Tamil Nadu

Cement and fossil district, with Chola capital remains.

• HeritageGangaikonda CholapuramChola capital built by Rajendra I with a grand Brihadisvara shrine.
• OffbeatKaraivetti Bird SanctuaryOffbeatSeasonal water-bird refuge on a rain-fed tank.
• OffbeatAriyalur fossil sitesOffbeatCretaceous fossil-bearing rocks in the Ariyalur area.

Southern coast of Chennai with Pallava art and the Coromandel coast.

• Must-seeMahabalipuram Shore TemplePallava temple with the sea behind it.
• WildlifeVedanthangal Bird SanctuaryOne of India's oldest bird sanctuaries; winter migrants.
• CultureDakshinachitraLiving museum of South Indian crafts, houses and performances.
• OffbeatMuttukaduOffbeatBackwater and water-sports spot south of Chennai.

Gateway metropolis with beaches, museums and filter-coffee culture.

• BeachMarina BeachLong city beach at sunrise and evenings.
• SpiritualKapaleeshwarar TempleMylapore temple with a bold gopuram and a lively tank.
• HeritageFort St GeorgeFirst British fort in India, with a museum inside.
• CultureGovernment Museum EgmoreBronze gallery with Chola metalwork.
• OffbeatElliot's BeachOffbeatCleaner, quieter beach in Besant Nagar with cafes.

Textile and engineering city beside the Anamalai hills.

• SpiritualMarudhamalai TempleHilltop Murugan temple with views of the Western Ghats.
• SpiritualIsha Yoga Centre and AdiyogiLarge Shiva bust at the foot of the Velliangiri hills.
• OffbeatSiruvani WaterfallsOffbeatCool waterfall and dam in the Western Ghats foothills.
• HillsValparaiTea and rainforest plateau with hairpin bends.

Coastal district with Chidambaram Nataraja and the Pichavaram mangroves.

• SpiritualChidambaram Nataraja TempleDancing Shiva temple with golden roofs and Chola bronzes.
• NaturePichavaram MangrovesBoat rides through canals in one of India's largest mangrove forests.
• BeachSilver BeachWide sandy beach at the old Fort St David town.

Dry district on the Cauvery with waterfalls and Hogenakkal.

• NatureHogenakkal FallsCoracle rides in a rocky Cauvery gorge.
• OffbeatTheerthamalaiOffbeatHill temple with perennial spring and forest walk.
• OffbeatDharmapuri FortOffbeatOld Hoysala and Vijayanagara fort and temple.

Hill and forest district of Kodaikanal and Palani.

• HillsKodaikanalStar-shaped lake, mist and Coaker's Walk.
• SpiritualPalani Murugan TempleOne of Murugan's six abodes, with a hill shrine and ropeway.
• HeritageDindigul Rock FortHill fort built by Madurai Nayaks, later used by Tipu Sultan.
• OffbeatPoombaraiOffbeatTerraced village with Kuzhandai Velappar temple above Kodaikanal.

Turmeric and handloom hub, with sanctuaries in the north.

• NatureBhavanisagar DamLarge reservoir and garden near Mettupalayam.
• WildlifeSathyamangalam Tiger ReserveElephant, tiger and bison country joining Bandipur and Mudumalai.
• OffbeatKodiveriOffbeatQuiet picnic stretch of the Bhavani river with a small temple.

Created in 2019, with the Kalrayan Hills and farming plains.

• HillsKalvarayan HillsTribal hill range with waterfalls and trekking trails.
• OffbeatGomukhi DamOffbeatQuiet reservoir with a small park near Kalvarayan Hills.
• OffbeatPeriyar Falls (Kalvarayan)OffbeatForest waterfall, strongest after rains.

Temple city and silk weaving centre, one of India's seven sacred cities.

• HeritageKailasanathar TempleEarly Pallava sandstone temple with sculpted shrines.
• SpiritualEkambareswarar TempleLarge Shiva temple with a mango tree said to be thousands of years old.
• CultureKanchi silk weaving lanesVisit workshops to see Kanchipuram saris being woven.
• OffbeatSriperumbudurOffbeatBirthplace of Ramanuja with a temple, and a memorial to Rajiv Gandhi.

India's southern tip, where three seas meet.

• Must-seeVivekananda Rock MemorialRock memorial reached by ferry from the main shore.
• HeritageThiruvalluvar Statue133-foot statue of the Tamil poet-saint on a nearby rock.
• HeritagePadmanabhapuram PalaceTeak palace of the Travancore kings, in Kerala style.
• OffbeatMuttom BeachOffbeatRocky headland and lighthouse near the cape with fewer visitors.

Textile town on the Kaveri, with ancient Chola and Kongu ties.

• SpiritualPasupatheeswarar TempleOld Shiva temple with Chola inscriptions.
• OffbeatMayanur DamOffbeatQuiet Cauvery dam and picnic area.
• OffbeatKuruvikaruvuOffbeatSmall waterfall and hill temple near Karur.

Mango and granite district bordering Karnataka and Andhra.

• NatureKrishnagiri DamLarge dam with gardens and a boating area.
• OffbeatHosur and ThalliOffbeatCool border plateau with rose farms and a quiet hill road.
• OffbeatRayakottai FortOffbeatHill fort associated with the Vijayanagara and Mysore rulers.

City of temples and the oldest living urban centre in the south.

• Must-seeMeenakshi Amman TempleColourful gopurams and the nightly Palliyarai procession.
• HeritageThirumalai Nayak PalaceIndo-Saracenic palace with a huge stucco hall.
• SpiritualAlagar KoyilVishnu temple in a forested hill with a Murugan shrine nearby.
• OffbeatKeezhadiOffbeatArchaeological site with an on-site museum of Sangam-era finds.

Cauvery delta district created in 2020, rich in old Shiva temples.

• SpiritualVaitheeswaran KoilHealing temple of Shiva as physician.
• HeritageTharangambadi (Tranquebar)Danish fort and colonial streets on the coast, partly in this district.
• OffbeatPoompuharOffbeatAncient Chola port with a shore museum and Silappadikaram gallery.

Coastal district with a Buddhist past and a famed Marian shrine.

• SpiritualVelankanni BasilicaLarge pilgrimage church by the sea; popular in September.
• WildlifeKodiakkarai Wildlife SanctuarySalt marsh and mangrove with flamingos in winter.
• SpiritualNagore DargahSufi shrine on the coast attracting all communities.

Egg and transport hub with a giant rock fort.

• HeritageNamakkal Fort and Anjaneyar TempleGiant Hanuman statue below a rock fort.
• HillsKolli HillsForested range with Agaya Gangai falls and a winding 70-hairpin road.
• OffbeatArdhanareeswarar Temple, TiruchengodeOffbeatHill temple with 1,200 steps and a unique Shiva form.

Blue Mountains with tea gardens, shola forest and a UNESCO toy train.

• NatureOoty Botanical GardenTerraced garden and annual flower show.
• Must-seeNilgiri Mountain RailwayUNESCO rack railway from Mettupalayam to Ooty.
• HillsCoonoorQuieter tea town with Sim's Park and Dolphin's Nose.
• OffbeatAvalanche LakeOffbeatForest-ringed lake reached by a permit-based road.
• WildlifeMudumalai Tiger ReserveElephants, gaur and tiger habitat bordering Bandipur.

Sleepy plains with Cretaceous fossils and a small hill range.

• OffbeatSathanur Fossil TreeOffbeatFossilised tree trunk, about 18 million years old.
• HeritageRanjankudi FortSeventeenth-century fort associated with the Nawabs of Carnatic.
• OffbeatThuraimangalamOffbeatVillage with an old temple, near Perambalur.

Former princely state with rock-cut caves and Chettinad flavour.

• HeritageSittanavasal CavesJain cave with ninth-century frescoes.
• HeritageThirumayam FortSeventeenth-century fort with rock-cut temples.
• OffbeatKudumiyanmalaiOffbeatRock-cut music inscription and a hilltop temple.

Arid, wind-swept coast with Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi.

• SpiritualRameswaram Ramanathaswamy TempleTemple with the longest pillared corridors in India.
• NatureDhanushkodiGhost town at the tip of the island, with Adam's Bridge views.
• HeritagePamban BridgeHistoric rail bridge beside a modern vertical-lift rail bridge.
• OffbeatGulf of Mannar Marine National ParkOffbeatIsland group with coral reefs and sea cows; boat trips need permission.

Created in 2019 with leather and a Nawab-era heritage.

• OffbeatArcotOffbeatOld Nawabs' capital with historic Delhi Gate and mosque.
• OffbeatWalajapetOffbeatHistoric town with the Dhanvantri Peedam temple.
• SpiritualSholinghur Narasimha TempleHill temple reached by a long stair climb, visited by many pilgrims.

Mango and steel district beside the Yercaud hills.

• HillsYercaudCoffee and orchids on the Shevaroy Hills.
• NatureMettur DamLarge dam on the Cauvery with a garden.
• OffbeatKurumbapatti Zoological ParkOffbeatPark with a deer enclosure and lake, close to Salem.

Chettinad's heartland with mansions and ancient temples.

• HeritageChettinad mansionsTiled palaces of merchant families, many converted to heritage stays.
• SpiritualKundrakudi Murugan TempleHillside temple with striking sculpture.
• OffbeatPillayarpattiOffbeatAncient rock-cut Ganesha shrine.

Created in 2019, with waterfalls and spice hills at Courtallam.

• NatureCourtallam FallsGroup of falls known as the Spa of South India, best June to September.
• OffbeatSengottaiOffbeatBorder town with Kerala-style architecture and a famous Kasi Viswanathar temple.
• SpiritualTenkasi Kasi Viswanathar TemplePandya-era temple with a tall gopuram.

Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu and the Chola cultural capital.

• Must-seeBrihadisvara TempleGranite temple built by Rajaraja I in the eleventh century.
• HeritageThanjavur Maratha PalaceNayak and Maratha palace complex with the Saraswathi Mahal Library.
• HeritageDarasuramAiravatesvara temple with carved chariot wheels.
• OffbeatSwamimalaiOffbeatBronze-casting village with a Murugan temple.

Western Ghats foothills with cardamom, Meghamalai and Kumbakkarai.

• HillsMeghamalaiTea and cardamom hills with seven falls.
• OffbeatSuruli FallsOffbeatTwo-stage waterfall in the Cumbum valley.
• NatureKumbakkarai FallsCascade with a trail near Periyakulam.

Port city, salt pans and old Pandya pilgrimage sites.

• SpiritualTiruchendur Murugan TempleSeaside Murugan temple, one of the six abodes.
• OffbeatManapadOffbeatFishing village with a Holy Cross church and quiet beach.
• OffbeatKayalpattinamOffbeatOld Arab-trade town with mosques and Tamil Muslim culture.

Rock Fort city on the Kaveri, with Srirangam's huge temple.

• SpiritualSrirangam Ranganathaswamy TempleIndia's largest functioning temple, with 21 gopurams.
• HeritageRock Fort TempleRock-top shrine with stairs and views over the Kaveri.
• SpiritualJambukeswarar TempleWater element temple of Shiva in Thiruvanaikaval.
• OffbeatKallanai DamOffbeatSecond-century Chola dam still in use.

Halwa town on the Tamiraparani, with temples and a Western Ghats edge.

• SpiritualNellaiappar TemplePandya-era temple with musical pillars.
• NatureManimuthar FallsWaterfall at the edge of the Kalakkad Mundanthurai reserve.
• WildlifeKalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger ReserveRainforest tiger reserve in the Agasthyamalai hills.
• OffbeatKoodankulamOffbeatFishing coast with a quiet beach, near the Kanyakumari border.

Created in 2019, with the Javadi hills and forest villages.

• HillsJavadi HillsCool forested range with waterfalls and tribal settlements.
• HillsYelagiriSmall hill station with a lake and trails.
• OffbeatAmirthi Zoological ParkOffbeatSmall forest zoo near Vellore on the Amirthi river.

Knitwear hub, with Amaravathi dam and forest hills.

• NatureAmaravathi DamReservoir with a crocodile farm and gardens.
• HillsThirumurthy HillsTemple, waterfall and dam surrounded by the Palani range.
• OffbeatKodumudiOffbeatTemple town on the Cauvery with a Brahma shrine.

Industrial belt north of Chennai, with Pulicat Lake.

• NaturePulicat LakeSecond-largest brackish lagoon in India, with flamingos in winter.
• SpiritualVeeraraghava Perumal TempleVishnu temple with a healing tank.
• OffbeatPazhaverkadu (Pulicat) Dutch CemeteryOffbeatColonial Dutch fort and cemetery at the lagoon entrance.

Arunachaleswarar Temple and Mount Arunachala at the district's heart.

• SpiritualArunachaleswarar TempleFire-element temple of Shiva with huge gopurams.
• SpiritualArunachala hill girivalam14-km walk around the sacred hill, especially on full moon nights.
• HillsJawadhu HillsTribal hills with waterfalls and forest walks.
• OffbeatSathanur DamOffbeatLarge dam and crocodile park on the Thenpennai river.

Birthplace of the Carnatic music trinity and temple chariot town.

• SpiritualThyagaraja TempleTemple with one of India's largest temple chariots.
• OffbeatMuthupet MangrovesOffbeatLagoon and mangrove forest on the Palk Strait coast.
• SpiritualMannargudi Rajagopalaswamy TempleBig Vishnu temple with a temple tank.

Fort city with a famous medical hub and the Golden Temple.

• HeritageVellore FortMoated fort with Jalakandeswarar Temple and a mosque.
• SpiritualSripuram Golden TempleTemple clad in pure gold, with a star-shaped path.
• OffbeatAmirthi FallsOffbeatForest stream and small zoo, a short drive from Vellore.

Coastal and inland district with Auroville and Gingee Fort.

• HeritageGingee FortCitadel set on three hills, called the Troy of the East.
• CultureAurovilleExperimental township with the Matrimandir golden dome.
• OffbeatMelmalayanurOffbeatAngalamman temple with festivals of fire and trance.

Fireworks and matches hub with Srivilliputhur and the Western Ghats.

• SpiritualSrivilliputhur Andal TempleTemple with the 12-storey gopuram that is the state's emblem.
• WildlifeGrizzled Squirrel Wildlife SanctuaryForest sanctuary protecting the grizzled giant squirrel.
• OffbeatSathuragiri HillsOffbeatSacred forest hill with Sundara Mahalingam temple and a steep trek.