Information of Tamil Nadu Land

The south Indian state of Tamil Nadu is surrounded by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the north and Kerala in the west. Tamil Nadu's eastern and southern coasts are washed by the waters of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean respectively. The eastern and western tips of the state are defined by the Point Calimere and Mudumalai wildlife sanctuaries while the northern extreme is Pulicat lake and the southernmost tip is Cape Comorin or Kanniyakumari - where India's land ends.


¤ More Information on Geographical Features of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu, The Varied Land
With an area of 130,058 sq. kms, Tamil Nadu is the 11th largest state in India. Traditionally, the land of Tamils has been divided into 5 major physiographic divisions - the Kurinji or mountainous region, the Mullai or forest region, the Palai or arid region, the Marudham or the fertile plains and the Neidhal or coastal region.

The Eastern and Western ghats of India meet in Tamil Nadu and run along its eastern and western borders. The famous hill stations of Tamil Nadu's like Udhagamandalam, Kodaikanal, Kothagiri and Yercaud are situated in this region. The 25km wide Palakkad gap and Shencottah gap are the only breaks into the long chain of hills that border western Tamil Nadu.

The low rocky hills of Eastern ghats are in contrast with the densely forested hills of the Western ghats. This area receives torrential rainfall and the beautiful valleys of Cumbum and Pollachi are marked with plantations of tea, coffee and spices. However, the upper reaches of the Eastern ghats are equally beautiful. The Yercaud in the Shevaroy hills is famous for its fruit orchards, mainly for banana and coffee plantations.

There's also an arid, desert-like land in the state which is confined to a small area in Tirunelveli district and is known as the Palai. The coastal Tamil Nadu comprises the Coromandel coast which has its northern half and the Fisheries coast which is the southern half. Mylapore, Poompuhar and Mamallapuram were the famous ancient ports on the Coromandel from where merchant ships sailed to Rome, Greece and the far east.

Rich Flora and Fauna
Tamil Nadu is rich in flora and fauna and some of its major wildlife sanctuaries like Mudumalai, Anaimalai(Indira Gandhi W.S), Madras Crocodile Bank trust, Guindy national park, etc, are situated in the hills of the Western ghats providing home to elephants, tigers, bisons and a variety of monkeys and deers. There are more than 3000 plant species found in Tamil Nadu, out of which a majority are found in the mixed deciduous forests of this region.

Tranquil Rivers
Kaveri is the recurrent river of the state Tamil Nadu, which originates in Coorg in the neighboring Karnataka. Kaveri irrigates the fertile Coromandel plains and its delta in Thanjavur - Nagapattinam region is known as the granary of Tamil Nadu. The other rivers in the state are the Palar, Pennar, Vaigai and Tamiraparani.

Bewitching Beaches
Tamil Nadu, the southern state of India, has some of the most exotic beaches in India, which have their own charm. The Marina beach is the second longest beach in the world and is a must visit. Another beach called the Elliot's Beach is now a favorite shooting location for Tamil movies in Chennai. Apart from these there are many mesmerizing beaches like the Covelong beach, Kanyakumari beach, Rameshwarm beach, etc. These beaches are famous for various enjoyment activities like paragliding, surfing, swimming, sunbathing, parasailing, etc.

Tropical Climate
The climate of Tamil Nadu is tropical with little deviation in temperature in summer and winter. April and May are the hottest months with the temperature going above the 40ºC mark. The coastal regions get uncomfortably warm and humid during these months but the nights are usually cool, due to the sea breeze that sets in during the afternoon. Summer temperatures are quite temperate in the foothills of the Ghats.

The atmosphere at the hill stations are pleasant and the temperature is moderate. A mild winter falls between November and February when the climate is pleasantly cool.

Minimum temperature in the plains rarely drops below 20º C, while in the hills the mercury may drop to 5º C or below. The north-east monsoon brings rain in spurts between October and December. The average annual rainfall, ranges between 25 and 75 inches (635 and 1,905 mm) a year. Highest precipitation occurs in the Nilgiris and other hill areas with the least in the Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli districts.