Land, People & Culture
Tamil Nadu is bounded by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the north
and Kerala in the west. The eastern and western tips of the Tamilnadu
are defined by the Point Calimere and Mudumalai wildlife sanctuaries
while the northern extreme is Pulicat lake and the southernmost tip is
Kanyakumari, the land's end. Tamil Nadu is principally washed by the
Cauvery, originating in Coorg in neighbouring Karnataka. Chennai, the
capital of Tamil Nadu is known for its beautiful beach resorts. Chennai
Chennai (formerly, Madras), the largest city in South India and the
fourth largest city in the country, is located on the Coromandel Coast.
The city's British lineage is evident in the various cathedrals,
buildings in Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, wide tree lined
avenues but there is no denying its traditional Tamil Hindu culture
either. This is not surprising because this region had remained a centre
of Pallavan culture long before the British came here. The varied
aspects of traditional South Indian culture exist alongside the
lifestyle of a modern city complete with its plush hotels, restaurants
offering a range of continental to typical South Indian cuisine, long
and uncrowded stretches of beaches, modern shopping malls, cinema halls,
etc. Climate The climate of Tamil Nadu is essentially tropical. The
temperature in summer is between 40 & 45º C and in winter seldom
falls below 18º C. The lowest temperatures are recorded during December
and January, and the highest in April to June. The average annual
rainfall, between October and December, ranges between 25 and 75 inches.
The most precipitation occurs in the Nilgiris and other hill areas. The
People Tamil, the official state language, is spoken by most of the
people. The main religions in Tamil Nadu are Hinduism, Christianity,
Islam, and Jainism. There is an established caste system, and the
traditional differentiations here are a lot more pronounced than in many
other parts of the country. The Brahmin community in Tamilnadu is very
pious and people normally have a white mark on the forehead to signify
caste. Population of Tamilnadu : 55,638,318 Agriculture Although Tamil
Nadu is one of the most urbanized states of India, it is still a rural
land; agriculture is the mainstay of life for about three-quarters of
the rural population. The principal food crops are rice, maize, Jowar,
Bajra, Ragi, and pulses. The cash crops include cotton, sugarcane,
oilseeds, coffee, tea rubber, and chillies. Industries The major
industries of Tamil Nadu include cotton textiles, chemicals,
fertilizers, paper and paper products, printing and allied industries,
diesel engines, automobiles and parts, cement, sugar, iron and steel,
and railway wagon and coaches. The State of Tamilnadu is the largest
textiles producer in India and an important exporter of leather and
leather products, cotton piece goods, tea, coffee, spices, tobacco, etc.
There are a number of hydel power stations in Tamil Nadu. The atomic
power plant is located at Kalpakkam, in the Chengalpattu MGR district.
Handicrafts Tamil Nadu is rich in handicrafts; notable among them are
hand loomed silk, metal icons, leather work, Kalamkari (hand-painted
fabric, using natural dyes), brass, bronze, and copper wares, and carved
wood, palm leaf, and cane articles. For the best Chola bronzes and a
glimpse of the magnificent paintings that flourished under Maratha rajas
in the 18th century, travellers should head for Thanjavur
