The Tamil Nadu Vacation Experience

[Lonely Planet]

Read on to learn more about Tamil Nadu tourism and information tips in southern India:

Money Transfer: In Tamil Nadu you can make use of instant money transfer facilities through national and international banks such as Bank of India, Canara Bank, HDFC Bank, IDBI Bank, Indian Bank, ICICI Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and State Bank of India. Multinational Banks such as American Express and Thomas Cook will also attend money transfer services. You can en-cash your traveler’s cheques. Most of the shops, hotels, banks and local India travel agents provide currency exchange services. Please note that it is needless for you to carry huge amount of cash as there are enough ATM services are available everywhere in Tamil Nadu.

Flight Reservations: You should make your online flight bookings to India well in advance so that you could avoid last minute rush. Also take care to plan your food while in travel and inform if have any food restrictions. If possible you may also carry food and drinks in packets and tins. Take care to reserve your hotel reservations well in advance. You may consult websites related to city or local tourism companies. Also secure your free transportation from airport to your hotel.

Luggage: Carry lesser luggage to make your travel more pleasurable. Less luggage will encourage you to go for more and more shopping. In Tamil Nadu you will not experience much rain and therefore minimum requirement is the simple raincoat. Take care to carry a runsack if you opt for trekking.

Food in Tamil Nadu: You will certainly find that the food in Tamil Nadu will be a delight. The varied and spicy south Indian food will definitely tickle your taste buds. You will find the rice or wheat based conventional breakfast items like appam, chapati, dosa, idiappam, Idly, pongal, poori, uppuma and vadai. The lunch and dinner will include plain white cooked rice, sambar, rasam, buttermilk, vegetable porial (fry), and kootu, pickles etc. The non-vegetarian food include mutton (lamb or goat meat), chicken, egg, fish, crab, and prawn. The certain states in the north as well as in South India religiously consider cow and bull as the sacred animal and therefore killing and eating beef are believed as taboo. In view of this beef will not be served in most of the restaurants. Similarly pork also will not be served.

Tamil Nadu Hotels and Restaurants: The Indian restaurants and hotels expect certain customs and table manners to suit the India tradition and customs. They expect you to eat with your own right hand and the hands and legs should be cleaned perfectly before you occupy your dining table. Use your fingers to collect food from the dish and extend it to your mouth. The rice needs to be mixed with sauce and made into small balls. Use your fingers to collect and eat from your plate. In interior South India breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served in a huge banana leaf.

Local / Popular Food Items: You will also find local food items popularly identified with the name of the town in Tamil Nadu and here are some of the popular names: Aruppukkottai Mixture, Kadamboor Poli, Kallidaikurichi – Appalam, Kanchipuram Idli, Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai, Madurai Jigirtanda, Manapparai Murukku, Ooty Cookies, Pazhani – Panchamritham, Sattur Sevu, Srivilliputthur Palgova, Thanjavoor Degree Coffee, Thirunelveli Halva

Silk Sarees: You will be surprised to know about the traditional handloom weaving and will appreciate the exquisite Kancheepuram silk sari with mesmerizing zari (silver thread) border and butta designs. There are variety of traditional silk sari weaving industries at Arani, Chinnalapatti, Kancheepuram, Kumbakonam and Madurai. They are known for its fine texture, luster, bright colors, durability and artistic finish. You will be surprised if you look at the latest bridal silk sarees and you make it sure that no wedding will be complete without such gorgeous silk sarees.

Bronze Artware: Another surprise will be the ornamental bronze lamps, artware and icons. The artisans at Swamimalai and Nachiarkoil (Thanjavoor district, Tamil Nadu) produce bronze and panchaloga (five metals) icons as instructed in ancient texts on sculpture. The artware most often resemble Pallava and Chola art forms.

Thanjavoor Paintings: Another unique and traditional art form from Thanjavoor will be the Thanjavoor paintings. This 10th century art form is being continued by master painters and the paintings most often will be on Hindu gods and goddesses. This traditional paintings use dyes and natural colors as well as gold foil and precious stones to figure out the embossed images. The Thanjavoor plates are another popular art form and the traditional artisans use copper, silver and bronze to decorate the plate with embossed art patterns. 

Traditional Mats: The exquisitely decorative grass mats are woven by artisans at Pathamada (near Tirunelvelli, Tamil Nadu). The mats attracts markets all over the world.

Gold and Silver jewelry: Yet another attraction will be the traditional gold jewelry. You will find stone studded golden ear studs, nose studs, nose rings, bangles, bracelets, necklaces, harams, chains, rings, etc. You will also come across silver ornaments and vessels and to name some jewelry include ankle bracelet (Kolusu), toe ring, key chains, sandal paste vessel, rose water vessel, pooja articles etc.

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