Vellore Travel Information
Vellore is now pulsating with more activities as a commercial, administrative and medical centre. It has the privilege of being the seat of the Pallava, Chola, Nayak, Maratha, Arcot Nawabs and Bijapur Sultans. Vellore grew into a bustling town gradually since 6th century changing the rulers and growing in importance. It has an ancient fort and a well preserved temple. The fort constructed around the seventeenth century is one of the exquisite specimens of military architecture in South India. It was described as the strongest fortress in the Carnatic in 17th century and witnessed the ghastly massacre of European soldiers during the mutiny of 1806. The temple inside the fort is said to contain sculptures which surpass even those of Madurai.
Vellore is renowned for the famous Christian Medical College and Hospital which attract patients and research scholars from all corners.
General Info. :
Area :
11.65 sq.kms.
Population :
1,75,061 (1991 census)
Altitude :
204 above Sea Level
Climate :
Summer : Max. 39.0°C, Min. 29.5°C
Winter : Max. 27.3°C, Min. 17.0°C
Rainfall : 1053 (average)
Clothing :
Tropical Season : Throughout the year
Language Spoken :
Tamil, English and Telugu
STD Code :
0416
Yercaud in the Servaroyan hills (Shevaroy Range) of Salem District is a quiet and restful hill stationin Tamil Nadu. The Servaroyan Hills as a whole, provide many beautiful vistas and panoramic views. Yercaud itself is a pretty hill station with a pleasant cool climate. Yercaud's temperature never rises above 30°C or falls below 13°C. This is one hill station where one does not feel the biting cold of winter. With such a salubrious climate, Yercaud can be visited round the year. It is an hour's drive from Salem and is the least expensive hill station in India. 
Popularly referred to as "Queen of Hill Stations". Ooty (Udhagamandalam) is located at a height of 2,286 mts. (7,500 feet). Popular tourist attractions include the Botanical Gardens, Lake, Doddabetta, Mukurti Peak, the Pykara Dam and sprawling tea plantations. 
Tirunelveli is about 2000 years old is a town of hoary tradition. Next to Madurai it was an important city of the Pandya Kingdom as it served as their Capital for some time. Situated on the banks of the river Thamiraparani, it is on the way to Kanniyakumari from Madurai. It is a twin town Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai. 
It is one of the important pilgrimage center of tamilnadu.Though Hindus seek god in the form of idol, it is also their strong belief that god can be worship in the form of light or Flame. The Karthigai Deepam festival when the big flame is lit atop the Thiruvannamalai hills draw a huge crowd and devotees. 
The home of Carnatic music, musical instruments, dance and traditional handicrafts. Thanjavur is famous for the Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple, constructed more than a thousand years ago by the Chola King Raja Rajan is an architect's marvel. The town of Thanjavur is also the headquarters of the district of the same name. 
Rameswaram is hallowed by the epic Ramayana. A devout Hindu who visits Varanasi is expected to visit Rameswaram also for the culmination of his quest for salvation. Rama sanctified this place by worshipping Lord Siva after the war against Ravana. Therefore, it is held sacred by Saivites and Vaishnavites as well. It is one of the major marine food centres in the south, much of its fish and prawn catch being exported. 
East Coast Road, wide and smooth, where littoral palms, backwaters, brooks and green fields line the edges. At a distance of 55 kms from Chennai lies Mamallapuram on the seashores of the Bay of Bengal. Here you can see Pagodas, rock-cut Caves, single-stone crafted Rathas and bas-reliefs. All belonging to the times of the Pal lavas, who ruled from 600 to 750 AD with Kanchi as their capital. 
Dance Festival
Madurai, probably over 2500 years old, is the oldest city in Tamil Nadu. Its origin and name emerge from a misty and lovely legend. In a forest near a lotus pond, Indra, King of Gods, Worshipped Lord Siva as a Swayambu Lingam. At this hallowed spot, the Pandyan monarch Kulasekhara built a great temple and clearing the forest, he created a lotus- shaped city around the temple. 
At the southern most tip of India, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, liles Kanniyakumari, an important pilgrim centre. Kanniyakumari is famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets, especially on full moon days, The beach itself is a beautiful sight with lmuklti-colouted sand. There is a lightoused form where one can get a panoramic view. The Government museum offers a good collection of sculptural art crafts of Tamil Nadu. 
The city of a Thousand Temples Ancient Kancheepuram, the city of thousand temples, is one of the most sacred pilgrim centres for the Hindus. There now remain 126 temples in Kanchi and a few more in the outskirts. This city was under the control of the Cholas as far back as the 2nd Century BC and a Pallava capital between the 6th and 8th centuries. 
Often called the cultural capital of India for its deep rooted traditions and heritage, Chennai is a city younger than its image. 
With a population of around six million, it is India's fourth largest city. From before Independence to modern days, natives of Chennai have played an important role in shaping the country's political destiny.