Tamil Nadu, the land of the Tamils, is one of the most fascinating of the Indian States. It is bounded by Karnataka and Andra Pradesh in the north and Kerala in the west. The coastal eastern and southern boundaries are lapped by the waters of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean respectively. The eastern and western tips of the state are defined by the Point Calimerre and Mudumalai wildlife sanctuaries while the north extreme is Pulicat lake and the southern most tip ins Cape Comorin or Kanyakumari, the Land's End of India.

Tamil Nadu offers the golden beaches of the Coromandel coast, cool scenic hill stations in the depth of Western Ghats and exciting wildlife reserves and sanctuaries.

Tamil Nadu is the home of Dravidian art and culture. A rich tradition of literature and arts has flourished in Tamil Nadu for about 2000 years. Splendid temples that dot the countryside bear witness to the architectural achievements of the Tamils. Tamil Nadu is the traditional home of the famous classical dance Bharathanatyam. Marvellous old temple towns all over Tamil Nadu with their ancient rituals and festivals are living museums.

There are more than 30,000 temples in this state, which has given Tamil Nadu the title 'Land of Temples'.

Tamil Nadu is noted for its tradition of exquisite handicrafts. Rich jewel - coloured silks, elegant bronzes cast in the style of the ancient Chola craftsmen, brass temple lamps, intricately carved wood and stone are part of the artistic wealth of Tamil Nadu.

The splendid festivals of Tamil Nadu, the feast of music and dance, the shimmering silk of Kanchipuram - all these linger long in the memory of the visitor.

CLIMATE

Summer
Max	98.6º F
Min	71.9º F
Winter
Max	98 º F
Min	67.9º F

LANGUAGE
Tamil

CAPITAL
Chennai

AREA
130,058 Sq. kms.

AIRPORTS
Chennai, Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore and Madurai

WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES
Mudumalai, Annamalai, Point Calimere, Kalakkad, Mundanthurai, Kotagiri

RIVERS
Godavari, Krishna, Pennar, Palar, Ponnayar, Cauvery, Vaigai and Thamrapani.

HIGHEST PEAK
Doddabetta (2623 metres) is in the Nilgiris