Tamil Nadu is the southernmost state of India—the 10th largest Indian state by area and the 6th largest by population. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, who speak the Tamil language, one of the longest-surviving classical languages. The capital of Tamil Nadu is Chennai, which is also the largest city.

Located on the southeastern coast of the Indian peninsula, Tamil Nadu is surrounded by the Western Ghats and Deccan plateau in the west, the Eastern Ghats in the north, eastern coastal plains lining the Bay of Bengal in the East, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait to the southeast.

Tamil Nadu has more than 5500 years of continuous cultural history.

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Major Tourist Attractions

1,Kanyakumari

2,Ooty

3,Kodaikanal

4,Mahabalipuram

5,Madurai

6,Thanjavur

7,Velankanni

8,Rameswaram

KANYAKUMARI

The southernmost tip of India. Kanyakumari boasts of stunning natural beauty with pristine beaches and gushing waterfalls along with sacred temples, ancient forts, and memorials.

Best Time to Visit:

OCT-MAR;

1,Peak Season

2,More Crowd

3,Pleasant weather, with comparatively lesser humidity.

4,Sightseeing and beach activities.

APR-JUN;

1, Moderate Season

2, Average Crowd

3, Warm and humid weather.

4,Surfing and escaping the crowds.

JUL-SEP;

1, Off-season

2, Less crowd

3, Heavy rainfall along with high humidity levels

4, The lush green landscape and heavy off-season discounts.

How to Reach

Nearest Railway Station to Kanyakumari:

1. Kanyakumari Railway Station (CAPE): A major railway station located right in the heart of Kanyakumari Town; it is the southernmost railhead in the whole of India.

Other near railway stations:

1. Nagercoil Junction (NCJ) approximately 16 km from Kanyakumari: It is a junction that has trains that connect it to many parts of India.

2. Trivandrum Central Railway Station (TVC): It is a major junction terminal located approximately 85 km from Kanyakumari. It has trains running from all parts of India.

From these places, you can hire taxis, autos, or buses to reach Kanyakumari.

The closest airport to Kanyakumari includes:

1. Trivandrum International Airport (TRV): About 85 km or 53 miles from Kanyakumari, this airport has very good connectivity to a lot of prominent places in India and other countries.

Other nearest airports include:

1. Tuticorin Airport: This airport, about 120 km from Kanyakumari, has very few flights; hence, it has connections only from Chennai and other closer cities.

2. Madurai Airport: This airport is about 230 km away from Kanyakumari. It has good connectivity to major cities across India, with a few international flights.

One can hire taxis, autos, or buses from Trivandrum Airport to Kanyakumari. The journey takes around 2-3 hours depending on the traffic.

Note: Kanyakumari does not have an airport of its own, so this becomes the most convenient option for travelers.

Kanyakumari Entry Fees and Timings

· Vivekananda Rock Memorial:

· Entry fee: ₹20 per person

· Ferry ride: ₹50 per person (general ticket), ₹200 per person (special ticket)

· Timings: Not specified but is open on all days

(https://kanyakumaritourism.in/vivekananda-rock-memorial-kanyakumari)  

· Kanyakumari Vehicle Entry Fee:

– ₹70 per vehicle (updated August 2022 by a traveler)

– Not sure if the fee was legit

– No official timings are mentioned

Please note that this information may be subject to variations, go to an official source for the latest information.

Attractions and Activities Nearby

Attractions:

1. Vivekananda Rock Memorial: A memorial dedicated to Swami Vivekananda, an iconic figure.

2. Thiruvalluvar Statue: A statue of the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar, which is 133 feet tall.

3. Kanyakumari Temple: A historical temple dedicated to Goddess Kanyakumari.

4. Gandhi Mandapam: A memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.

5. Kanyakumari Beach: A scenic beach with a beautiful view of sunrise and sunset.

6. Padmanabhapuram Palace: A 16th-century palace with awesome architecture.

7. Udayagiri Fort: 17th-century fort with brilliant landscape views.

8. Mathur Aqueduct: One of the big aqueducts with fantastic landscape views from the top.

Activities:

1. Sunrise and Sunset: Watching sunrise and sunset at Kanyakumari Beach.

2. Boat ride: Spend time sailing to Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue.

3. Trekking: Do some trekking up the peak of Udayagiri Fort, from where really good views can be seen.

4. Beach Sports: Swimming, sunbathing, and beach volleyball are some of the sports one can enjoy at Kanyakumari Beach.

5. Temple Visits: Kanyakumari Temple and other local temples that might be of worth seeing in nature.

6. Cultural Programmes: Cultural programmes and events in different centers of Kanyakumari Temple and other places.

7. Shopping: Shops for souvenirs, handicrafts, and local products from markets

8. Water Sports: Surfing, Kayaking, and Paddleboarding are practiced in Kanyakumari Beach.

OOTY

Officially called Ootacamund, the hill town is better known by its nickname Ooty. It is loved by Bollywood directors, honeymooners, families, and even backpackers, for its mountains, lakes, gardens, and waterfalls.

Best Time to Visit:

OCT-MAR;

1,Peak Season

2,More crowded

3,Chilly and windy weather

4,Tamil Festival and scenic views.

APR-MAY;

1, Moderate Season

2 ,Average Crowd

3, Pleasant and Cool Weather

4, Scenic views and Sightseeing

JUN-SEP;

1, Off-Season

2, Less Crowd

3, Heavy Rainfall

4, Budget deals and Botanical Garden.

How to Reach

The airport which is the closest to Ooty is:

1. Coimbatore International Airport: This is the one that is the nearest of the three, and it is less than 95 kilometers away from Ooty. The landing pad is a considerable domestic airline that manages flights to and from major Indian cities such as Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai.

Other airports are:

1. Kozhikode International Airport: It is nearly 140 km from Ooty. The airport offers flights to Middle Eastern Nations and also to Indian places like Delhi and Mumbai.

2. Mysore Airport: It is about 160 km from Ooty. The airport of Mysore serves mostly local routes and transports to other cities or towns nearby.

3. Bangalore Kempegowda International Airport: This airport is located around 280 km away from Ooty. It is the main aviation hub with non-stop regular flights to almost all destinations, both domestic and international.

One can hire taxis, autos, and buses from Coimbatore Airport to go to Ooty. The trip duration is generally 2-3 hours and depends on the traffic flow.

The Nearest Railway Station to Ooty is:

1. Mettupalayam Railway Station – It is extremely close to Ooty, only 46 km (29 miles) away, so this station is the best and the most authentic mode of transport for the toy train you can board and still be able to visit Ooty, which is the most beautiful and interesting route, the toy train.

Other nearby railway stations include:

1. Coimbatore Junction Railway Station – Coimbatore is the nearest major railway station to Ooty, about 95 km (59 miles) away. Surprisingly, railroads that pass through this station are links to the south ones rather than the highly spread-out bus transport system in the area where Ooty is a famous tourist attraction of. Most buses that go to Ooty are government-owned. This is because Ooty is the only place where the Mazda buses are used in India.

2. Tiruppur Railway Station – The place is almost near Ooty just 100 km (62 miles) and many times the trains make good connections between nearby cities and towns.

You can reach Ooty from Mettupalayam or Coimbatore through taxis varying from buses. You can reach the lake by cab instead of the Ooty bus. 1-2 hours of journey were the minimum time when their traffic was light.

Ooty Entry Fees and Timings

 Ooty Lake entry fee is ₹13 per person and it is open from 9 AM to 6 PM. Those also are the usual boating timings in Ooty Lake but can vary slightly depending on weather conditions and other unforeseen situations. Apart from the entry fee, you also have to pay for your camera. For still cameras, the fee is ₹30, and for video cameras, it’s ₹150.

As for the Ooty Lake boating prices, 2-seater pedal boat rides are available at ₹240 and 4-seater pedal boats can be availed at ₹260. 4-seater and 6-seater row boat rides are available for ₹250 and ₹290, respectively, including the fee for the driver.

(https://ootytourism.co.in/ooty-lake)

Attractions and Activities Nearby

Activities:

1. The Ooty Lake Boat House maintained by Tamil Nadu Tourism is a great place to go on boat rides around the lake to appreciate the nature there. If you go there when the crowd is not removable, you will have peace of mind and a 30-minute boat ride in the clear, chestgreen area, accompanied by the views of the remote hills. All these kinds of boats i.e. paddle boats, row boats, etc are available for hire.

2. The Nilgiris mountains create a beautiful background accent for Ooty Lake, therefore, a spot of interest for photographers to display their creativity. Among the bed of flowers and perennial foliages and the active people to be chased by the camera all over the town, Ooty Lake is sure to satisfy your desire in this field.

3. Ooty Lake offers cycling fun for the tired ones as well. Deposit the rent, take a bike, and move around to see the shops near Ooty Lake and the hustle and bustle around the food stalls. These tuck shops have a myriad of food items, and some counters also sell homemade chocolates, eucalyptus oils, and other local products.

4. Horse Riding along the shores – One of many places in Ooty that provide a horse for a stroll or even an adventure around the lake. Buy yourself a horse to ride around the lake and enjoy the cool breeze.

5 Enjoying Food– More importantly, besides the many sweets and snack stalls on the shores of Ooty Lake, there is also a very clean canteen on board. The canteen contains such items as tea and coffee to evening snacks and all the tasty dishes from North and South India. Sit, relax, and enjoy your masala tea, or have a bite to help the bowl out.

6. Hopping on a mini train ride was organized by walking through the forest along the shore of the reserve and the train itself. The kids can take the train alone and enjoy the tour of the lake. The adults can do the same. They all want to be kids again.

7. Let’s take a ride through the lake nature during your tour to the amusement park – In the amusement park located at Ooty Lake boat house, you can take part in many fun activities such as break-dance rides, dashing car, and horror house – all which you’ll enjoy.

Attractions:

1,Belikkal (14km from Ooty)

 It offers a combination of nature and fresh vibes. It is a quaint village in the southern segment of the Sigur plateau and is an elusive hill that attracts visitors.

2, Coonoor(20km from Ooty)

One of the most Stellar places to visit near Ooty. This destination is famous for its elegantly arched strains of tea and is surrounded by the Nilgiri hills.

3, Kotagiri

Home to the Kota Tribes of Nilgiris it is one of the most celebrated places to visit near Ooty. Lice at an altitude of 5882. 

4, Bandipur (41km from Ooty)

Bandipur is part of India’s principal tiger reserves and home to the second-largest tiger population in the country.

5, Coimbatore (85km from Ooty)

Coimbatore is one of the largest cities in Tamil Nadu. Apart from this, you can also tour the ancient temples classic buildings, and humorous other breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls.

6, Mudumalai (45km from Ooty)

KODAIKANAL

Spread across the scenic Western Ghats at an altitude of 7,200 feet, Kodaikanal is a beautiful hill station.  Kodaikanal is known as the princess of hill stations.

Best Time to Visit:

OCT-FEB;

1, Peak Season

2, More Crowd

4, Pleasant weather during the day and chilly at night

5, Trekking and Sightseeing

MAR-MAY;

1, Moderate Season

2,Average crowd

3, Comfortable temp

4, The colorful flowers in full bloom

    JUN-SEP;

1, Off Season

2, Less crowd

3, Average rainfalls

4,Escaping the crowd and beautiful landscapes.

How to Reach

The nearest railway station to Kodaikanal includes:

1. Kodai Road Railway Station- It is the nearest and maximum convenient railway station, approximately eighty km or 50 miles from Kodaikanal. You might also rent a taxi or take the bus from the station to Kodaikanal.

Other nearby railway stations are:

1. Dindigul Railway Station- 100 km from Kodaikanal; this railway station has trains to all of the nearby cities and towns.

2. Madurai Railway Station: It lies at a distance of approximately 120 km away from Kodaikanal.

3. Palani Railway Station: This railway station is about 120 from Kodaikanal.

The closest airport to Kodaikanal is Madurai Airport, about 120 km away. It has flights to all Indian towns like Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai.

Other airports are:

Coimbatore Airport: It is positioned around 170 km from Kodaikanal. It is properly connected to various prime towns in India and different countries.

Tiruchirappalli Airport: It is around 200 km away, and has correct connectivity to primary cities, both domestic and international.

Kochi Airport: It is at a distance of around 260km from Kodaikanal.

Kodaikanal Entry Fees and Timings

– Kodaikanal Lake

    – No entry fee

    – The timings are not specified

– Bryant Park

    – Entry fees: ₹30 for adults, ₹15 for children

    – Still camera fee: ₹50

    – Timings are not specified

– Boat Club

    – Entry fee: ₹70 for half an hour for the 2-seater pedal boat, ₹140 for half an hour for the 4-seater pedal boat, ₹245 for 20 minutes for a 6-seater rowboat

    – Timings are not specified

(https://kodaikanaltourism.co.in/kodai-lake-kodaikanal)

Attractions and Activities Nearby

Attractions:

1. Devil’s Kitchen (Guna Caves) (8.5km away)
2. Bryant Park (0.5-1km away)
3. Bear Shola Falls (3km away)
4. Berijam Lake (22km away)
5. Pillar Rocks (8km away)
6. Coakers Walk (1km away)
7. Silver Cascade Falls (8km away)
8. Kurinji Temple (3km away)
9. Thalaiyar Falls (40km away)
10. Kukkal Caves. (40km away)

Activities:

1. Trekking

2. Boating

3. Horse Riding

4. Cycling: Rent a cycle and explore the surrounding areas.

5. Rock Climbing

6. Paragliding

7. Fishing

8. Bird Watching

9. Star Gazing: Enjoy stargazing at the Kodaikanal Observatory.

10. Shopping: Shop for local handicrafts, candies, and spices at the nearby markets.