A veritable shopper's paradise, Tamilnadu is most famous for its silks especially the vibrantly colored saris of Kancheepuram known for its quality and texture. Also available are silk scarves, ties, suiting and dress material. Metal, bronze, brass, wood, terracotta and paier mache statuettes, figures and carvings are beautifully executed. Traditional brass lamps used ritually at all ceremonies are a speciality of Tamilnadu From Thanjavur are the famous Thanjavur glass paintings and Thanjavur plates  
embossed in silver and copper. Cane and palm leaf in natural golden sheen is used by craftsmen to make lamps, furniture, baskets and the like. Ceramics, Karagiri glazed pottery with traditional Persian motifs, sandalwood, lacquerware and many more crafts are to be found in the city.  

Ooty

Population: 87000 

Telephone Area Code: 0423.

This famous hill station near the tri-junction fo Tamil Nadu ,Kerala & Karnataka in the Nilgiri hills was founded by the British  in the early part  of the 19 th century to serve as a summer headquarters of Madras government. Before that time it  was inhabited by the Todas, the tribal people of which today only remain 3000. Until about two decades ago, Ooty (altitude 2240 meters ) resembled an unlikely combination of England & Australia: single storey stone cottages, bijou fenced flower gardens, leafy, winding lanes, and tall eucalyptus stands covering the other wise barren Hilltops.

Money: The State Bank Of India, Town West is open weekdays from 10 am to 2 Pm.

Things To See:  Katagiri Pass,Dddabetta(2623 meters), Nilgiris, Lake for Boating, Mudumali Wildlife Sanctuary, Bokkapuram.

Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary: In the luxuriantly forested foothills  of the Nilgiris this 321-sq-km sanctuary is part of a much larger reserve (3000 sq km).In Madumalai the mostly dense forest is home to Chital, tigers, panthers, wildboar, Ottersand Crocodiles inhabit the river. The best time to visit is Feb to June. 

Getting There by Train: Like Darjeeling and Matheran, Ooty has a miniature Railway connecting it with the lowlands. The Trains, with their quaint yellow- and blue carriages, are not quite as small as the Darjeeling toy Train, but they are still tiny. The rail starts at Mettupalayam, north of Coimbatore, and goes via Coonoor to Ooty, enroute affording some spectacular views of the precipitous eastern slopes of the rainforest-covered Nilgiris.The Nilgiri Express which runs departs Madras at 9 pm and arrives at Mettupalayam at 7:15 am. it leaves again at 7:30 am to Madras.

Wild life Tours : Plenty of wild life is available, tours of the park are limited to the sanctuary's minibuses, a jeep & elephants  It hardy costs about Rs 25 to 30.

Places to Stay: Hotel Savoy, Youth Hotel, Hotel Chaing Cross, Hotel Sanjay, Hotel Tamilnadu, Hotel Nahar, Hotel Khems, Vishu Lodge, YMCA, Nilgiri Woodlands,Hotel Dashprakash, Hotel Lakeview, Fernhill Palace,Regency Villa.

Places to Eat: Shinkow's Chinese Restaurant, Shogun Restaurant, Hotel Sanjay Restaurant, Hotel Nahar Restaurant, Tandoori Mahal.Ooty Club.

Madurai 

Madurai's most important festival celebrates the sacred wedding ceremony of the goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar during the Tamil month of Chithirai, which falls during March-April. On the occasion, a well decked chariot carrying the images of the couple, is taken around the town. The evocative notes of the nadaswaram and the drums, create festive ambience. The festival gathers a mammoth crowd. Another important  celebration is the annual Float Festival, when images of Meenakshi and her consort are floated on the Mariamman Tank, on an illuminated raft bedecked with flowers. 

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Kodaikanal 

Population 30, 500 

Of the three main hill stations in the south Udhagamandalam Kodaikanal and Yercaud Kodaikanal is undoubtedly the most beautiful and, unlike Ooty, the temperature here rarely drops ot the point where you need to wear heavy clothing even in winter. 
Kodai has the distinction of being the only hill station is India to be set up during the Raj by Americans though it didn't take long before they were joined by the British. American missionaries established a school for European children here in the mid-1840s, the legacy of which is the Kodaikanal International School-one of the most prestigious private schools in the country. 
Others 
Astrophysical Laboratory, Flora & Fauna Museum, Parks & Falls Bryant Park Silver, Cascade, Sacred Heart Church, District Forest Office, Kodaikanal International School, Boathouse, Tibetan Stalls, Taj Villa.