Tamilnadu Photo Gallery
Tamilnadu photo gallery showcases different aspects of Tamilnadu. Tamil Nadu is one of the most culturally rich states in India. The magnificent and exquisite temples of Tamilnadu inspire awe and respect from the connoisseurs and the common man equally. The architecture and sculpture of the temples of Tamilnadu speak tons about the excellence of the craftsmen of the yore. We have tried to showcase this feature of Tamilnadu as well in our photo gallery. Similarly, other aspects of Tamilnadu such as the natural beauty, costumes, cuisine, people, dances and the way of life have all been given due place in the assortment of photographs. Go ahead and steal a look into what Tamilnadu is all about!
 Five Rathas Temple Mahabalipuram |  Kanyakumari Beach |
 velankanni Church |  Marina Beach Chennai |
 Vivekananda Memorial Rock Kanyakumari |  Brihadeshwara Temple Thanjavur |
 Shore Temple Mahabalipuram |  Elliot Beach Chennai |
Mahabalipuram Rathas
| Location: | Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu |
| Significance: | Pioneer in Dravidian style monoliths |
| Other Nearby Attractions: | Shore Temple, Krishna Mandapa and Varaha Cave. |
| Best Time: | Throughout the year |
Mahabalipuram is a temple town that is situated along the Coromandel Coast 55 kilometers off Chennai, the capital of Tamilnadu. The place is famous for its Ratha temples that are a part of the famous shore temple complex. The Pallava king Narsimha built the magnificent 'Ratha' cave temples of Mahabalipuram. The beauty of the sculptural art of the rock-cut temples tells about the architectural contribution of the erstwhile Pallava rulers. These 7th century temples are regarded the pioneer of an entirely revolutionary style of architecture that came to be known as Dravidian architecture style. These 'Ratha' temples of Mahabalipuram are commonly called the Pancha Pandava Ratha. These temples are considered pioneer of the Dravidian monolith era and mark the point of transition between the earlier tradition of rock-carved temples and the later tradition of freestanding stone structures. There are actually eight Rathas at Mahabalipuram out of which five are named after the five Pandavas of Mahabharata and one after Draupadi. The five rathas that can be seen are Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Draupadi Ratha and Nakul Sahadev Ratha.
The interesting features among all these Ratha temples are the fact that all of them are monolith and are based on the Buddhist Viharas and Chaityas. The largest and the smallest among them are three-storied Dharmaraja Ratha and one-storied Draupadi Ratha respectively. The magnificent way in which these Monolithic Cave Temples were excavated by scooping out the scarp of the hill from front to back is a real treat for the eyes.
Apart from the famous Rathas, there are other magnificent temples in Mahabalipuram too. These temples are renowned for their Mandapas (cave sanctuaries). A Mandapa is an open pavilion or a hall with cells in the back wall and is cut out of a single piece of rock. The giant open-air relief such as the famous 'Descent of the Ganges' and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva, are the most attractive. Both of these temples attract a lot of crowd every year.
How to Reach Rathas Temples
Air
Chennai is the nearest airport from Mahabalipuram. Flights are available for almost all major destinations in India and abroad.
Rail
The nearest railway station is Chengalpattu. You can easily get trains for Chennai and several other south-Indian cities.
Road
Mahabalipuram is well connected by road to Chennai, Kanchipuram, Pondicherry, Madurai and other towns and cities of Tamilnadu.
Kanyakumari Beach
| Location: | The extreme southern tip of peninsular India, the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. |
| Best Time: | October to March |
| Attractions: | Kanyakumari Temple, Gandhi Memorial, Vivekanand Rock Memorial |
| Nearest Airport: | In Trivandrum about 80 kms away, well connected by all flights. |
Perched at the southern most extreme of India at a stunning locale of the confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal, Kanyakumari (also spelt as Kanniyakumari), is an important pilgrim center. The vast expanse of the mesmerizing Kanyakumari has some of the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets, especially on full moon days.A Visual Feast
Kanyakumari beach has a breathtaking sight with multi-colored sand lapped by the outreaching ocean waves. You may not find the golden sand to laze around while you sunbathe, but the beauty of colorful sands all over has their own aesthetic appeal. The seashore is rough and rocky with manmade embankment that adds to the beauty of the beach. A lighthouse stands high on the shore from where one can have a splurge of panoramic view of the area.
The merging three oceans make the seawater rough enough with the hurtling waves breaking on the shore make the sight worth cherishing. You can buy a host of colorful shells on the Kanyakumari beach for a wonderful keepsake.
Major Attractions:
Vivekananda's Rock
Kanyakumari is home to the world famous Vivekananda's rock, a huge stone jutting out of the sea, which is said to be the place where Swami Vivekananda meditated. The rock has the statue of Vivekananda and is a memorial to him. A popular visit for the followers of Vivekanand and people of Bengal, there are quite a Bengali hotels and restaurants
The Sangam
Sangam is the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. There is a kind of lagoon here formed by a series of rocks, which is also being used a bathing ghat by people. You can enjoy the warm and soothing waves breaking onto your body and get rejuvenated under the bright sun and blue sky.
Velankanni
| Location: | Nagapattinam District of Tamilnadu |
| Season: | Throughout the year |
| Language Spoken: | Tamil and English |
| Std Code: | 04365 |
| Weather: | Summer: 36°C (Max), 28°C (Min) |
| Winter: 29°C (Max), 21°C(Min) |
Velankanni is one of the most taken pilgrimages in India. Situated amidst shores of Bay of Bengal, Velankanni is a picturesque town. The city is famous for the shrine Basilica that is dedicated to 'Lady of health'. The shrine draws pilgrims from all faiths and from all over the world. It has not came as a surprise that the Pope has declared Velankanni, a holy city. This Roman Catholic Church has an extended Basilica, which has two floors where one can find the statue of Jesus Christ. The Gothic style of architecture is a unique feature of the Church. The environment around the shrine is spick and span, radiating rays of hope and piety. There is also a shrine of 'lady of sorrow' where in the sorrowing Mother is depicted carrying infant Jesus in her hand.
A museum is situated opposite to the Basilica. The museum has a very rich variety of exhibits. The precious offerings made by the devotees are also on display here. Biblical incidents are depicted on both sidewalls with beautifully produced frescos. The annual carnival is celebrated here with all pomp and gaiety every year on August 29th.
How to Reach Velankanni
By Air
Nearest airport is Tiruchirappali that is 165 kilometers. It is well connected to rest of India.
By Rail/Train
Nearest railway station is Nagapattinam that is near about 12 kilometers. Nagapattinam in turn is well connected to all major cities in India via Chennai and Tiruchirapalli.
By Road
Velankanni is connected to all the major towns and cities in and around Tamilnadu. Regular bus services are available to Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, Kanyakumari, Thanjavur and Pondicherry etc.
Marina Beach
| Getting There: | Hire a cab or an Auto Rickshaw |
| Best Time: | All year round but best between November and January |
| Attractions: | Anna Durai and MGR Memorials |
Marina Beach looks like a leaf out of the Arabian nights. Golden sand, clean surroundings and a shimmering clean blue sea; that is what Marina beach is all about. Stretched across a length of 12 Kilometers along the Bay of Bengal, The beach is counted among one of the longest beaches in Asia. Mount Stuart Elphinstone, the then Governor of Madras state, developed this place as a tourist spot in early 1880s. Marina beach is located on the eastern side of Chennai, adjoining the Bay of Bengal. The most picturesque scene at this place is sunrise and sunset. Many people come here for swimming and bathing also although the sea is very rough here. In the evenings, the beach turns virtually in to a fair ground with various kinds of entertainment and food stalls lining the beach.
There are other attractions too that are scattered around the Marina Beach. The most important among them is 'The Aquarium'. The place boasts off some of the most exotic collection of tropical sea fishes and fresh water fishes. The aquarium gives a chance to have a closer look at the aquatic life. Situated nearby are the memorials of Anna and MGR. These two were the most popular chief ministers of Tamilnadu. This place too attracts good crowd everyday.
Vivekananda Rock
| Location: | At the convergence of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean in Kanyakumari |
| Specialty: | Dhyan Mandapan, a meditation zone |
| Attraction: | Vivekanand Mandapam, Dhyan Mandapam, Kumari Amman Temple |
| How to reach: | Ferry services that connect the island to the mainland |
| Best Time: | Throughout the year |
| Timings: | Open from 7am to 5pm, closed on Tuesday |
Vivekananda Rock Memorial is built on the legendary Vivekanad Rock that juts out of the convergence of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. About 400 mts offshore the two rocky islands became the seat of enlightenment for Swami Vivekanand, an Indian philosopher and social reformer. It is believed that in the year 1892, Swami Vivekanand swam across the sea and meditated on this isolated rock island, imparting the spiritual charisma to him.Kanyakumari is famous all across the world for Vivekanand rock that houses a memorial dedicated to Swami Vivekanand. The memorial has two structures in its precincts - Vivekananda Mandapam and Sripada Mandapam on two rocks facing each other. The smaller rock called 'Sripada Parai' is revered as a sacred spot where Goddess Kanya Kumari did meditation. The rock has an impression of a human footprint, which is revered to be that of Goddess Kanya Kumari.
Vivekananda Mandapam is thronged by tourists from across the world and all those who seek mystical enlightenment come to meditate here. It has a Meditation Hall called Dhyan Mandapam where one can meditate in peace. In the Assembly Hall or Sabha Mandapam there is a statue of Swami Vivekanand. The design of mandapam has different styles of temple architectures of India, instilling a complete Indian essence within itself.
How to Reach Vivekanand Rock Memorial
Reaching Vivekanand Rock Memorial is quite easy. There are regular ferry services connecting the rock island to the mainland. You can reach Kanyakumari by air, rail and road, whichever mode of communication suits you. The nearest airport is at Trivandrum about 86kms from Kanyakumari. If trains are your choice then its good to know that Kanyakumari railway station on a broad gauge line that is situated about 1km from the port and connected to Trivandrum. An extensive road network and public, private transport operators ensure an easy travel connecting you to Kanyakumari from almost all the major cities of the South.
Brihadeswara Temple
| Location: | Tanjore or Thanjavur, Tamilnadu |
| Significance: | One of the biggest Dravidian Temples in the world |
| Other Nearby Attractions: | Shore Temple, Pancha Pandava Rathas, Krishna Mandapa, Varaha Cave and Krishna's Butterball |
| Best Time: | Throughout the year |
The Brihadeswara temple is one of the most ancient and the most celebrated Hindu temple in the world. The temple is located in the city of Thanjavur that is also known as Tanjore, in the Indian province of Tamilnadu. The UNESCO has adjudged this thousand years old temple a "World Heritage Site".Brihadeswara is the most illustrious and a brilliant example of the Dravidian style temple architecture. The building that carries the main sanctum is known as the 'Periya Kovil'. This stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century. The 'Vimana' of the temple is about 70 meters and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The 'Shikharam' (crown) of Brihadeswara temple is itself very large and heavy (81.25 tons) and has been carved out of a single stone.
The great Tamil ruler, Rajaraja Chola I of the Chola dynasty, built the Brihadeswara temple. Later various additions were made in the temple but the most prominent one among these was the addition of a copper pot over the tower by King Rajaraja Chola II. The main deity that is worshiped in this temple is Lord Shiva. He is worshipped in the form of Lingam. This was originally called Adavallan that meant an expert dancer. The same name occurs in Thiruvisaipa as the name of the deity at Chidambaram. The tower over the shrine is named Dakshina Meru after the abode of Lord Shiva at Kailash that is also called Meru Mountain in Hindu scriptures.
Another remarkable feature of the temple is the great Nandi (stone bull) that is established at the entrance of the temple as well as ceiling of its enclosure that is decorated with frescoes in the typical Thanjavur style of painting. The Nandi weighs 27 tons and is probably the largest of its kind in the world.
Elliots Beach
| Getting There: | Hire a cab or an Auto-Rickshaw |
| Best Time: | All Year round |
| Attractions: | Velanganni Church |
Elliots, one of the cleanest beaches in the city of Chennai, is located off the Annie Besant Nagar. Backpackers who want a clean beach that is far from the madding crowd frequent Elliots. The beach is actually an extension of the famous Marina Beach in Chennai. Take a walk down south from the Anna memorial and you will reach Elliots in five odd minutes. The place is great for spending quality time with your loved ones or for that matter, with yourself. Till early nineties, Elliots was very popular among western backpackers who wanted a secluded place for semi-nude sunbathing. But as its popularity grew among the locals, westerner vanished. Today, young couples that want to spend quality time away from meaningful glances mostly frequent Elliots. The beach has some good fast food joints and memorabilia stores.
The famous Velanganni Church is in the vicinity and so is the Ashtalakshmi temple. Both these constructions are rather new but attract lots of eyeballs due to their unique architectures. Take a walk around Velanganni Church and appreciate this marvel of Portuguese architecture.
