Things to see and do Tamil Nadu

The Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage has a branch in Pondicherry. It organizes exhibitions on the city's architectural heritage and visits to tourists on demand.

This memorial is dedicated to Tamil Tiruvalluvar, Saint and Poet, whose great work dates back to about 2 000 years. Built in 1976, in Nungambakkam, this huge stone structure, representing a tank fired by two elephants and located in a beautiful park, includes a very expressive statue of the saint. Scenes drawn from the 133 chapters of his famous book, Thirukkural, are carved in stone. The auditorium attached to this complex is one of the largest in Asia.

It is one of the 6 houses of the God Subramanya. Perched on a hill, the temple is accessible by road or by train. 365 steps, which represent the days of the year, leads to the top of the hill. Tiruttani passes to be the place where the god married Valli (one of his two wives). The Fête festival, which takes place in December, is celebrated with splendour.

It is the birthplace of the saint Ramanujar, the father of the Vishishishtadvaita philosophy of Vishnuism, and therefore an important pilgrimage centre for the Vishnuites. It is also the place where Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India, was killed in a bomb explosion during a meeting in 1991.

A cave temple, one of the 6 homes of the god Subramaniya. It is here that Lord Muruga married Devayanai, daughter of Indra, after defeating Surapadman. Separate altars are dedicated to Shiva, Ganapathy, Durgai, Vishnu and other gods. At the entrance to the temple are 48 artistically sculpted pillars. Cut into the rock, the temple of Subramaniya is filled with pilgrims on days of worship. Its most secret altar is dug into a solid rock.

This exciting museum retraces the early years of Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna's disciple who participated in the rebirth of Hinduism and tried to reconcile aspirations for social justice with spirituality. He travelled through India as a sanyasin (a stray monk, begging for his food) and came to meditate in Kanyakumari in 1892. Several times a year, the centre organizes yoga classes and spiritual retreats, lasting one or two weeks.

Suchindram bears the imprint of various kingdoms. The Thanumalayan Temple, repository of art treasures belonging to these kingdoms, is famous for its musical columns and its impressive 6 m high statue representing the monkey god Hanuman. The main statue represents Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, the trinity of the Hindu pantheon. Inscriptions dating back to the 9th century have been found in this temple.

A popular place for people and tourists. Its children's and adults'amusement park is very visited. It includes Russian rides and mountains as well as a very popular "snow park" of local Indians who have never seen the snow. Folk dance shows are organized. An art centre sells crafts and shellfish objects. The beach is clean and ideal for sunbathing.

Located in the city center, this world-renowned garden houses a multitude of rose varieties.

The astrophysics laboratory is built on the highest point in the region, 3 km above the lake. The museum is open to visitors but prior permission is required to visit the observatory.

To get on it, it's a difficult 45-minute walk by pushing your bike, but to get back down, it's only 5 minutes! Make sure your bike has good brakes...

The MGR Film City complex includes film studios where many Tamil films are shot. It is sometimes open to visitors, but it is still better to check with the tourist office.

It is also possible to visit the AVM Film studio website, where TV series are mainly shot. Access is free; you can stroll through the reconstituted village houses and a fake police station, all of which is quite decrepit.

It is an isolated picnic place in Eastern Ghats, at an altitude of about 1 000 m. The healthy Climate, the Photogenic decor and a temple dedicated to picturesque Murugan add to the beauty of the place.

Named after St. Coaker of the Royal Engineers, this viewpoint offers a fantastic view of the plains and hills in the distance. The fog rising in sails from the valley below gives this place an unreal character