Northeast Tamil Nadu: Chennai to Puducherry
11-16 December 2003
Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu, grew from a cluster of fishing villages into a major port when the British East India Company established Fort St. George in 1639. It became the heart of the Madras Presidency, shaping the city into a blend of colonial architecture, Dravidian culture, and Tamil tradition. Today, Chennai is known for its long Marina Beach, classical Carnatic music, and vibrant film and arts scene.
Nearby Kanchipuram, one of India’s ancient temple cities, was once the capital of the Pallava and Chola dynasties. Known as the “City of a Thousand Temples,” it is revered for its magnificent Kailasanathar and Ekambareswarar temples and its exquisite silk weaving. Further along the Coromandel Coast lies Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), a 7th-century Pallava port famed for its rock-cut shrines, shore temple, and intricate bas-reliefs like the “Descent of the Ganges.” These UNESCO-listed monuments reveal the early grandeur of South Indian art.
To the south, Puducherry, once Pondicherry, a French colony and now a Union Territory surrounded by Tamil Nadu, retains its colonial charm with tree-lined boulevards, pastel villas, churches and the Shri Kaushika Balasubramanya Swamy Murugan Temple. Together, these coastal centres reflect Tamil Nadu’s deep cultural heritage — from sacred temples and ancient stone art to colonial elegance and modern vitality.
Nearby Kanchipuram, one of India’s ancient temple cities, was once the capital of the Pallava and Chola dynasties. Known as the “City of a Thousand Temples,” it is revered for its magnificent Kailasanathar and Ekambareswarar temples and its exquisite silk weaving. Further along the Coromandel Coast lies Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), a 7th-century Pallava port famed for its rock-cut shrines, shore temple, and intricate bas-reliefs like the “Descent of the Ganges.” These UNESCO-listed monuments reveal the early grandeur of South Indian art.
To the south, Puducherry, once Pondicherry, a French colony and now a Union Territory surrounded by Tamil Nadu, retains its colonial charm with tree-lined boulevards, pastel villas, churches and the Shri Kaushika Balasubramanya Swamy Murugan Temple. Together, these coastal centres reflect Tamil Nadu’s deep cultural heritage — from sacred temples and ancient stone art to colonial elegance and modern vitality.
