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Wildlife
MUDUMALAI SANCTUARY
60 kms from Udagamandalam. Elephant,
gaur, tiger, panther, sambar, spotted
deer, wild boar, porcupine, minivets,
form bills, fairy blue birds, python,
monitor lizard etc.
ACCESS: Coimbatore has the nearest
airport. Regular bus services are
available. The nearest railhead is
Udagamandalam.
ACCOMMODATION: Rest house, log huts
and tented accommodation and TTDC's
youth hostel (Ph: 249) at Theppakkadu
available. View towers with
accommodation are available. Reserve
with The Chief Wildlife Warden,
National Deer Park, Guindy, Chennai,
or with the Wildlife Warden,
Udagamandalam (Ooty).
Historical / Religious
CHIDAMBARAM
244 kms from Chennai. Has the famous
Nataraja Temple. Dedicated to Shiva,
the Cosmic Dancer. The Annamalai
University is also located here.
Pichavaram, 16 kms from Chidambaram
has serene backwaters dotted with
dense mangrove forests. For boat rides
contact Tel 041445-89.
Access: Express trains and buses
connect Chidambaram with other cities.
Accommodation: Chidambaram:
TTDC Hotel Tamil Nadu, Railway Feeder
Road. Tel 20056. Rs 140 and Rs 200 for
basic room. Rs 350 for air-conditioned
double room plus Rs 60 for Star TV
facility.
Hotel Akshaya, 17 East Car Street. Tel
20192. Rs 220 for double bed room, Rs
350 for deluxe room and Rs 550 for
air-conditioned room.
Hotel Saradharam, 19 VGP Street. Tel
21337. Rs 300 and Rs 450 for ordinary
single and double-bed room with fan
and TV for Indians. Rs 500 and Rs 575
for air-conditioned rooms. For
foreigners the charge is 30 per cent
more.
THANJAVUR
The granary of Tamil Nadu. City of
temples, Carnatic music, Bharatanatyam
and traditional handicrafts. King Raja
Raja Cholan constructed the
Brahadeeswarar Temple an architectural
marvel with intricate sculpture more
than a thousand years ago. The art
gallery and the Saraswathi Mahal
library are also other places of
interest. Within 40 kms from here are
Thiruvaiyaru, Tirukkandiyur,
Kumbakonam, Tirubuvanam and Dharasuram.
Gangaikonda-cholapuram (71 kms) has a
Shiva Temple. Nagore (85 kms) is a
renowned pilgrim centre for Muslims;
Velanganni, (90 kms) is a sacred place
for Christians.
Access: Thiruchirappalli (60kms) is
the nearest airport. Thanjavur is on
the Chennai-Tiruchi rail route.
Express buses connect Thanjavur to
other towns.
Accommodation: TTDC Hotel Tamil Nadu,
Gandhiji Road. Tel 31421. Rs 350 for
ordinary double bed room and Rs 500
for air-conditioned double bed room.
Rs 50 for hiring TV.
Hotel Parisutham, 55 Grand Anicut
Canal Road. Tel 31801. Room cost $46
and $86 including breakfast.
Hotel Sangam, Tel 25151. $45 and $88
for rooms with bathtubs and showers.
Hotel Oriental Towers, Srinivasan
Pillai Road. Tel 30724. $37 and $47
for centrally air-conditioned single
and double rooms.
POOMPUHAR
40 kms from Chidambaram. Ancient port
of the Chola Kingdom. And setting of
the Tamil epic 'Silappadhikaram'.
Estuary of the River Kaveri. See the
Poompuhar Art Gallery, Elanji Manram,
Pavai Manram, Nedungal Manram and
relax on the beach.
ACCESS: Nearest airport Tiruchirapalli
(160 kms). Nearest railway station
Mayiladuturai 30kms. Bus services are
available.
Accommodation: Tourist Department's
Cottages are available. Contact the
Tourist Office Tel 04364-46013.
TIRUCHIRAPPALLI
320 kms from Chennai on the National
Highway. Another city of temples in
South India having the Sri
Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam),
Shiva Temple at Tiruvanaikkaval and
the Samayapuram Mariamman Temple. The
Rock Fort Ganesha temple is at a
height of over 83 metres. Also visit
Nartamalai, Sittannavasal,
Kudumiyanmalai and Kodumbalur to see
ancient monuments, Jain caves with
intricate wall paintings. And the
Grand Anicut dam, built across the
Kaveri river by the Chola King
Karikalan in 2 Century A.D. Visit
Avudaiyarkoil (110 kms) for its
life-size sculptures. Viralimalai (28
kms) is famous for its Murugan Temple
and Peacock Sanctuary. Mukkombu (20
kms) is another picnic spot.
Tiruchirappalli is connected by road
and rail.
Accommodation: Jenny’s Residency, 14
C Williams Road. Tel 461551. Rs 1350
and Rs 1,650 for single and double
rooms respectively.
Sangam Hotel, Collector's Office Road.
Tel 464700. $45 and $88 per room.
Hotel Tamil Nadu, McDonald's Road. Tel
460383. Rs 310 and Rs 410 for
air-conditioned rooms.
Hotel Mega, 8 Rockins Road. Tel
463092. Rs 325 and Rs 375 for
air-conditioned single and double
rooms respectively. Rs 170 for non-A/C
double room.
Hotel Mathura, Rockins Road. Tel
4673737. Rs 350 and Rs 420 for
air-conditioned single and double
rooms respectively. Rs 150 and Rs 195
for non-A/C single and double rooms
respectively.
Femina Hotel, 14 C Williams Road. Tel
461551. Rs 475 and Rs 700 for
air-conditioned rooms and Rs 225 and
Rs 350 for ordinary rooms.TTDC's Hotel
Tamil Nadu. Tel 0431-460383 to 85.
MADURAI
Was the capital of the Pandiya
Kingdom. The second largest city in
Tamil Nadu. The Meenakshi Temple has
towering 'gopurams' and rare
sculptures. Other places of interest
are the Mariamman Tank, Koodal Azhagar
Temple and the Gandhi Museum, the
Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple (8
kms), Azhagar Koil (21 kms) and
Pazhamuthircholai, Palani (122 kms),
the Suruli Waterfalls (128 kms) and
the Vaigai Dam (68 kms). The Periyar
Wildlife Sanctuary is 148 kms from
Madurai.
Accommodation: Madurai: Hotel Madurai
Ashok, Alargarkoil Road. Tel 537531.
Rs 1,250 to Rs 2000 per room
Pandyan Hotel, Alargarkoil Road. Tel
537090. Rs 1,175 to Rs 1,700 per
air-conditioned room
Taj Garden Retreat. Tel 601020. Deluxe
rooms for $125 and $140. `Old world'
rooms (part of the original colonial
villa) for $110 and $120. Standard
room for $90 and $ 105.
Hotel Park Plaza, 114 West Perumal
Maistry Street. Tel 742112. Rs 775 and
Rs 1000 (including breakfast) per room
Hotel Chentoor, 106 West Perumal
Maistry Street. Tel 747022. Rs 550 for
air-conditioned double room and Rs 320
for ordinary room
Hotel Supreme, 110 West Perumal
Maistry Street. Tel 742637. Rs 590 for
air-conditioned double room and Rs 360
for non A/C room TTDC Hotel Tamil Nadu,
West Veli Street. Tel 537461. Rs 260
and Rs 400 for air-conditioned room
with TV. Rs 150 and Rs 195 for
ordinary room
Hotel Aarathy, 9 Perumal Koil West
Mada Street. Tel 537461. Rs 350 and Rs
450 for air-conditioned room. Rs 200
and Rs 280 for ordinary rooms.
RAMESWARAM
Known for its temple corridor - the
longest in India and coral reefs.
Visit the Bathing Ghat, Ganthamathana
Parvatham, Kothandaramar temple and
Kurusadai.
Access: Madurai (173 kms) is the
nearest airport. Well connected by
rail and road.
Accommodation: Rameswaram: Chola
Lodge, North Car Street. Tel 21307. Rs
125 for double room and Rs 220 for
family room (for five).
Swami Ramanatha Tourist Home. Tel
21217. Rs 160 for double room with
shower bath facility.
Hotel Maharaja's, 7 Middle Street. Tel
21271. Rs 460 for air-conditioned
double room and Rs 220 for ordinary
double room.
Hotel Island Star, South Car Street.
Tel 21472. Rs 550 for air-conditioned
triple bed room. Rs 270 and Rs 170 for
non A/C triple and double bed rooms
respectively.
TTDC Hotel Tamil Nadu, Sannathi
Street. Tel 21277. Rs 550 for
air-conditioned double room. Rs 320
and Rs 250 for ordinary triple and
double bed rooms.
KANYAKUMARI
The southern tip of India at the
confluence of the Indian Ocean, the
Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
Places to see: the Kumari Amman
Temple, Gandhi Memorial, the Beach and
the Vivekananda memorial. Also visit
Suchindram Temple with musical pillars
(13 kms), the palace and museum at
Padmanabhapuram (32 kms), the circular
fort at Vattakottai (6 kms) and the
Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil (19 kms).
Access: Thiruvananthapuram (89 kms) is
the nearest airport. Kanyakumari is
the railway terminus on the
Thiruvananthapuram - Kanyakumari and
Chennai - Kanyakumari section of the
Southern Railway. Regular bus services
are also available from other places.
Accommodation: Hotel Samudra. Tel
71162. Rs 850 for air-conditioned
double room. Rs 360 to Rs 560 for non
A/C double rooms.
Hotel Tamil Nadu. Tel 71257. Rs 500
for air-conditioned double room. Rs
360 for non A/C double room with bath
room and Rs 100 for double room with
common bath room.
Kerala House. Tel 71229. Rs 360 to Rs
420 for large double rooms.
Hotel Maadhini, East Car Street. Tel
71787. Rs 470 and Rs 850 for
air-conditioned double rooms with
ocean view and Rs 360 for other double
rooms.
Manickhan Tourist Home. Tel 71387. Rs
280 for sea-facing double room and Rs
200 for other double rooms.
Hotel Saagar, South Car Street. Tel
71325. Rs 160 to Rs 220 for double-bed
room.
Vivekas Tourist Hotel Main Road. Tel
71192. Rs 160 to Rs 210 for rooms with
shower bath facility.
Leisure
UDAGAMANDALAM (OOTY)
The 'Queen of Hill Stations, 2,286
metres (7500feet) above sea level.
Botanical Gardens, Ooty Lake, Doda
Betta, Mukurti Peak, the Pykara Dam
and the sprawling tea plantations
around. There are some fine trekking
routes. The Mudumalai wildlife
sanctuary is 60 kms from here and
Kotagiri 29 kms.
Access: Coimbatore (89 kms) is the
nearest airport. Quaint mountain train
from Mettuppalaiyam connects Ooty and
Coonoor. Bus services available.
Accommodation: Udhagamandalam (Ooty):
Savoy Hotel, 77 Sylks Road. Seasonal
rates: $145 for double room.
Non-seasonal rates: $ 90 per double
room.
Hotel Nahar, Commercial Road. Tel
42173. Seasonal rates: Rs 850 to Rs
1,400 for double room. Non-seasonal
rates: Rs 650 to Rs 1100 for double
room.
Regency Villa. Tel 42555. Rs 600 to Rs
1,000 for double rooms in the main
building.
Hotel Dasaprakash, Ettines Road. Tel
42324. Seasonal rates: Rs 360 to Rs
700 per double room. Non-seasonal
rates: Rs 180 to Rs 500.
Nilgiri Woodlands Hotel, Ettines Road.
Tel 42551. Seasonal rates: Rs 500 to
Rs 1100 per double room. Non-seasonal
rates: Rs 300 to Rs 700.
Hotel Khems, Shoreham Palace Road. Tel
44188. Seasonal rates: Rs 900 to Rs
1100. Non-seasonal rates: Rs 550 to Rs
750.
Hotel Tamil Nadu. Tel 44370. Rs 450
and Rs 800 per double room. Rs 550 and
Rs 950 per cottage. Tel
0423-44368,44378. Youth Hostel Tel
43665. Youth Hostel, Mudumalai Tel 249
Contact the Tourist Office Tel 43977.
KODAIKANAL
Located at 2133 mts (7,000 feet) above
sea level. Visit Pillar Rocks, Lake,
Solar Observatory, Perumal Peak,
Silver Cascade, Coaker's Walk, Bear
Shola Falls, Berijam Lake, Museum and
Orchidorium at Sacred Heart College,
Shenbaganur. Ask around for
alternative tourist guides who will
take you on some mind-blowing treks.
Access: Madurai (120 kms) is the
nearest airport and Kodaikkanal Road
(80 kms) the nearest railway station.
Regular bus service to Madurai and
other towns are available.
Accommodation: Kodaikanal: Kodaikanal
Club. Tel 41341. Rs 750 and Rs 850 for
double rooms plus 15 per cent service
charge. However, a member's
recommendation is needed.
Valley View Hotel, Post Office Road.
Tel 40181. High season rates: Rs 1,400
and Rs 1,700 including meals. Rs 350
and Rs 500 during low season.
The Carlton Hotel, Lake Road. Tel
40056. Rs 2,000 and Rs 4,000 during
high season and Rs 1,690 and Rs 2,550
during other part of the year.
Hotel Garden Manor, Lake Road. Tel
40461. Rs1,100 to Rs 1,450 during
season and Rs 570 to Rs 800 during
rest of the year.
Hilltop Towers, Club Road. Tel 40413.
Rs 750 and Rs 900 during peak season.
Non-seasonal rates are Rs 440 and Rs
480.
Hotel Jewel, Hospital Road. Tel 41029.
Seasonal rates: Rs 450 and Rs 650
rates for ordinary and deluxe rooms
respectively. Non-seasonal rates: Rs
275 and Rs 300 respectively.
Hotel Astoria. Tel 40524. Seasonal
rates: Rs 625 and Rs 800 for ordinary
and deluxe rooms respectively.
Non-seasonal rates: Rs 300 and 400
respectively.
Hotel Sangeeth. Tel 40456. Rs 195 and
Rs 335 for double rooms. Snooze Inn.
Tel 40837. Rs 280 and Rs 560 for
double rooms.
Hotel Anjay, Bazaar Road. Tel 41089.
Rs 220 and Rs 440 for double rooms.
Taj Villa, Coaker's Road. Tel 40940.
Rs 450 for double room.
TTDC Hotel Tamil Nadu (Tel 04542-41336
to 39) Youth Hostel Tel 41336
YERCAUD
A hill station at 1500 mts (5000 ft)
in the Servaroyan Hills, Salem
District. Altitude 1500 mts (5000
feet). Visit the lake, Anna Park,
Orchidorium, Lady's Seat, Pagoda
Point, Bear's Cave and Servaroyan
Temple.
Access: Tiruchi (169 kms) is the
nearest airport. Salem Junction (35
kms) is the nearest railhead. Regular
bus service from Salem is available.
Accommodation: Hotel Tamil Nadu.
Double rooms Rs 350 to Rs 500 (Rs 450
to Rs 650 in peak season) and Rs 75
for dormitory bed.
Hotel Shevaroys. Standard double suits
from Rs 475 to Rs 675 (Rs 625 to Rs
825 during peak season).
KUTTRALAM WATER FALLS
'Spa of the South'. 167 mts above sea
level, in the Western Ghats. Waters
known for their curative properties.
Season June to September. You can go
boat riding.
Accommodation TTDC's (Hotel Tamil Nadu)
(Tel 22423).
Access: Madurai (160 kms) is the
nearest airport, Tenkasi (5 kms) the
nearest railhead.
Kuttralam: Krishna Tourist Home, next
to Tenkasi bus stand. Tel 23125. Rs
450 for air-conditioned double room
and Rs 195 for non-A/C double room.
Hotel Anandha Classic, 116-A/7
Courtallam Road. Tel 23303. Rs 450 for
air-conditioned double room and Rs 195
for ordinary room.
HOGENAKAL FALLS
350 kms from Chennai. Waters with
medicinal properties. Set amidst lush
green woods. Take the 'Parisal'
(indigenous boat) ride through River
Kaveri. Bangalore is the nearest
airport (130 kms).
Accommodation: Hogenakkal: Hotel Tamil
Nadu . Double bed rooms (Non-A/C) Rs
400 and air-conditioned Rs 600. 30 per
cent additional tax on weekends.
Dormitories for men Rs 70. Tel
04342-56447 & 56448).
Tourist Rest House and Tourist Home.
Rs 100 to Rs 150 for basic rooms.
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