Tamil Nadu

The southern state of Tamil Nadu is referred to as the cradle of Dravidian culture, an ancient culture distinguished by unique languages and customs. The cultural icons are everywhere - huge temples with their towering gopurams (spires) not seen anywhere else in the country, intricate rock carvings, evocative music and, of course, the complex classical dance. Tamil Nadu is a bastion of Hinduism at its most vigorous, whose past endures into the present.

Temples in Tamil Nadu were the fulcrum of society and even today art forms that have their origin in religious worship continue to colour daily life. Notable among these are splendid bronzes of deities, painting on glass and Bharatanatyam, an evocative dance form. Tamil Nadu offers the traveller excellent value, particularly in accommodation. Hotel prices are generally lower than they are further north and standards are often higher.