d Chettinad e Thanjavur Sanctuary
f Ramanathapuram t Srirangam
h Tuticorin p Palani Hill Stations
Historic & Cultural Sites s Madurai y Yercaud
1 Dakshina Chitra g Rameshvaram a Kodaikanal
j Tiruchendur
2 Mamallapuram k Tirunelvelli
6 Gingee Fort 0 kilometres 100
l Suchindram
Temples & Temple Towns z Kanniyakumari 0 miles 50
3 Kanchipuram
5 Tiruvannamalai NH205 NH5
Chittoor • NH4 • Chennai
• Arcot
NH46
NH7 NH66
Vedanthangal
• Key
NH68
• NH45A National highway
Salem
NH220
NH47 NH45 Major road
Minor road
NH17
NH67 Kave ri NH227
Major railway
•
Palakkad NH209 NH67 International border
NH45B State border
• Dindigul NH226
NH49
Kochi •
Tirumangalam Tondi Palk Strait
Kottayam • Jaffna
• NH220
• NH208 NH210 • •
Alappuzha NH45B NH49
NH7 • Talaimannar
NH47
•
Kollam • Kuttallam Gulf of
Mannar SRI LANKA
•
Thiruvananthapuram •
Manapad
•
Anuradhapura
Detail from a temple gopura with colourful stucco figures, Sarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam For keys to symbols see back flap
580-IND-AT509-1149-TAMAInt.indd 581 29/04/14 7:07 pm