Ooty Toy Train

Metupalyam- Coonoor- Ooty route is one of the most famous and mind blowing rail route in the country. It has mesmerized millions in several Bollywood and regional movies for years. This is the only Heritage train run in South India especially in higher altitude. Statistics proves that around five lakh passengers enjoy the experience of Toy train yearly. 46 km, covered in 5 hour journey at a speed of 12 km per hour through misty hill sides and tunnels, twisting and turning through breath taking sceneries. There are lakes and waterfalls on the way; we can even pluck beautiful but wild flowers from open windows. One should experience it at least once in lifetime. The scenic beauty seen throughout the journey is thrilling, the endless mountains of tea plantations, pine tree, Lakes and valleys gives you an unforgettable experience. There are altogether 16 tunnels and 250 bridges in its route map.

Coimbatore airport is the best possible choice for air travelers, who wish to visit Ooty and try its toy train. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is connected to other parts of the country. Ooty is one of the most popular hill stations in the country, hence finding a place to stay is never a problem. There are several hotels and resorts in Ooty.

Dindigul – the little abode of peace

Dindigul is a beautiful destination with lots to offer. It is the 13th largest town in Tamil Nadu, peaceful and serine. There are many places worth a visit in Dindigul, especially the temples here. There is plenty of it, which not only brings spiritual satisfaction but also leaves behind an experience. Adjacent to the Dindigul fort stands the Hanuman temple. The Dindigul Fort itself is a great tourist attraction. Many people from all parts of the country and beyond visit this place. Even inside the fort there is a temple dedicated to Lord Muruga. The other temples near by are the Sri Kottai Mariamman temple, the temple for Vetri Vinayaka, which is Lord Muruga, The Mandapam hall, the Sri Chella Mariamman temple, the Dhandayuthapani temple, the Murukan temple, the Abirami Amman temple and the Raja Kaliamman temple in Thethupatti. All these make Dindigul a perfect place for pilgrimage. The natural beauty of this place is also worth mentioning.

The nearest airport is in Madurai and Coimbatore hence a tourist or pilgrim can use any of this pit stop. Dindigul is also well connected by rail and road. There are also several hotels and resorts with good facilities for their guests.

Banana festival in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu tourism (TTDC) conducted banana festival in Chennai on 25th July. The two days festival was one of the huge successes in the state tourism activities conducted this year. The main purpose of the festival is to spread the joy of celebration and attract domestic as well as foreign tourists. The festival also worked as a platform to educate the nutrient, medicinal value and importance of banana consumption. There were 40 stalls with around 22 different varieties of bananas. The festival was enjoyable as well as educative. There where several stalls with several varieties of food items and beverages made of bananas.

Tamil Nadu tourism has come up with several projects to increase the rating as one of the growing tourist destinations in South India. Already, Ooty and Kodai are two of the most popular places in South India. Fares, festivals, exhibitions and events are one such way to bring the image of the state running in the minds of the people. Besides the state is the most important state in South India and the Chennai International airport has wide network of connectivity to all parts of the country and beyond. The hotels and resorts in Chennai are of world class standard.

Ooty: The Switzerland of the South.

Ooty can be called the most popular hill station in South India. The spiral roads taking the tourist up the hill top is adventurous as well as exciting. The view of the green valleys, beautiful waterfalls add to the attractiveness of this small yet mind blowing tourist destination.

There are several places for sight seeing. The best part is most of the major attractions are inside the city limits, and we can cover many beautiful spots and move on. The Botanical Garden built during the British rule, Ooty Lake which offers a romantic boat ride, the Tibetan market for a quick and cheap shopping, it all comes as a package. We can hire bicycles or bikes for an independent sight seeing, even experience the same on top of a horse back. The Dodabetta Peak offers a spectacular view of the valley below. Lamb’s Rock is also another point ideal for taking pictures of splendid valleys.

 The Coimbatore airport is 100 km away from this hill station. Excellent road network connects Ooty with other main cities. There are plenty of hotels and resorts for over night stay.

Yelagiri: The youngest hill station in Tamil Nadu

Yelagiri is a serene hill station in Tamil Nadu, very peaceful and unexploited by commercialization unlike its counterparts like Ooty and Kodaikanal. Yelagiri is 230 km away from Chennai. There are beautiful misty mountains, lovely lakes and valleys that are always ready to take your breath away. Valley of Swami Malai is just 5 km down the main road. Trekking is a common activity here, within one and a half hours you’ll be on top of the beautiful hill. There is a Shiva temple beneath a huge rock. Punganur Lake is a famous tourist spot. They offer pedal and motor boats for tourists; a beautiful park and zoo are adjacent to the Lake.

Chennai is the nearest airport and Jolarpettai is the nearest Railway station, NH7 and NH47 passes through Yelagiri. There are some 13 hill resorts in and around Yelagiri.

Dhanushkodi – Beyond Rameswaram

Beyond Rameswaram, Dhanushkodi is just a desolate stretch of sand staring into the sea. About 15kms away is Sri Lanka.

Very little remains of the town today. In the cyclone of 1964, the railway line from Pamban was washed away into the sea. Subsequent efforts to lay the line have failed. Today, the only way one can reach Dhanushkodi is to walk it or catch a jeep.

It’s best to make Rameswaram one’s base and do a day trip to Dhanushkodi. There is not much to see but for a few temple dedicated to Lord Rama. But the experience is all about looking out at the open sea and trying to locate a foreign land.

The famous Hindu temple, rameshwaram

Rameshwaram is the place from where Lord Rama, built a bridge across the sea to save his consort Sita, from her abductor, Ravana. This is also the place where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to cleanse away the sin of killing Ravana. Both the Vaishnavites and Shaivites visit this pilgrimage which is known as the Varanasi of the south.

The presiding deity is the Linga of Sri Ranganatha, which happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India.

In Rameshwaram Temple, a spiritual “Mani Darshan” happens in the early morning everyday. This “Mani” is made of “sphatik”[a precious stone] and in form of “Holy shivling”. According to ved this is “Mani” of “sheshnag”.

Velankanni church, Naagapattinam

Velankanni is a popular pilgrim center, especially famous for the Church of Mother Mary. As a great number of pilgrims turn up here, like Lourdes in France, Velankanni is nicknamed as Lourdes of the East.

According to popular legend, Mother Mary appeared with Infant Jesus in Velankanni at the end of the 16th or early 17th century. Since then, for all pilgrims of the world, Velankanni has been the most important destination

Commencing on 29th of August every year, the 10-day grand festival celebrating the Feast of Our Lady at the Velankanni Church. Pilgrims from different parts of India and even from abroad visit this place.

Madurai Meenakshi temple

Madurai is one of the most important pilgrim cities in Tamilnadu, South India. It is completely covered with a rich cultural heritage and glorious tradition, Madurai is grouped among the antique cities of the India.

This temple is dedicated to lord Shiva and his wife Parvati, also known as Meenakshi. “Madurai’s Meenakshi Sundareswarar” Temple is one of the greatest architectural wonders of India built by Pandya King ‘Kulasekara’. The entire city is built around the Meenakshi Amman temple. Madurai Meenakshi temple attracts six thousand visitors a day and gets an annual revenue of rupees sixty million.

Pyramidal gates (gopuras) rise to a height of more than 50m. These towering gateways indicate the entrance to the temple complex at the four cardinal points; Mandapams were constructed in the temple premises, like the Hall of Thousand Pillars, Puthu Mandapam, Ashta Sakthi Mnadapam, Vandiyoor Theppakulam, and Nayakkar Mahal.

Pongal Festival in Tamilnadu

Pongal is celebrated in Tamil Nadu to mark the harvesting of crops by farmers. Held in the middle of January, it is the time when the people get ready to thank God, Earth and their Cattle for the wonderful harvest and celebrate the occasion with joyous festivities and rituals.

Pongal on the first day is called Bhogi. On Bhogi people clean up their homes. On the second day people prepare Chakkara Pongal, a delicacy of harvest rice cooked with jaggery, ghee and cashew nuts which is offered to the Sun God.

On the third day, Mattu Pongal is dedicated to the Cattle when cows are bathed and adorned with colorful beads and flowers. Jallikattu, the bullfight is held on the last day known as Kannum Pongal.