Modern Tamil Nadu has emerged from Madras Presidency of the British administration. The beginning of the English settlements in Chennai started with acquisition of lands in 1639 for construction of a fort in Madraspatnam. A year later, on 23 April 1640 foundation was laid for a small fort later to become Fort St. George. In 1653, Fort St.George was made a separate Presidency and a year later it became the headquarters of the English settlements on the Coromandal coast, which later on, included areas from Northern Circars to Cape (with the exception of certain French and Danish settlements).


At the time of Indian Independence on 15 August 1947, Madras State comprised of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and some territorial areas of present Kerala. In 1953, however, the Madras State bifurcated into two states, viz. Andhra Pradesh, comprising of Telugu speaking areas and Madras State, comprising of Tamil speaking areas. The old capital city of Madras was retained in the Madras State.

Under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the Madras State was further divided into the States of Kerala, Mysore and Madras. Later, on 1 April 1960, territories comprising of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh was transferred to Madras State in exchange of territories from the Chingleput and Salem District. In August 1968, Madras State was renamed as Tamil Nadu.

n the 13 the century the Pandyas dominated. The establishment of the Vijayanagar empire brought the downfall of the Pandyas. This empire ruled till the 16th century preserving and promoting Hindu culture. The Muslim powers influenced this region politically. The Marathas also influenced Madurai and Thanjavur till the advent of the English who wrested power from the French. During the 17th and the 18th centuries, conflicts between the trading companies of Europe for control of the major parts in the east. The British managed to control this region in the 19th century. This region was under the domain of the East India Company and continued till independence after which the three states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa were formed. The region under the jurisdiction of the Madras Presidency formed into a single unit and named Tamil Nadu in 1969.

Tamil Nadu is famed for its rich tradition of literature , music and dance which are continuing to flourish today. It is one of the most industrialized states in India. Tamil is the official language of Tamil Nadu (as well as one of the official languages of India).

Tamil Nadu was carved from the old Madras State in the 1950s, when India re-drew some state lines according to language. State politics continue to have a lot to do with protecting and celebrating the Tamil (and Dravidian in general) language and culture.

Attraction in Tamil Nadu:

The Famous Meenakshi Temple
The Meenakshi Temple complex is a city temple situated in Madurai. It is one of the largest and one of the most ancient temples here. At the same time it is the most revered in India. The temple complex has soaring and exquisitely carved towers in Madurai. The south gateway contains the twin temples of Shiva and Meenakshi and is about nine storeys high. Meenakshi temple is one of the most popular temples in Tamil Nadu and is world famous for its marvelous architecture.

The Natarajh of Chidambaram
This temple is dedicated to lord Natarajah and is one of the most venerated. Chidambaram is situated about 250 km south of Chennai (Madras) and is easily accessible. In Tamil the word temple is known as 'Koil' and Chidambaram is referred to, in Hindu scriptures by other names such as Thillai, Puliyur, Chittambalam, Vyagrapuram and Pundareekapuram. These temples are abode of sanctity and sacredness due to its dignity and the miracle stories mentioned in Hindu scriptures.

The Ancient Kapaleeswarar Temple
The Kapaleeswarar temple, situated in Mylapore a suburb of Chennai, is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshiped here as Kapaleeswarar and the Goddess as Katpahavalli. This temple is about 1000 years old. Some scholars believe that the age of the present building , on the basis of the architecture and the images in this temple traces back to a period of about 300 years ago. Regardless, Kapaleeswarar Temple has become very famous and attracts a large number of devotees mainly during festival days.

The Sri Parthasarathy Temple
Established in the Triplicane area of Chennai, Sri Parthasarathy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu who is worshiped as Lord Venkatakrishnar here. In this temple he can be seen with his consort Rukmani on his right and his brother Sri Balaraman on his left. Apart from these deities, Sri Parthasarathy is installed as a processional deity with his consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi on either side.

The Divine Palaniandavar Temple
The Palaniandavar temple is dedicated to Lord Subramanyam and he is worshiped as Pazhani andavar. The temple is situated at Vadapalani, in the northern part of Chennai. A picture of Lord Subrahmanya was brought here from Palani that became a very potent divinity, thus deriving the name Vadapalani.

'The Pride of Chennai' - Marina Beach
Tamil Nadu BeachThe Marina beach one of the most loveliest beaches in India, is located on the eastern side of Chennai nearby the Bay of Bengal. The sunsets and the sunrises at this mesmerizing beach are absolutely awesome. Though bathing and swimming can be dangerous, as the undercurrent is very strong, the beach attracts several visitors, who come to spend their holiday in the laps of natural beauty of coastal region. In the evenings, virtually, the beach becomes a fair ground with various kinds of entertainment and food stalls lining the beach.

The Potpourri of Hues - Kaniyakumari Beach
The KaniyaKumari or Cape Comorin, is the end of the tip of India's land. This famous beach is an marvelous assortment of multi- hued sand. It is surrounded by Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. It is also called 'Thriveni Sangamam', where you can enjoy the breath-taking views of the Sun Shine and the Sun Set on your travel holiday in the region. It is also famous for Gandhi Mandapam and Kanyakumari Amman temple. Amidst the sea of Kanyakumari, a small hillock houses the memorial of Swami Vivekananda.

The Port of Pallavas - Mahabalipuram Beach
Mahabalipuram, also known, as "Mamallapuram" is situated 60-kms, south of Chennai, nestled on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. It was once a port of the Pallavas, who have created many marvelous monuments with Sculptural Panels, Caves, Monolithic Rathas (chariots) and Temples.

Rameswaram Beach
Rameshwaram is an island situated off the mainland surrounded by Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar. It is also a famous pilgrim center, where according to the epic Ramayana, Lord Sri Rama worshiped Lord Siva, before invading Lanka to save his wife Sita from the clutches of Ravana. It is believed that Lord Sri Rama constructed the mythological bridge to Sri Lanka.

Covelong Beach
The magical Covelong beach is located at a distance of 40 km from Chennai. It is a calm beach, far from the distractions of the cities, offering a perfect holiday beach destiantion in the scenic environment. One of the best weekend getaway, the salubrious Covelong beach is also famous for its fishing activities.