Tamilnadu
Legend has it that Madurai was founded by the first Pandyan King Kulasekara
in the 6th century BC.The city is believed to be built at the spot where a few
drops of nectar from Lord Siva's locks fell when he came to bless the people.Pandyas
are also associated with Madurai's older, and perhaps more absorbing and enthralling
legend of the goddess Meenakshi, who was born to the Pandya King Malayatwasan
and his Queen Kachanamala. Madurai has been praised by the Greek traveller Magasthenes
in the 3rd century.
The Pandyas had trading contacts with Greece and Rome and were powerful in their
own right though they were subjugated during various periods by the Pallavas
and Cholas. With the decline of the Cholas, the Pandyas rose to prominence once
again in the early 14th century before their challenge was snuffed out once
and for all and the city of Madurai completely destroyed and ransacked by the
Khilji invaders from the North in 1316. Of the four dynasties mentioned, the
Cheras are comparatively less important as far as this State is concerned.
The Cheras ruled over the south-west coast and their empire included the modern
state of Kerala and parts of Western Tamil Nadu.The downfall of the Pandyas
brought into Tamil Nadu a new powerful force in the form of the Vijayanagara
empire which had its headquarters at Hampi in Karnataka. They overthrew the
Muslims who had invaded Madurai and established supremacy, though it was their
governors or Nayaks who actually brought back the lost glory to this city. The
contributions of the Nayak dynasty to art and architecture of Madurai, Thanjavur
and Tiruchi made Tamil Nadu a favourite destination with many tourists and pilgrims.
Among the best examples are the Meenakshi temple at Madurai which was in a state
of ruin before it was rebuilt by Thirumalai Nayakar.
The Nayak's rule continued long after the collapse of the Vijayanagara empire
and following them some parts of Tamil Nadu saw a period, of Maratha rule, Muslim
rule under the Nawabs of Arcot and later, the advent of the Europeans and the
struggle for supremacy resulted in the ultimate victory of the Europeans and
symbols of their authority stands still at Fort St. George in Chennai.
MADRAS
The gateway to southern India ,is one of the oldest cities of the country and
still maintains the very best of Indian traditions .It was in 1939 when a fort
was established by the east India Company in a small village ,Chennai .This
was the birth of Madras.It has developed over the centuries from a small fishing
village into bustling metropolis..Madras can also be used as a convenient base
to explore the other destination Fort St George built by the British East India
Company in 1640 A.D ,Parthasrthi temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Marina
beach 3.2 Km is spell -binding as the longest in the world.
MAHABALIPURAM
Shore temple ,it is a delicately carved temple in the Rajasimha style.the shore
temple is a two spire structure ,designed after the monolithic Dharmaraja Ratha
but with much modification.Five Rathas ,these rathas resemble pagodas and are
mini-shrines chiseled out of big boulders in the form of temple chariots,but
in different style,they are known as Pancha panama Rathas ,Open air Museum it
was a flourishing port town of the Pallava rulers of south India
KANCHIPURAM
Kanchipuram is world famous for its fine silk and the city has some 200 Temples
in the Dravidian style of architecture Enroute visit Mahabalipuram.Upon arrival
in kanchipuram check in hotel.
PONDICHERRY
Legend says that Pondicherry is the place where Saint Agasthya settled down
.History records this place as the center of Anglo - French conflicts for almost
300 years and later as the retreat of Indian freedom fighters,including Aurobindo.In
1954 Pondicherry was restored to India by the French. French colony and is a
living monuments of French culture in India and then visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
TRICHY
Tiruchirapalli ,called Trichy in short ,was built by the Nayake rulers of Madurai
around a Rock Fort .trichy is on the banks of the river Kaveri and is Famous
for the Ranganatha Temple at Srirangam ,10 kms away .The Rock Fort is the center
of the city and is remarkable structure , about 83 metres high .
OOTY
Udhagamandalam is the name of by which the popular hill resort in the region
,Ootacamund or simply OOTY ,is known as today .Ooty is truly the Queen of hill
station s.At an altitude of 2,240 meters,Ooty is a resort for all seasons.The
Blue Mountains of the Nilgiris were originally inhabited by the Todas ,a tribal
people who still live in the area and whose amnist shrines are a part of the
tourist attraction today .
MADURAI
Madurai is a very ancient city ,some 2600 years old .It is a city laid out on
the banks of the river Vaigai as a lotus flower with the Meenakshi Temple in
the center .The Town's and Temple 's foundation is said to have been laid by
the Pandyan King Kulasekhara .Madurai is known as the city
KANAYAKUMARI
This is the land End of India washed by the waters of the Bay bangal the Arabian
Sea and Indian Ocean .On of the off shore rocks there is amn impressive memorial
to Swami vivekananda .
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