Tamil Nadu, the southeast of India

Tamil Nadu, often called the Land of Temples, is home to thousands of magnificent shrines that reflect over two millennia of devotion, art, and architecture. From the early Pallava, Chola, Pandya, and Vijayanagara dynasties emerged temple cities that became not only centres of worship but also hubs of learning, music, and sculpture. The capital, Chennai (formerly Madras), founded by the British as Fort St. George in 1639, has grown into a thriving coastal metropolis and cultural hub. British officials also founded Kodaikanal in the 19th century as a hill retreat high in the Palani Hills to escape the summer heat. Puducherry, formerly Pondicherry, was a French enclave, adding a European charm with its colonial boulevards and churches; its two parts, including the port city Karaikal, 130 kilometres further south, are now a Union Territory.

Kanchipuram, once the capital of the Pallavas, boasts grand temples like Kailasanathar and Ekambareswarar, masterpieces of early stone architecture. Along the coast lies Mahabalipuram, the Pallava port city renowned for its early Dravidian rock-cut shrines and shore temples. In Chidambaram, the Nataraja Temple enshrines Shiva as the cosmic dancer, symbolising the universe’s rhythm. Further south, Thanjavur, the imperial capital of the Cholas, houses the Brihadeeswarar Temple (1010 CE), now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To its west, Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) was a stronghold of successive Tamil rulers with the Rock Fort Temple rising dramatically above the city. Across the Kaveri River lies Srirangam, home to the vast Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one of the largest functioning temple complexes in the world

In Madurai, one of India’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, the Meenakshi Amman Temple dominates the skyline with its soaring gopurams adorned with a profusion of colourful deities. Built mainly during the Nayak rulers’ reign in the 16th century, it remains one of India’s most vibrant living temples. To its northwest is Palani, home to the Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Murugan, atop a hill accessible by steps or a ropeway, attracting millions of pilgrims every year. Along the coast, Rameswaram is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in India: the Ramanathaswamy Temple links legend and pilgrimage through its sacred theerthams (wells) and vast pillared corridors. And at India’s southernmost tip is Kanniyakumari, Cape Comorin, with the Kumari Amman Temple honouring the virgin goddess Devi Kanya Kumari, an incarnation of Parvati.