Tamil Nadu Tourism

Home to glorious monuments, a dazzling culture, a rich tapestry of history, and natural bounty in the form of fabulous beaches and clear skies, Tamil Nadu is an excellent destination for incentive groups wishing to enjoy both culture and environment. The eastern and western tips of the state are defined by the Point Calimere and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuaries, while the northern extreme is Pulicat Lake and the southernmost tip ends in the beauty of Kanyakumari.

Tamil, the official state language, is spoken by most of the population, and although Tamil Nadu is one of the most urbanised states in India, it is still a rural land and agriculture is the mainstay of life for about three-quarters of the rural population. Tamil Nadu is rich in handicrafts such as handloomed silk, metal icons, leather work, kalamkari (hand-painted fabric, using natural dyes), brass, bronze, copper ware, carved wood, palm leaf, and cane articles.

Bharata-natyam, one of India's major classical dance forms, and Carnatic music are both widely practiced in Tamil Nadu. Painting and sculpture, however, are less developed, although there are schools that teach the art of sculpture in stone and bronze. Tamil literature rapidly adapted to the Western literary forms of the novel and the short story. Since the 1940s, cinema has become the most popular form of mass entertainment.

The state capital, Chennai, (formerly known as Madras) is a vibrant city and home to a rich architectural legacy and a dynamic arts scene, combining centuries-old traditions with modern-day technology. The city makes an excellent base for visiting sights of interest nearby when time is of a premium, including the Vedanthangal water birds sanctuary, the famous Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar temple of Madurai, and the Alagar Hills home to the Tirupparakunram Rock temple.

However, Tamil Nadu is not only about the past, and the state is developing rapidly in the areas of economy, social, human resources, and culture. Tamil Nadu is one of the top three Indian states that receive the highest foreign investment in automobiles, information technology, power, and telecommunications. Chennai, along with other southern cities of Bangalore and Hyderabad have established themselves as centres of technological excellence, and the dynamism and forward-looking vision of its people ensure that any incentive program is assured of success through the availability of knowledge, skills and infrastructure.