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Side Trips : |
Dakshinachitra
About 12 km south of Cholamandal, Dakshinachitra is a reasonably new place presented by the Chennai Crafts Foundation. It is a showpiece of different living styles in the South. You can admire traditional arts from Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka and AndhraPradesh. Contains recreations of Brahmin, Chettinad, potters, a basket weaver's, a silk weaver's houses along with |
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live representations of their craft. Similarly, the Kerala section has a Syrian Christian house, a Menon house etc.
Did you know that authentic dwellings were actually bought from their places of origin and replanted here? There is an accompanying audio-visual presentation and a little gift shop.
It is, indeed, well done and definitely worth a visit if yours is a soul that admires, appreciates and encourages the arts.
Pulicat
This is a site of an Old Dutch settlement dating back to 1609. Today, Pulicat is a picnic spot famed for its lake. There are amenities for swimming, fishing, and windsurfing.
History-buffs can wander around the ancient Dutch cemetery with its well-preserved tombstones.
Madurai
Madurai is one of the oldest towns in South India. It is believed to be the abode of goddess Meenakshi, the consort of Lord Sundereswarar (Shiva, the Destroyer, in the Hindu Trinity of the Creator, the Preserver, and the Destroyer). Legend has it, that when a Pandya king founded the town of Madurai some thousands of years ago, Lord Shiva was present. Moreover, the nectar falling off his hair gave the town its name of Madurai which literally means the ‘city of nectar.’
Thanjavur
Just 58 km away from Chennai lies Thanjavur. It was, once, the capital of the Chola Empire and is, often, referred to as the "Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu." The Chola kings used their wealth to encourage arts and craft and built innumerable temples and shrines to ornament their land.
Pondicherry
Lying 162 km south of Chennai, this town has an imminent French influence. It is here the famous philosopher Sri Aurobindo once lived. For sight seeing, interesting places include churches, museum, beach, the Aurobindo ashram, and Auroville. Extremely famous as the place of the “Mother,” Pondicherry offers peace to a tired soul.
Rameswaram
Though a little far away from Chennai, it is worth a visit. This conch shaped island in the Gulf of Mannar is a holy spot for Hindus. The magnificent Ramanathaswamy temple is well-known for its longest corridors in the country, extending over a length of 1220 m long with its marvelous carved pillars. Those who visit here bathe in the sacred waters of Agaitheertam, a stretch of Clam Sea near the temple.
Kanyakumari
You must visit Kanyakumari, the land's end of India, to view the spectacular sunrise and sunset at the beach. The temple, the Vivekananda Rock, where saint Vivekananda is said to have attained samadhi, and Gandhi Mandap are among the places of interest.
Create your budget tour for India travel.
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