Tamil Nadu is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. It is home to a number of historic buildings, multi-religious pilgrimage sites, hill stations and three World Heritage sites.
History:
Tamil Nadu was formed in 1956 after the reorganisation of states on linguistic lines .Its official language is Tamil, which is one of the longest-surviving classical languages in the world.
The Attirampakkam excavation suggests that a humanlike population existed in the Tamil Nadu region around 1,000 years before the arrival of homo sapiens .
Government:
The region was ruled by several regimes, including the 'three crowned rulers' – Chera, Chola and Pandyan states, which shape the region's cuisine, culture, and architecture.
- The Cheras controlled the western part of Tamilakam i.e; western Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
- The Pandyas controlled the south i.e; southern Tamil Nadu.
- The Cholas had their base in the Kaveri delta and controlled northern Tamil Nadu.
Although these dynasties were never conquered by outside powers, there were still significant diplomatic contacts between them and kingdoms to the north. They were mentioned on the pillars of Ashoka.
During the 4th to 8th centuries, Tamil Nadu saw the rise of the Pallava dynasty under Mahendravarman I and his son Mamalla Narasimhavarman I. The Pallavas ruled parts of South India with Kanchipuram as their capital. Tamil architecture reached its peak during Pallava rule. Narasimhavarman II built the Shore Temple which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Literature:
The early history of the people and rulers of Tamil Nadu is a topic in Tamil literary sources known as Sangam literature. Numismatic, archaeological and literary sources corroborate that the Sangam period lasted for about eight centuries, from 500 BCE to 300 BCE.The oldest Sangam work we have knowledge of is the Tolkappiyam, a book of Tamil grammar. Most Sangam literature dealt with themes of love and war.
The other notable works are,
- Agatiyam
- Pathupaattu
- Ettuttogai
- Pathinenkilkanaku
- Pathinenmaelkanaku
- Thirukurral
The 5 major literary works:
- Silapdhigaram
- Manimegalai
- Kundalakesi
- Sivakasindhamani
- Valaiyapatti
Geography:
Tamilnadu is bounded by the Eastern Ghats on the north, by the Nilgiri Mountains, the Meghamalai Hills, and Kerala on the west, by the Bay of Bengal in the east, by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait on the southeast, and by the Indian Ocean on the south. The state shares a maritime border with the nation of Sri Lanka.it also shares its boudaries with the states Karnataka to the north-west, Andhra Pradesh to the north, Kerala to the west and encircles the Uniom-Territory Puducherrry.the southernmost tip of Tamilnadu, INDIA is Kanyakumari which is the meeeting point of,
- Arabian Sea
- Indian Ocean
- Bay of Bengal
Tamil Nadu has the country's third-longest coastline at about 906.9 km (563.5 mi). Pamban Island and a group of smaller limestone shoals make up the northern portion of Ram Setu, which was formerly a natural bridge linking India with Sri Lanka.
The eastern parts are fertile coastal plains
The northern parts are a mix of hills and plains.
The central and the south-central regions are arid plains and receive less rainfall than the other regions.
Occupation:
The land was fertile, and people pursued different occupations depending on what regions they were in.Significant trade was also undertaken with the outside world. One of the most prized goods from Tamilakam was spices such as black pepper, but other spices, pearls and silk was also widely traded there.
Festivals:
- the BHOGI [ to burn the negativity]
- the Pongal [ worship Lord Surya]
- Mattu pongal [ celebration for cattle]
- Kaanum pongal [ spend time with family and get wellwishes from elders]
Other famous festivals,
- Tamil New Year - Chithirai 1st day
- Aadi Peruku [celebrated for the increase in water level in river KAVERI] on 18th ady of Aadi month.
- Mahamaham - KUMBAMELA of south India.
- Chithirai Thiruvizha
- Christmas
- Good Friday
- Easter
- Muharam
- Milad-un-Nabi
- Eid-ul-Fitr
Popular cuisines:
- Thirunelveli for wheat Halwa
- Ambur and Dindugal for Biriyani
- Kumbakonam for Degree coffee
- Madurai for Jigarthanda
- Karaikudi for Chettinad Samayal
- Thoothukudi for Macroons
- Salem for Mangoes
- Palani hills for Pamchamirtham
- Arcot for the sweets Makanbeda and Badhusha.
Sports:
- Kabaddi
- Silambam
- Jallikattu
- Cockfight
- Rekkala
- Pattam (kite flying)
- Aadu Puli
- Goli
Bio diversity:
Tamil Nadu has a wide range of biomes extending east from the South Western Ghats montane rain forests in the Western Ghats through the South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests and Deccan thorn scrub forests to tropical dry broadleaf forests and then to the beaches, estuaries, salt marshes, mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs of the Bay of Bengal.
The state has a range of flora and fauna with many species and habitats. To protect this diversity of wildlife the state has implemented,
- The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve established in 1986 is a marine ecosystem with seaweed seagrass communities, coral reefs, salt marshes, and mangrove forests.
- The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve located in the Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills comprises part of adjoining states of Kerala and Karnataka.
- The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is in the southwest of the state bordering Kerala in the Western Ghats.
Tamil Nadu is home to notable declared national parks located in
- Anamalai,
- Mudumalai,
- Mukurithi,
- Gulf of Mannar,
- Guindy located in the centre of Chennai city and
- Vandalur located in South Chennai.
The tiger reserves in the state are,
- Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve,
- Mukurthi National Park and
- Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
Economy:
The economy of Tamil Nadu is the second-largest state economy in India.
It ranks 11th among all Indian states in human development index.
Tamil Nadu is the most urbanised state in India, and one of the most industrialised states.
The manufacturing sector accounts for more than one-third of the state's GDP.
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