Alex is introduced to Tamil Nadu through the state capital, Chennai. A colonial-era cathedral that she visits turns out to be one of the only three known churches in the world built over the tomb of an apostle of Jesus. She also finds out that a museum dedicated to the life of a saint was once used by an American businessman to store ice. She soon realizes that the city is full of hidden stories waiting to be explored. 

Chennai’s Hidden Stories 

In the 8th century AD, a town on the Coromandel coast became a lab for the kings of the Pallava dynasty to conduct their architectural experiments. Centuries later, Alex visits the world-famous rock-cut temples and cave shrines of Mahabalipuram to explore the styles of architecture that were innovated by kings, who are often called the pioneers of South Indian architecture.  

Mahabalipuram

Alex takes a trip to Thanjavur, curious about why it has always been called “the cradle of arts”. Soon, she is lost in the magnificence of the Great Living Chola Temples, with their stunning architecture and intricate carvings, rich in symbolism. At a center for making bronze statues, she is surprised to find out how ancient is the art form. The highlight of her trip, however, is a visit to a workshop for making musical instruments, where she is treated to an impromptu performance.  

Thanjavur’s Art Forms 

Ooty has been known to charm visitors ever since British officers used to go there to escape the infamous Indian summer. Sipping tea at the tiered tea plantations, strolling by serene lakes and gushing waterfalls, gawking at gentle deer and majestic elephants at Mudumalai National Park, Alex loses herself in the breathtaking natural beauty of this retreat nestled in the Nilgiri hills.  

Ooty’s Charms 

Kodaikanal - the name means “The Gift of the Forest”. True to its name, the cozy hill station nestled in Tamil Nadu’s Palani Hills is captivating with its verdant hills, cascading waterfalls, and postcard-perfect lakes. Alex  is truly astonished, however, when she stumbles onto an observatory here  that has been tracking solar activity for around 115 years! 

Kodaikanal Surprise 

During her travels across Tamil Nadu, Alex finally reaches one of India’s most famous pilgrimage sites – Madurai. She pays her respects at the nerve center of the city – the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Her exploration of Madurai reveals to her, however, that there is another, rather delightful side to this revered city. 

Offbeat Madurai 

A town defined by medieval grandeur, Karaikudi transports Alex to the era when affluent Chettiar merchants built splendid mansions as a status symbol. At one of these mansions, the secrets of the Chettinad cuisine, heavy on meat and heat, begin to unfold.  

Karaikudi's Medieval Grandeur 

In the last leg of her journey in Tamil Nadu, Alex visits one of India’s southernmost towns, Rameshwaram. Here, she is treated to stunning views of azure waters and coral islands that stretch all the way to Sri Lanka. What she doesn't expect to find, however, are the ruins of a ghost town sitting on a beach. 

Rameshwaram’s Attractions 

Despite having taken many trips to India, there is one destination that renowned traveler, Alex Outhwaite has always wanted to visit but never had the chance – Tamil Nadu. With her dream finally coming true, she finds herself in a land where architectural marvels meet natural wonders, the culture is as strong as a cup of filter coffee, and the people speak in a language she doesn’t understand. Is India’s southernmost state everything she has always imagined it to be? 

Timeless Tamil Nadu