Tamil Nadu is one of
the 28 states of India. It lies on the eastern coast of the southern
|
General
Information |
|
| Area |
: |
1,30,058 sq km |
|
Languages |
: |
Tamil, English |
|
Religion |
: |
Hinduism
(88.67%), Islam (5.46%), Others (5.87%) |
|
Literacy rate |
: |
64% |
| Annual
Mean Rainfall |
: |
1,133.8 mm |
|
Maximum Temperature |
: |
45.2°C |
|
Minimum Temperature |
: |
1.0°C |
| Per
Capita Income |
: |
12989 (at
current prices in 1997-98) |
|
Capital |
: |
Chennai |
|
Urbanization Ratio |
: |
34.15% |
| Best
Time To Visit |
: |
October To
March |
|
Indian Peninsula bordered by Puducherry (Pondicherry), Kerala,
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Tamil Nadu is bound by the Eastern
Ghats in the north, the Nilgiri, the Annamalai Hills, and Palakkad
on the west, Bay of Bengal in the east, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Strait
in the south east and Indian Ocean in the south. It is the eleventh
largest state in India by size and the sixth most populous state.
Tamil Nadu is the homeland of the Indian Tamils and has existed
since prehistoric times. The culture and artwork of this region are
considered to be some of the oldest in the world. It is home to one
of the classical languages of India, Tamil. The language has been
documented as being around for at least 5,000 years in written form,
but was spoken long before that. Tamil Nadu also has one of the
oldest culinary heritages in the world.
Geography and climate
A semi-arid wasteland near Tirunelveli. Monsoon clouds dump torrents
of rain on lush forests that are only a few kilometers away in
windward-facing Kerala, but are prevented from reaching Tirunelveli
by the Agasthyamalai Range of the Western Ghats
Tropical cyclone Baaz approaching the Coromandel Coast during
November, 2004Tamil Nadu covers an area of 130,058 km² (50,215
mi²),and is the eleventh largest state in India. West and North of
the state has lofty hills while the East and South are coastal
plains. The bordering states are Kerala to the west, Karnataka to
the northwest and Andhra Pradesh to the north. To the east is the
Bay of Bengal. The southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula is
located in Tamil Nadu. At this point is the town of Kanyakumari
which is the meeting point of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal,
and the Indian Ocean.
Culture
Tamil Nadu has a long tradition of venerable culture. Unique
cultural features like Bharatanatyam (dance), Tanjore painting, and
Tamil architecture were developed and continue to be practiced in
Tamil Nadu.
Tamil is the official language of Tamil Nadu and is one of the two
classical languages of India, the other being Sanskrit. Tamil is
also one of the Official languages of India. Tamil Nadu is known for
its rich tradition of literature, music and dance which continue to
flourish today.
Best
Season, Climate and Clothing
The climate of the state is tropical. April and May are the hottest
months with temperatures rising to as high as 40°C. During the day,
even the coastal regions are warm and humid during the summers;
nightfall, however, brings some respite in the form of the cool sea
breeze. During the winter season, extending from November to
February, the mercury hardly falls below 20°C, except in the hill
stations. The winter monsoons of Tamil Nadu occur in the months of
October to December. Cotton clothing is apt for the entire year.
How to Reach
The various cities in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu are easily
accessible through air, road and rail.
By Air
The Anna International Airport, 16 km south of Chennai, has flights
to/from Sri Lanka, Dubai, Germany, Jakarta, Malaysia, England,
Maldives, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. Most major Indian cities are
also connected to Chennai by regular domestic flights.
By Rail
The railway station at Chennai has connecting trains to/from all
major cities in India.
By Road
The entire state is connected through an extensive network of
metalled roads. Ferry services are also available in Chennai.
