April 2014 Destination Insider

Tamil Nadu

Come explore with us

 Content
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From the Explorer s Desk

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Mahabalipuram

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Rameswaram

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Chettinad

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The Chola Temples and
the Valley of the Kaveri River

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A Food Tour in Madurai

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Photo Gallery
From the Explorer s Desk
Dear Partners,

Usually a tourist carries two kinds of images about India in

his mind: first, that of magnificence and luxury of the
Maharaja Palaces of Rajasthan and its impregnable
fortresses and the second being the mysticism of
Hinduism and the fervour of the pilgrims. Well, Tamil
Nadu is an exact picture of this second image !
Innumerable temples which are scattered in the very south
part of India makes this trip a true retreat of the Dravidian
culture. Indeed, Tamil Nadu represents the Dravidian
culture: its origin is so ancient that we still do not have
certainty about where it comes from and when it appeared.

Even if the Dravidian Temples cover a great part of such a

trip, this part of India has a lot more to offer! The shore
temples of Mahabalipuram and its lazy atmosphere on the
seaside is a perfect stop to begin with, as well as a walk on
the Promenade of the charming former French trading-
post of Pondicherry and last but not the least, an
immersion in the outdated yet appealing Chettinad and its
baroque-style houses, is absolutely unique. Obviously, you
can't forget the legendary warm welcome of the local
people which makes this trip unforgettable for everyone!

The five highlights of this tour would be:

 The laid-back Mahabalipuram

 The off the beaten track temple of Rameswaram
 The region of Chettinad
 The Chola temples and the valley of the Kaveri River
 A food tour in Madurai

These are just some extracts from my detailed travel report,

for the entire report you can write to me at
jean.esteve@sita.in

Until next time.

Jean-Noel Esteve

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Mahabalipuram
There is no better way to start a trip than by spending time at this beautiful seaside town
which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Indeed Mahabalipuram is the former main
harbour of the Pallava Dynasty during the 7th and the 8th century; therefore, some stone
monuments dating back to this period are showcased: The Shore Temples, the Five Rathas and
the Descent of the Ganges are well worth a visit. Mahabalipuram is a very relaxing place to
stop at after an international flight. Nice beaches, good restaurants and a laid-back
atmosphere is inviting enough for 2 nights before starting your onward journey ! Besides, it is
an excellent place to start a daily excursion to Kanchipuram, one of the seven holy cities for
the Hindus. This place is suitable for everyone!

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Rameswaram
The paradox of Rameswaram is that it is one of the major pilgrim centres and a holy city for
the Hindus; both the Shaivites and the Vaishnavaite. It lies on the Pamban Island and is
surrounded by heavenly beaches, yet is still very off the beaten tracks and almost invisible in
the classic tourist maps. And I should be thankful for this! It is blissful especially when you
have reached the extreme south point of the island facing Sri Lanka, Danushkodi. It is only
30kms north of Sri Lanka (geological evidence suggests that Adam's Bridge or Rama Bridge
was a former land connecting India and Sri Lanka). Dedicated to Shiva, the Ramanathaswamy
Temple of Rameswaram was built in the XIIth century by the Cholas and hosts the largest
Mandapa of the country with its 1212 pillars. Here, the pilgrims take a dip in the holy water
from the 22 theerthams (tank), a very unique experience! Far from the chaotic cities, you are
bound to be charmed by this pleasant fishing village.

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Chettinad
The region of Chettinad has a very interesting story to tell. In the XIXth century, a community
of rich merchants, the Chettiars, travelled abroad to make some fortune. Keeping in mind
their native region, they used their wealth to build elaborated mansions. These magnificent
houses can be seen during your stay here: long verandas with wooden or granite pillars,
marble floors and carved wooden beams. Many of them are unoccupied throughout the year
but some have been renovated to become unique Heritage hotels. Situated only 1 hour and 30
minutes from Trichy, with excellent roads, this part is easy to include in an itinerary. The
other advantage of this stop-over is that it has the merit to offer something different in a
region that proposes mainly temples. Besides, for the gourmands, I would suggest attending a
cooking demonstration, in order to discover the famous spicy Chettinad food served on
banana leaves a delight!

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The Chola Temples and the Valley of
the Kaveri River
From Chidambaram till Rameswaram we drive on the roads of the Chola Empire, where the
Chola Kings built one of their most beautiful temples. Indeed, the rulers of this dynasty,
founded during the 9th century AD, a powerful empire which dominated a large part of the
peninsula till the early part of the 13th century: Chidambaram. Gangaikondacholapuram,
Kumbakonam, Swamimalai and Darasuram represent wonderful testimonies of their best art
which has to be seen. The magnificent Brihadishwara Temple of Thanjavur - ancient capital
of the Cholas and nowadays part of the World Heritage list of UNESCO completes this
unique list.

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A Food Tour in Madurai
Madurai, the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu is mostly famous for its Sree Meenakshi Temple
which is indeed absolutely impressive. But if you want to add something unique and closer to
the people, join us on this culinary tour. The interesting fact of this tour is that we taste only
signature dishes at selective shops and restaurants, which they are famous for. I really
enjoyed it and realised that I stopped at many local restaurants in which I would never have
eaten alone. At times one feels afraid of eating at small local shops, but the fact that I was
accompanied with my two local guides (passionate and so attentive to my expectations) it
permitted me to enjoy food without fear ! If you forget the name of the dishes you tasted
during the tour ; you will receive an email with a list of everything you ate during the tour.
Paruthi Pal, Sweet Paniyaram and Kara Paniyaram, Aapam with coconut milk, halwa from
Prem Vilas, Ragi Idiyappam ..and so many more it is divine !

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 Photo Gallery

Dhanushkodi Ramanathaswamy Temple The Bangala Cooking demonstration

Rameswaram

Chidambara Vilas Brihadishwara Temple Chidambaram Natajara Temple

Tailors inside the former entrance Mahabalipuram Five Rathas Mahabalipuram streets
of Meenakshi Temple

Note: These images are part of Sita s photo bank and have a copyright.
In case you would like to use the images, please write to us at jean.esteve@sita.in

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