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| These are a few of the huge and exquisite granite temples. Tamil Nadu has thousands of such beautiful temples. These structures are filled with gorgeous granite carvings, bronze statues and paintings. Most of these temples were built between the 8th and 12th centuries. |
| The art of bronze statue making reached its pinnacle between the 9th and 13th centuries. Bronzes were created through the 'lost wax' method that remains the standard method to this day. The town of Swamimalai is the main center for bronze-casting that produces a lot of bronze statues. |
| Per capita income in Tamil Nadu: About 1,000 dollars a year. Despite strides in the computer field, education, and industrialization in the cities, the rural poor have become poorer. |
| PLACES TO VISIT IN TAMIL NADU: Granite temples and structures ( 8th through 12th centuries): Thanjavur, Gangai Konda Cholapuram, Kumbakonam, Srirangam, Tiruchy, Chidambaram, Kancheepuram, Palani, Srivaikundam, Tiruchendur, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Mahabalipuram, Tirunelveli, Rameswaram and many more. Old European Colonial structures: Danish Tarangambadi (Tranquerbar), French Pondicherry, French Karaikkal, Dutch Pulicat, Portuguese Chennai and Tuticorin. Beach Resorts: Mahabalipuram, Rameswaram and Kanyakumari. Waterfall Summer Resorts: Courtallam (has 9 Falls), Suruli Waterfalls, Kumbakkarai Waterfalls, Mundanthurai Falls, Siruvani, Thirparappu and Olakkai Aruvi Falls in Kanyakumari District. Hillstation Summer Resorts: Ooty, Kodaikanal, Topslip and Yercaud. Mangrove forests: Pichavaram, Muthupet, Arasalar Estuary and Point Calimere. Wildlife Sanctuaries: Thekkadi Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalakkadu Wildlife Sanctury, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Mundanthurai Tiger Sanctuary, Anamalai Wildlife Santuary, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mukurthi National Park. Historical Forts: Vellore, Chennai British Fort St. George, Vattakottai, Gingee, Taragambadi Danish Fort, Manora Thanjavur, and Udayagiri Fort in Kanyakumari. Old Dams: Kallanai (built 100 A.D.): A massive unhewn granite stone dam on the river Cauvery. The dam dimensions are 1080 feet by 60 feet. This dam is the earliest water division system in the world. Ancient towns: Poompuhar, Korkai, Madurai, Kancheepuram. Silk Weaving Centers: Kancheepuram, Dharmavaram, Uraiyur, Arni and Kumbakonam. Cotton Weaving Towns: Salem, Erode, Bhavani, Karur, Thanjavur, and Madurai. Bronze Statue Making Towns: Swamimalai Granite Carving: Mahabalipuram ********************************************** AIRPORTS IN TAMIL NADU: Chennai (formerly Madras), Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem, Vellore, Tuticorin and Tiruchy. |
| Kolam Charitable Foundation, Inc. |
| Tamil Nadu, India |
| Tamil Nadu, the land of the about 70 million Tamils, is a beautiful region nestled in the southern Indian peninsula, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal and the deep blue Indian Ocean. The Pandyas, Cholas and the Cheras are the three main Tamil kingdoms. Historically, the Tamil Chera kingdom bordered the Arabian Sea, but the language and the culture there changed some in the last couple of centuries to become modern Kerala. Tamil Nadu is a combination of tropical climate, cooler hill resorts, beautiful beaches, ancient culture, spicy curry sauces, village drums, and friendly people. Much of the ancient culture of Tamil Nadu is still alive in the rich Tamil language, tall and magnificent huge granite Hindu temples, exquisite bronze statues, rural arts, Carnatic music and the traditional Baratha Naatiyam dance, to mention a few. Tamil language is an ancient classical language, which belongs to the Dravidian family, and its surviving literature ‘Tholkaapiyam’ dates back to 600 B.C. Tamil is the spoken language of Tamil Nadu and one of the official languages of India. It’s also one of the official languages of Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka where many Tamils live. The ancient Tamil kingdoms traded with the Greeks around 200 B.C. They were the Ionians whom the Tamils called Yavanas. Later the Tamils traded with the Romans , Judea kingdoms, Chinese, South East Asian countries, and Babylonians, and exported teak, pearls, black pepper, spices, fine muslins, silks, precious stones, semi-precious stones, spikenard (valerian), bdellium (gum resin like myrrh), incense, tortoise shells, black agaru wood, indigo, ivory, perfumes, rice, coconut oil, bananas, spices, monkeys and peacock feathers. They imported flint and crude glass, sweet clover, realgar, orpiment, copper, lead, wine, tin and antimony. The Muslims conquered Tamil Nadu 1311, and the Tamils never regained their independence. The French, Danish, Portuguese and the Dutch have occupied parts of Tamil Nadu for centuries. Other Indian Kingdoms north of Tamil Nadu have conquered and ruled different parts of Tamil Nadu for centuries. The British occupied most of Tamil Nadu for over 300 years including Tamil Nadu. Today the Tamil country is the southern most state of India. Check this URL: http://www.ceramicstoday.com/articles/clay_horses.htm You'll see an article about the huge terracotta horses of Tamil Nadu, with photos. English words of Tamil origin: Anaconda, Beryl, Candy, Cash, Catamaran, Coolie, Coir, Corundum, Cot, Curry, Ginger, Mango, Orange, Pepper, Sugar, Teak. |