Tamil Nadu Golden Triangle

Located at a distance of 58-km from Chennai, Mahabalipuram has everything that makes a site memorable; tradition, history, piety, western annals, and current importance as a centre of tourism.

PRIME ATTRACTIONS
Dance Festival at Mahabalipuram : The internationally acclaimed and globally renowned "Mahabalipuram Dance Festival" is organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu every year in Mahabalipuram - the renowned and ancient 7th century centre for Pallava culture and arts. The Dance festival starts on the 25th of December every year and is conducted on all Saturdays and Government holidays, upto February first week. Dancers and musicians of repute from India and abroad thrill the crowds every year. Folk dances of India are an added attraction.

Popularly regarded as "The Gateway to the South", Chennai is the fourth largest city in India and the capital of Tamil Nadu state. With a vast population of about six million people, Chennai is a city that is growing, expanding and changing vigorously.

It's Location
Chennai has the Bay of Bengal bordering its east, while the state of Andhra Pradesh is on its northwest. It has the Kanchipuram on its south and the states of Kerala and Karnataka on its western side.

PRIME ATTRACTIONS
Marina Beach : Golden sand, good surf and a shimmering clean blue sea; this in a nutshell is Marina beach. This beach is counted among one of the longest beaches in Asia. Its 12 km-long stretch was made beautiful by the wonderful facelift given by Governor Mount Stuart Elphinstone Grant Duff in the early 1880's, and is a major tourist attraction today.

Theosophical Society : On a vast expanse of over 250 acres on the banks of the Adyar estuary lies the more-than-a-century-old Theosophical Society, amidst the woods, marshes, gardens and waters. H.P. Blavatsky founded the society in 1875. The Adyar Banyan tree with its roots spreading over 40,000-sq-ft and its library, a research centre in eastern civilization, philosophy and religion, are worth seeing.

Land Of Thousand Temples
Kanchipuram is a small, rural town about 75-km from Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu. With the Sankara Mutt acting as the hub of Hindu activities and the temples, Kanchipuram is one of the most highly visited pilgrimage spots in India, and can rightfully be called the "Religious Capital of South India".

Important Festivals Celebrated
Brahmotsavam -Varadaraja Temple In May ; Garuda Sevai- Varadaraja Temple In June ; Float Festival -Varadaraja Temple In February And November ; Kamakshi Ammam Festival - February ; Mahashivaratri Festival - Kailashanatha Temple In February ; Panguni Uthiram -Ekambareshwara Temple In March-April.

PRIME ATTRACTIONS
Kailashanathar Temple : Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kailashanathar (also spelt as Kailashnatha) is one of the earliest temples built by the Pallava ruler Rajasimha Pallava and was completed by his son, Mahendra Varma Pallava in the 8th century AD. It

Ekambareshwar Temple : Ekambareshwar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is one of the largest temples in Kanchipuram, spreading over an area of 12.14 hectares. This ancient temple is surrounded by a huge stonewall built in the early 16th century during the days of the Vijayanagar Empire.

Kumara Kottam : Kumara Kottam is located in between the Kamakshi and Ekambareshwar temples in the Somaskanda formation in the town of Kanchipuram. It is a well-visited temple with two Prakarams and a complete pantheon of Parivara Devatas enshrined in their respective shrines.