Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu, at the southern tip of India, is a land of towering temple gateways, classical arts and one of the world's oldest living languages. Madurai's Meenakshi Amman temple, the Chola temples of Thanjavur, the shore temples of Mamallapuram, the hill stations of Ooty and Kodaikanal, and Kanniyakumari where three seas meet are just the beginning.

The Sangam literature of the early centuries CE describes the Chera, Chola and Pandya kingdoms. The Pallavas built the monuments of Mamallapuram, and the Cholas created a great maritime empire whose temples, including the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Madras (Chennai) was one of the first British settlements in India. The state was formed as Madras State in 1956 and renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969.

The Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats meet in the Nilgiri hills. The Kaveri delta is the agricultural heart of the state, and the long Coromandel coast faces the Bay of Bengal. The state receives much of its rain from the north-east monsoon between October and December.

Tamil Nadu is one of India's most industrialised states, with major automobile, electronics, textile (Tiruppur) and software industries. Chennai is a key port and manufacturing hub.

Tamil, recognised as a classical language, is the official language. Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music flourished here, and Pongal, the harvest festival in January, is the biggest celebration. Kanchipuram silk saris, bronze sculpture and Tanjore paintings are world-famous.