Tamil Nadu Tour Packages
Tamil Nadu is home to some of the largest temple complexes on earth, from Madurai's Meenakshi Amman to the Chola temples around Thanjavur.
Tamil Nadu at a glance
- RegionSouth India, India
- CapitalChennai
- Time zoneIndian Standard Time (UTC+5:30)
- Driving sideLeft
- Calling code+91
- CurrencyIndian rupee (INR)
- LanguagesTamil
- Emergency112 (all emergencies)
Best time to visit: October to March
Top Tamil Nadu travel packages
A few of our Tamil Nadu itineraries in different travel styles. Every one is private and can be changed to suit you.
Couples' holidaysChennai · Mahabalipuram · PuducherryChennai, Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry Coastal Break5 Days | 4 Nights
Pilgrimage toursChennai · Kanchipuram · Thanjavur ·…Temples of Tamil Nadu8 Days | 7 Nights
Hill-station holidaysOoty · CoonoorOoty & Coonoor Nilgiri Escape4 Days | 3 Nights
Honeymoon packagesKodaikanalKodaikanal Honeymoon Getaway4 Days | 3 NightsEssential tips for travelling to Tamil Nadu
UPI and cards are widely accepted in cities and hotels; keep some cash for small shops, rural areas, hill towns and tips.
Tipping is not compulsory; around 5–10% in restaurants and a small tip for drivers and guides is appreciated.
Drink bottled or filtered water; it is cheap and easy to find.
112 (all emergencies)
Languages spoken: Tamil.
Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli and Thoothukudi have airports. Trains link every major town, and a car with driver is the easiest way to string temples together.
Most large temples ask men to remove shirts in the inner sanctum and everyone to remove footwear; carry socks for hot stone floors.
Temple inner shrines usually close for a few hours in the early afternoon, so plan visits for the morning or evening.
General guidance. Local rules and services change; we confirm details for your dates.
Where is Tamil Nadu?
Open a larger map → · The map frames the 22 places we cover in Tamil Nadu.
- Chennai13.08°, 80.27°
- Mahabalipuram12.62°, 80.19°
- Kanchipuram12.83°, 79.70°
- Madurai9.93°, 78.12°
- Rameswaram9.29°, 79.31°
- Kanyakumari8.08°, 77.54°
- Ooty11.41°, 76.70°
- Coonoor11.35°, 76.80°
- Kodaikanal10.24°, 77.49°
- Coimbatore11.02°, 76.96°
- Thanjavur10.79°, 79.14°
- Yercaud11.78°, 78.21°
- Valparai10.33°, 76.95°
- Chettinad10.07°, 78.78°
- Nagore10.82°, 79.84°
- Velankanni10.68°, 79.85°
- Kumbakonam10.96°, 79.38°
- Tiruvannamalai12.23°, 79.07°
- Chidambaram11.40°, 79.69°
- Tiruchirappalli (Srirangam)10.81°, 78.69°
- Palani10.45°, 77.52°
- Tiruchendur8.50°, 78.12°
Who should visit Tamil Nadu?
Plan your Tamil Nadu trip
Everything you need to know about Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is home to some of the largest temple complexes on earth, from Madurai's Meenakshi Amman to the Chola temples around Thanjavur. Inland, the Nilgiris and Palani hills offer tea estates and cool weather, and the coast runs from the shore temples of Mahabalipuram to the southern tip at Kanyakumari.
We plan trips to 22 destinations in Tamil Nadu: Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram, Madurai, Rameswaram and Kanyakumari and more. Highlights include Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Shore Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple, Meenakshi Amman Temple and Ramanathaswamy Temple. Local food worth trying: Idli, dosa and filter coffee, Chettinad chicken, Kothu parotta and Sundal on the beach. Our Tamil Nadu itineraries run from 3 to 11 days and every one can be changed to suit you.
When to go
October to March. The plains are hot from April to June; that is when the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal are at their best.
Getting around
Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli and Thoothukudi have airports. Trains link every major town, and a car with driver is the easiest way to string temples together.
View all Tamil Nadu packages
Private, customisable itineraries with prices quoted for your dates, hotel category and group size.
5D / 4NChennai · Mahabalipuram · PuducherryChennai, Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry Coastal Break
A short East Coast Road trip from Chennai: Pallava shore temples at Mahabalipuram, then two easy days in Pondicherry's French Quarter and Auroville.
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8D / 7NChennai · Kanchipuram · Thanjavur · MaduraiTemples of Tamil Nadu
The great temple towns in one week: Kanchipuram's silk and shrines, the Chola masterpieces around Thanjavur, Madurai's Meenakshi and the corridors of Rameswaram.
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5D / 4NMadurai · Rameswaram · KanyakumariMadurai, Rameswaram & Kanyakumari Pilgrimage
A southern pilgrimage circuit linking Meenakshi Amman, the 22 sacred wells of Rameswaram with a drive to Dhanushkodi, and sunrise at India's southern tip.
View itinerary →4D / 3NOoty · CoonoorOoty & Coonoor Nilgiri Escape
Ride the UNESCO toy train into the Nilgiris, spend two days around Ooty's lakes and gardens and finish with tea-estate quiet in Coonoor.
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6D / 5NOoty · KodaikanalOoty & Kodaikanal Hill Holiday
Two of the south's classic hill stations in one trip: three nights in the Nilgiris and two around Kodaikanal's star-shaped lake and cliff walks.
View itinerary →4D / 3NKodaikanalKodaikanal Honeymoon Getaway
Three slow nights in the Palani Hills: misty Coaker's Walk mornings, boating on the lake and pine-forest drives, with time simply to rest.
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5D / 4NOoty · CoonoorOoty & Coonoor Honeymoon
The Nilgiris for two: the toy train up from Mettupalayam, rose gardens and a lake boat ride in Ooty, then quiet tea-estate days and Dolphin's Nose views in Coonoor.
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5D / 4NMahabalipuram · PuducherryEast Coast Road Beach Honeymoon
Sunrise at Mahabalipuram's Shore Temple, then three slow days in Pondicherry: French Quarter cafés, a sunset walk on the Promenade and lazy mornings at Auroville's beaches.
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4D / 3NYercaudYercaud Honeymoon Retreat
Three unhurried nights in the Shevaroy Hills, the closest hill station to Chennai: coffee-estate walks, sunset at Lady's Seat and a rowing boat on Yercaud Lake.
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5D / 4NValparai · CoonoorValparai & Coonoor Tea Country Honeymoon
Mist, tea and forest: the forty hairpin bends into Valparai's Anaimalai Hills, where hornbills and lion-tailed macaques live, then the Nilgiri tea estates of Coonoor.
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4D / 3NMadurai · ChettinadChettinad Heritage Honeymoon
Madurai's Meenakshi temple lit up at night, then two nights in a restored Chettinad mansion with Athangudi-tiled courtyards, village walks and a Chettinad feast.
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3D / 2NYercaudYercaud Weekend from Chennai
A quick escape to the Shevaroy Hills by overnight train to Salem: coffee estates, Lady's Seat views and boating on Yercaud Lake.
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5D / 4NThiruvananthapuram · Kanyakumari · KovalamKanyakumari & Thiruvananthapuram Tip-of-India Tour
Fly into Trivandrum for its temple and palaces, watch sunrise and sunset at Kanyakumari's three-sea confluence and end on Kovalam's beaches.
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4D / 3NThanjavur · MaduraiChola Heritage Trail
Built for architecture lovers: the Big Temple at Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram, then Madurai's palace and evening temple ceremony.
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4D / 3NCoimbatore · ValparaiValparai Wildlife & Tea Retreat
Drive the forty hairpin bends into the Anaimalai Hills for lion-tailed macaques, hornbills and quiet tea estates, starting with Coimbatore's Adiyogi.
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6D / 5NOoty · Mysuru · CoorgNilgiris & Coorg Hill Circuit
A cross-state hill loop: Ooty's gardens and toy train, Mysuru's palace on the way down and two nights among Coorg's coffee estates.
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11D / 10NChennai · Mahabalipuram · Puducherry · ThanjavurTamil Nadu Grand Tour
Ten days across the state, from the coast and Pallava monuments through the Chola heartland and Madurai to the Palani and Nilgiri hills.
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5D / 4NMadurai · KodaikanalMadurai & Kodaikanal Family Trip
A temple city and a hill station: Meenakshi Amman and Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, then three relaxed days in Kodaikanal's cool air.
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3D / 2NChennaiChennai City & Culture Short Break
Two days of Chennai at its best: Mylapore's temple streets, Fort St George, the Chola bronzes at Egmore, filter coffee and the beach at sunset.
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9D / 8NKochi · Munnar · Thekkady · KumarakomKerala & Kanyakumari Grand Tour
Nine days from Kochi to the tip of India through tea hills, spice country, Vembanad Lake and the Kovalam coast.
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5D / 4NBengaluru · Mysuru · OotyBengaluru, Mysuru & Ooty
A classic South Indian loop: Bengaluru's gardens, Mysuru's palace and a scenic climb through Bandipur and Mudumalai to Ooty.
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5D / 4NChennai · Kanchipuram · TirupatiTirupati & Chennai Temple Tour
Kapaleeshwarar in Chennai, the temples of Kanchipuram and then Tirumala, ideal for families travelling with elders.
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4D / 3NChettinad · MaduraiChettinad Heritage & Food Trail
Two nights in a restored Chettiar mansion with a cooking class and tile workshops, then the Meenakshi temple in Madurai.
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7D / 6NRameswaram · Prayagraj · Varanasi · GayaRameswaram–Kashi Yatra
The traditional Tamil Kashi yatra: begin at Ramanathaswamy in Rameswaram, carry its sand to the Triveni Sangam, pray at Kashi Vishwanath and perform pind daan at Gaya, then bring Ganga water home to Rameswaram.
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5D / 4NChennai · Velankanni · NagoreChennai St Thomas & Velankanni Pilgrimage
San Thome Basilica over the tomb of St Thomas, Little Mount and St Thomas Mount in Chennai, then Mass at Velankanni and a visit to the Nagore Dargah nearby.
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3D / 2NNagoreNagore Dargah Ziyarat
Two nights at Nagore for ziyarat at the dargah of Hazrat Syed Shahul Hameed, with time for the Kandoori festival when it falls during your stay.
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4D / 3NKumbakonamNavagraha Temples of Kumbakonam
All nine Navagraha temples around Kumbakonam with a driver who knows the darshan timings, plus the Chola temple at Darasuram.
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3D / 2NVelankanniVelankanni Pilgrimage
Two nights at Velankanni for Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, Our Lady's Tank and Morning Star Church, with an evening by the sea.
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4D / 3NThanjavur · VelankanniVelankanni, Nagore & Thanjavur
The Brihadeeswara temple at Thanjavur, then Velankanni's basilica and the Nagore Dargah, three faiths along the Kaveri delta coast.
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6D / 5NKumbakonam · Palani · Madurai · TiruchendurArupadai Veedu: Six Abodes of Murugan
Swamimalai near Kumbakonam, Palani's hilltop temple, Thiruparankundram and Pazhamudircholai around Madurai and the seashore temple at Tiruchendur, with Thiruttani as a day trip from Chennai.
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3D / 2NTiruvannamalaiTiruvannamalai Girivalam
Two nights at Tiruvannamalai for darshan at Arunachaleswarar, the full-moon Girivalam around Arunachala hill and quiet time at the Ramana Maharshi ashram.
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5D / 4NKanchipuram · Tiruvannamalai · Chidambaram · Tiruchirappalli (Srirangam)Pancha Bhoota Sthalam Yatra
Shiva's five elemental temples: earth at Ekambareswarar in Kanchipuram, fire at Tiruvannamalai, space at Chidambaram and water at Thiruvanaikaval, with Srikalahasti (air) as a day trip from Chennai.
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3D / 2NTiruchirappalli (Srirangam)Srirangam & Trichy Temples
The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, Jambukeswarar at Thiruvanaikaval, the Rockfort Ucchi Pillayar temple and Samayapuram Mariamman.
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3D / 2NChidambaramChidambaram Nataraja & Pichavaram
Darshan at the Thillai Nataraja Temple, the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and a rowing boat through the Pichavaram mangroves, timed for Natyanjali on request.
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4D / 3NTiruchendur · KanyakumariTiruchendur & Kanyakumari Coastal Temples
The seashore Murugan temple at Tiruchendur, then the Kumari Amman temple, Vivekananda Rock and sunrise at the southern tip of India.
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9D / 8NKanchipuram · Chidambaram · Kumbakonam · ThanjavurGrand Tamil Nadu Temple Tour
Tamil Nadu's great temples in one journey: Kanchipuram, Chidambaram, the Chola temples of Kumbakonam and Thanjavur, Srirangam, Madurai's Meenakshi and Rameswaram.
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5D / 4NKodaikanal · ValparaiWestern Ghats Trek: Kodaikanal & Valparai
Forest trails and viewpoints around Kodaikanal with a local guide, then tea estates, waterfalls and lion-tailed macaques around Valparai; forest permits arranged where needed.
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5D / 4NCoonoor · OotyOoty Kids' Holiday
The Nilgiri toy train, boating on Ooty Lake, the botanical garden, a tea factory and the Pykara falls, with short drives and an easy pace for children.
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4D / 3NMaduraiPongal in Madurai
Mid-January in Madurai for Pongal: kolams and sugarcane in the villages, the Meenakshi temple, and jallikattu at Alanganallur when it is held.
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4D / 3NChettinadChettinad Luxury Heritage Stay
Three nights in a restored Chettiar mansion hotel with private guided walks through Kanadukathan, an Athangudi tile workshop and a Chettinad cooking session.
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4D / 3NCoimbatore · OotyCoimbatore & Ooty Team Offsite
A short team offsite: meetings in Coimbatore, then two nights in the Nilgiris with a resort meeting room, a tea-estate walk and the toy train.
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4D / 3NMadurai · RameswaramRameswaram & Dhanushkodi Island Trip
Across the Pamban bridge to Rameswaram island: the Ramanathaswamy temple corridors, then the ghost town and sea at Dhanushkodi at the island's tip.
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6D / 5NMadurai · Rameswaram · Colombo · KandyMadurai, Rameswaram & Sri Lanka
Madurai's Meenakshi temple and Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, then a short flight to Colombo and the hill city of Kandy, linking the temples of both shores.
View itinerary →43 itineraries
Places to visit in Tamil Nadu
Tamil NaduChennai
Chennai is Tamil Nadu's capital and the gateway to the south: a coastal city of Dravidian temples, colonial-era landmarks and Marina Beach, with a serious Carnatic music and dance scene every December.
Tamil NaduMahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) is a seaside town of seventh- and eighth-century Pallava stone carvings, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tamil NaduKanchipuram
Kanchipuram, the city of a thousand temples, was the Pallava capital and remains one of Hinduism's seven sacred cities.
Tamil NaduMadurai
Madurai is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India and grew around the Meenakshi Amman Temple, whose fourteen gopurams are covered in thousands of painted figures.
Tamil NaduRameswaram
Rameswaram is an island town linked to the mainland by the Pamban bridges and is one of the Char Dham pilgrimages.
Tamil NaduKanyakumari
Kanyakumari sits at the southern tip of mainland India, where the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet.
Tamil NaduOoty
Ooty (Udhagamandalam) is the queen of the Nilgiris, a colonial-era hill station at about 2,240 metres surrounded by tea estates, eucalyptus forests and grassy downs.
Tamil NaduCoonoor
Coonoor is Ooty's quieter neighbour, lower and warmer, with tea estates spilling down to the plains and viewpoints over the Nilgiri valleys.
Tamil NaduKodaikanal
Kodaikanal, the princess of hill stations, sits on a plateau in the Palani Hills around a star-shaped lake.
Tamil NaduCoimbatore
Coimbatore is a textile and engineering hub and the gateway to the Nilgiris, but it is worth a stop for the Isha Yoga Centre's giant Adiyogi statue at the foot of the Velliangiri hills and the Marudhamalai temple.
Tamil NaduThanjavur
Thanjavur was the capital of the great Chola dynasty, and its Brihadeeswarar Temple, completed in 1010, is a masterpiece of granite engineering and part of the UNESCO Great Living Chola Temples.
Tamil NaduYercaud
Yercaud is a small coffee-country hill station in the Shevaroy Hills above Salem, often called the jewel of the south.
Tamil NaduValparai
Valparai is a remote plateau of tea and coffee estates in the Anaimalai Hills, reached by a road with forty hairpin bends.
Tamil NaduChettinad
Chettinad is a cluster of villages around Karaikudi built by the wealthy Nattukottai Chettiar trading community.
Tamil NaduNagore
Nagore, on the Tamil Nadu coast near Nagapattinam, is home to the Nagore Dargah of the 16th-century Sufi saint Hazrat Syed Shahul Hameed, known as Nagore Andavar.
Tamil NaduVelankanni
Velankanni, on the Bay of Bengal coast, is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, one of the most visited Christian shrines in Asia and often called the Lourdes of the East.
Tamil NaduKumbakonam
Kumbakonam, in the Kaveri delta, is a temple town of tall gopurams and sacred tanks, and the base for the Navagraha circuit: nine temples to the nine planetary deities scattered through the surrounding villages.
Tamil NaduTiruvannamalai
Tiruvannamalai sits at the foot of Arunachala, the holy hill worshipped as Lord Shiva himself.
Tamil NaduChidambaram
Chidambaram is home to the Thillai Nataraja Temple, where Lord Shiva is worshipped as the cosmic dancer.
Tamil NaduTiruchirappalli (Srirangam)
Tiruchirappalli, or Trichy, stands on the Kaveri and is home to some of Tamil Nadu's greatest temples.
Tamil NaduPalani
Palani is one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan, the Arupadai Veedu.
Tamil NaduTiruchendur
Tiruchendur is the only one of Lord Murugan's six abodes that stands by the sea.
Top attractions in Tamil Nadu
Wildlife in Tamil Nadu
Wildlife experiences
Sightings depend on season and luck and are never guaranteed. Keep your distance, stay with licensed guides and never feed wild animals.
Cultural experiences in Tamil Nadu
Heritage and landmarks
Experiences
- December music season concerts
- Shopping for Kanchipuram silk in T. Nagar
- Seafood dinner by the shore
- Silk sari shopping at cooperative stores
- Night ceremony at Meenakshi temple
- Palace sound-and-light show
- Street food crawl
- Kalam house museum visit
- Shopping for homemade chocolates
- Tea tasting
- Heritage bungalow stay
- Shopping for homemade chocolates and eucalyptus oil
Festivals and events marked with months happen only at those times of year; dates vary, so ask us before you plan around one.
On the menuFood to try
- Idli, dosa and filter coffee
- Chettinad chicken
- Kothu parotta
- Sundal on the beach
- Fresh grilled fish and prawns
- South Indian thali
- Banana-leaf seafood meals
- Kanchipuram idli (spiced and steamed in leaves)
- Temple prasadam
- South Indian meals
- Jigarthanda (cold milk dessert)
- Kari dosa
Outdoor activities in Tamil Nadu
Many activities are seasonal. Best time for Tamil Nadu: October to March. We check operating seasons for your dates.
Tamil Nadu travel tips
Visa and entry
Indian citizens do not need a visa; carry a government photo ID such as Aadhaar or a passport for hotels and flights.
Health and safety
Travel insurance is a good idea, especially for adventure activities. Carry prescription medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription.
Currency and tipping
The currency is the Indian rupee (INR). Tipping is not compulsory; around 5–10% in restaurants and a small tip for drivers and guides is appreciated.
Best time to visit
October to March. The plains are hot from April to June; that is when the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal are at their best.
Getting around
Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli and Thoothukudi have airports. Trains link every major town, and a car with driver is the easiest way to string temples together.
Local etiquette
- Dress modestly at temples, churches and mosques, and remove footwear where asked.
- Ask before photographing people, and follow photography rules at religious sites and museums.
What to pack
Pack a light jacket or sweater for cool evenings, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and swimwear, modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees for religious sites and comfortable walking shoes.
Phone and internet
Mobile data is good in towns and cities.
Budget
We don't publish fixed prices because the season, hotel category, flights and group size change the cost. Your written quote lists exactly what is included, so you can compare like for like.
Tamil Nadu FAQs
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More destinations in South India
South IndiaKerala
Kerala packs tea-covered hills, spice plantations, wildlife reserves, houseboat-filled backwaters and palm-lined beaches into a narrow strip between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
South IndiaKarnataka
Karnataka stretches from the Vijayanagara ruins at Hampi to the coffee estates of Coorg and Chikmagalur, the royal city of Mysuru and a quiet coastline at Gokarna and Udupi.
South IndiaAndhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh is best known for the Tirumala Venkateswara temple, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world, but it also has the beaches and hills of Visakhapatnam, the coffee-growing Araku Valley and long stretches of the Bay of Bengal coast.
South IndiaTelangana
Telangana centres on Hyderabad, a city of Qutb Shahi tombs, Nizami palaces, pearl markets and biryani, alongside a modern tech skyline.
South IndiaPuducherry
Puducherry (Pondicherry) is a former French enclave three hours south of Chennai.
Tamil Nadu guides and articles
Travel guideBest time to visit Ooty and Kodaikanal from Chennai
When to plan a trip to Ooty, Coonoor and Kodaikanal for cool weather, flower shows, misty monsoons or quiet winter breaks.
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Travel guideChennai to Ooty by the Nilgiri toy train: how it works
How to combine the overnight train from Chennai with the UNESCO-listed Nilgiri Mountain Railway to Ooty, plus booking tips and alternatives.
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Travel guideBooking Indian train tickets for a holiday: classes, timing and tips
How Indian Railways reservations work for holidays: when bookings open, which class to choose, Tatkal, waitlists and when a flight makes more sense.
Read →Plan your Tamil Nadu holiday
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