Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
🗺️

Tamil Nadu

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Tamil Nadu is the southernmost state of India.

Tamil Nadu topo deutsch mit Gebirgen
Tamil Nadu topo deutsch mit Gebirgen

It is the tenth largest Indian state by area. However, it is the sixth largest by population. The state is the home of the Tamil people. They speak the Tamil language. This is the official language of the state. It was also the first language in India to be recognized as a classical language. Chennai serves as the state's capital and largest city.

The geography of the region is very diverse. The state sits on the south-eastern coast of the Indian peninsula. In the west, it is bordered by the Western Ghats and the Deccan Plateau.

Western Ghats Gobi
Western Ghats Gobi

The Eastern Ghats sit in the north. The Eastern Coastal Plains line the Bay of Bengal to the east.

Pichavaram 1
Pichavaram 1

To the south-east, the water includes the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. The Laccadive Sea sits at the southern cape of the peninsula. The Kaveri River flows through and bisects the state.

Cauvery at Erode
Cauvery at Erode

Politically, Tamil Nadu borders the Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. It also encloses part of the union territory of Puducherry. At Pamban Island, it shares a maritime border with the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.

The history of this region is incredibly deep. Archaeological evidence suggests archaic humans lived here more than 385,000 years ago. The state has more than 5,500 years of continuous cultural history. Excavations at Keezhadi revealed a large urban settlement. The earliest artifacts there date to 580 BCE. In Adichanallur, the Archaeological Survey of India found artifacts showing history from over 3,800 years ago. Some Neolithic celts found there include the Indus script. These items are dated between 1500 and 2000 BCE.

During the Sangam period, from 500 BCE to 300 CE, the region was known as Tamilakam.

South India in Sangam Period
South India in Sangam Period

This era was ruled by a triumvirate of three monarchical states. These were the Cheras, the Cholas, and the Pandyas. The Cheras controlled the western part of Tamilkam. The Pandyas ruled the south. The Cholas were based in the Kaveri delta. These kings, called Vendhar, ruled over various tribes. They supported many religions, including Buddhism and Jainism. They also sponsored early Tamil literature, such as the grammar book Tolkāppiyam.

In the medieval era, new dynasties rose to power. The Pallavas rose to prominence in the sixth century. Their capital was Kanchipuram. The Pallavas were famous for their architecture. They created the massive gopuram, which are ornate towers at temple entrances.

Andal Temple
Andal Temple

They also built rock-cut monuments in Mahabalipuram.

Five Rathas - Mahabalipuram
Five Rathas - Mahabalipuram

In the 9th century, the Cholas became the dominant power. The empire reached its zenith under Rajendra Chola I. The Cholas built many temples in the Dravidian style. One famous example is the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur. The Pandyas also had a major revival. In the 13th century, Marco Polo described the Pandyas as the richest empire in existence.

European influence changed the region through trade and colonization. The Portuguese arrived in 1522. The Dutch established a settlement in Pulicat. The Danes also had an establishment in Tharangambadi.

Fort Dansborg
Fort Dansborg

In 1639, the British East India Company obtained land on the Coromandel coast. They built Fort St. George, which became the nucleus of the British Raj in the region.

Fort St. George, Chennai
Fort St. George, Chennai

The French also established trading posts, such as Pondichéry. Eventually, the British conquered most of the region. They established the Madras Presidency. After Indian Independence in 1947, the area became the Madras State. It was reorganized linguistically in 1956. The state was finally renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969.

Today, Tamil Nadu is an economic leader. It has the second-largest economy among the 28 states of India. The manufacturing sector is very strong. It accounts for nearly one-third of the state's GDP. The state also ranks 11th in the human development index. Nature is a major part of the state's identity. It contains three biosphere reserves and five National Parks. There are also 18 wildlife sanctuaries and 17 bird sanctuaries. Visitors can see animals like the Bengal tiger

or the Asian elephant.

9113jpg
9113jpg

The state's tourism industry is the largest in India.

678 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (43)
File:South India in Sangam Period.jpg
South India in Sangam Period.jpg
File:Five Rathas - Mahabalipuram.jpg
Five Rathas - Mahabalipuram.jpg
File:Rajendra map new.svg
Rajendra map new.svg
File:Fort Dansborg.JPG
Fort Dansborg.JPG
File:Fort St. George, Chennai.jpg
Fort St. George, Chennai.jpg
File:Tamil Nadu topo deutsch mit Gebirgen.png
Tamil Nadu topo deutsch mit Gebirgen.png
File:Western Ghats Gobi.jpg
Western Ghats Gobi.jpg
File:Koppen-Geiger Map IND present.svg
Koppen-Geiger Map IND present.svg
File:India_southwest_summer_monsoon_onset_map_en.svg
India_southwest_summer_monsoon_onset_map_en.svg
File:9113jpg.jpg
9113jpg.jpg
File:A courting male in Eravikulam NP AJTJohnsingh DSCN2997.jpg
A courting male in Eravikulam NP...
File:Tiger_Drinking_Pond_Mudumalai_Mar21_DSC01310.jpg
Tiger_Drinking_Pond_Mudumalai_Mar21_DSC01310.jpg

+ 31 more

More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.