One of the largest states of India, Tamil Nadu is in South India. An attractive tourist destination with a rich cuisine, several beautiful temples, magnificent monuments and forts, and exotic sea beaches--the state beckons the tourists with open arms. But Tamil Nadu has one more attraction--its wildlife.
The state's wildlife is rich and varied. Its rich flora and fauna attract the wildlife enthusiasts much. Tamil Nadu boasts of as many as 3000 plant and many rare species of animals. The rare Kurinji flowers not found elsewhere which grow every 12 years, grow in the state, in the Kodaikanal region.
The state has a good forest cover. While deciduous, wet green forests and grasslands cover the state's Western Ghats, dry deciduous forests dominate the other forested areas of the state. Several varieties of rare medicinal trees, plants and herbs grow abundantly in Tamil Nadu. For instance, in the Nilgiri Hill area, Cinchona and Eucalyptus grow. While Cinchona extracts are used for making quinine, the anti-malaria drug, Eucalyptus trees find usage in making many highly useful medicines.
Rubber and Sandal are the other highly valuable trees that grow in the state. While Rubber grows abundantly in the Kanyakumari region, the much sought after Sandal, which fetches a very handsome price in the market, grows on the Javadhu Hills, in the Vellore region of Tamil Nadu.
National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries
The state of Tamil Nadu has as many as five national parks and 17 wildlife sanctuaries that are a big hit with the wildlife lovers. Vedanthangal Birds Sanctuary, Kekilli Birds Sanctuary, Point Calimore Birds Sanctuary, Kalakkadu Wildlife Sanctuary, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Annamalai (Indira Gandhi) Wildlife Sanctuary, Mundanthurai Tiger Sanctuary, and Crocodile Bank are some of the many sanctuaries and wildlife reserves where the states's rich and varied wildlife could be observed in all its beauty, from close quarters.
No wonder, Tamil Nadu is called a paradise for the lovers of nature and wildlife. Have the experience of your life with the Tamil Nadu wildlife!
