Tamil Nadu
Temple towns, shore shrines and hill stations, on a trip from the Bay of Bengal coast to the Western Ghats.
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Tamil Nadu is a state at the southern tip of India, on the Bay of Bengal, with Chennai as its capital. Its temples follow the Dravidian style, with tall gateway towers carved with figures. The Chola dynasty built the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur, and Madurai's Meenakshi Amman Temple is the city's best-known shrine.
Mamallapuram has rock-cut shrines and the Shore Temple on the coast. Ooty and the Nilgiri hills in the Western Ghats are cooler than the plains. Trains and buses link the towns, so the state suits travelers who don't mind long rides between stops. Meals are built on rice, lentils, tamarind and coconut, and dosa and filter coffee are common at breakfast. The cooler, drier months from January to March suit most trips, while the northeast monsoon brings heavy rain to the coast from October to December.
Tamil Nadu in five
- Pick a coast route or a temple routeA coast route links Chennai, Mamallapuram and Puducherry in a few days. A temple route runs inland to Thanjavur and Madurai and needs a week with train legs.Mamallapuram travel guide
- See the Chola temples at ThanjavurThe Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur is part of the UNESCO listing of the Great Living Chola Temples, with two more nearby at Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram. Go early for light and fewer groups.
- Dress for temples and check the rulesMost temples ask for covered shoulders and knees and for shoes to be left outside. Some inner sanctums admit only Hindus, and entry rules and camera fees vary by temple, so ask at the gate.Madurai travel guide
- Avoid the October to December rainsThe northeast monsoon brings heavy rain and occasional cyclones to the coast between about October and December. Winter, roughly January and February, is the cooler dry window.Best of South India
- Book Madurai and Chennai trains earlyOvernight trains link Chennai and Madurai and sell out around Pongal in mid-January. Reserve on the official IRCTC site as soon as dates are firm.Getting around India
Neighborhoods
Tiruvannamalai
Tiruvannamalai is a Shiva temple town in Tamil Nadu, known for the Annamalaiyar Temple and the 14 km barefoot Girivalam walk around its sacred hill.
Madurai
Madurai is a working Hindu pilgrimage city. Pilgrims come to the Meenakshi Amman Temple from dawn to night, and flower and food markets line the streets around it.
Chennai (Madras)
Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, is the place to see Hindu temples, Chola-period bronzes and Marina Beach, with the December to January music season as a major draw.
Puducherry (Pondicherry)
Puducherry is a former French colony on India's southeast coast, known for its colonial lanes, a seafront promenade and cafes with a French touch.
Things to do in Tamil Nadu
See all attractions in Tamil Nadu
Need to know
- Getting there
- Chennai is the main airport; Madurai and Tiruchirappalli have flights too
- Getting around
- Trains between cities; taxis with a driver for temple circuits
- Best base
- Chennai, then Madurai or Thanjavur by train
- Time needed
- 7 to 10 days for Chennai, the coast and two inland cities
- Festival
- Pongal, the harvest festival, falls in mid-January
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear5 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Cool, PongalJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, Pongal
- FebruaryClear2 rainy daysHigh33°Low21°Dry, warmFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 10 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- MarchClear4 rainy daysHigh36°Low24°Heat buildsMarchClear
Good
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 27 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Heat builds
- AprilClear7 rainy daysHigh39°Low27°HotAprilClear
Poor
- High
- 39°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh38°Low28°Very hotMayPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 38°
- Low
- 28°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh36°Low27°Hot, breezyJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, breezy
- JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh35°Low27°HotJulyPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh35°Low26°Hot, humidAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh35°Low26°Rain, hotSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, hot
- OctoberRain20 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°NE monsoonOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 214 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
NE monsoon
- NovemberRain19 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Rain, cycloneNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 234 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, cyclone
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Cool, bestDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 125 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, best
Average daily high and low in Madurai, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Tamil Nadu
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
23
- Feels like
- 26°
- Humidity
- 96%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 33%
Tamil Nadu
02:08 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today32°24°33%Tuesday: Rain. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Wed32°23°76%Wednesday: Rain. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Thu30°24°75%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 75%.
- Fri29°23°96%Friday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Sat29°24°96%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Sun27°23°90%Sunday: Rain. High 27°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Mon29°21°63%Monday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 63%.
Updated 09:54 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 95.08 INR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Mamallapuramabout 1.5 to 2 hours from ChennaiShore temple, rock-cut caves and a coastal breeze, easy by road.Read the guide
- Tiruvannamalaiabout 3.5 to 4 hours from ChennaiA pilgrimage town at the foot of Arunachala hill, best as an overnight.Read the guide
- Ootyabout 7 to 8 hours from Madurai by roadA Nilgiri hill station reached by a toy train from Mettupalayam.Read the guide
Before you go to Tamil Nadu
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Tamil Nadu, checked
- Most foreign visitors need an Indian e-Visa, applied for online before arrival. Check eligibility on the official portal.Source
- Remove footwear before entering temples, and check each temple's dress code, since many ask for covered shoulders and knees.
- Photography is restricted inside many temple sanctums; ask staff before taking pictures.
- Alcohol is sold through state-run TASMAC shops and licensed bars, and shops close on some days; check locally before you plan a drink.
- Single-use plastic bags and cutlery are banned in Tamil Nadu; carry a reusable bag.
Plan around Tamil Nadu
Visas, trains and seasons, country-wide
Read the guideMadurai travel guideThe Meenakshi temple city
Read the guideMamallapuram travel guideShore temple and rock carvings
Read the guideChennai travel guideThe main gateway city for flights
Read the guidePuducherry travel guideFrench-quarter streets and a seafront
Read the guideIndia e-Visa guideApply online before you fly in
Read the guideTamil Nadu FAQ
How many days do you need in Tamil Nadu?
A week covers Chennai, the coast and one inland city. Ten days adds Thanjavur and Madurai with comfortable train legs, and two weeks lets you add Chettinad or the hill station of Ooty.
What is the best time to visit Tamil Nadu?
January and February are cool and dry, and December is good before the rains finish. April to June is very hot, and October to December brings the northeast monsoon and possible cyclones on the coast.
Do you need to cover up at Tamil Nadu temples?
Yes. Cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes and expect to carry them or leave them at a stall. Some temples restrict photography or inner sanctums, so follow signs and ask at the gate.
Is Madurai worth visiting?
Yes. The Meenakshi temple complex is the main reason, with tall painted towers and a lively market around it. Allow a full day and visit at the start or end of the day.
Can you do Tamil Nadu by train?
Yes. Chennai, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli and Madurai are linked by regular trains, and it is cheaper and more comfortable than driving. Book a few weeks ahead for peak dates.