Poondi Matha Church

This Catholic shrine has dedicated to our Lady of Lourdes Basilica, which is Poondi Matha, held at the core of Tamil Nadu in South India. Poondi is the small hamlet that located in the Thiruvaiyaru Taluka which proximity to town Thanjavur. It symbolized as the Roman Catholic shrine that similar to the Velankani Church.

In the years 1714 to 1718, Rev. Fr. Constantine Joseph Beschi is a great Italian Jesuit Missionary named, in India, as Veeramamunivar has constructed the church. He named this divine shire as “Mary Queen of Immaculate Conception.” The matha in this shrine has been named Poondi Matha, Matha resembles the name of Mother in Tamil language.

Later in the year 1955, the Parish Priest has noticed the some of the damages that found in this church and so he comes forwarded to reconstruct the central roof of the church. After some days, on rainy day the roof of the church got crumpled but does not make any damages inside the church. After this miracles, there is highly increase in number of pilgrims to this church.  

  

Keywords: Mary Matha, veeramamunivar, Tamil Nadu, Roman Catholic Chruch, Velankani Church

Tiruchendur Shrine

Tiruchendur temple is partaking of Thiruchendur Taluk, which eminent for Lord Murugan Temple along the shoreline. The tides of this place reach from Bay of Bengal. Tiruchendur temple is one of the six shrines of God Muruga named here as Senthil Andavar. It is the most popular pilgrims not only in Tamil Nadu but all around the world. 

The shrine is completely enclosed with divine feel that every one can observe to the fragrance of Lord Muruga, most of them specifies as Tamil God. The sea shore, located near the temple, describes the nature beauty. It has been recognized by the Tamil Sangam Period effort of Tirumurugatruppadai and also via 83 Tiruppugazh hymns of Arunagirinathar.

All the abodes (Aruadai Vedu) of Lord Muruga are located at the top of the hills except Tiruchendur, which situated near sea shore. This place is connected by train and bus from both Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Taking bath in this divine sea shore is the main activity of the devotees those who visit this place. 

The important festivals celebrated in this are

• Brahmothsavam ( Febtuary to March)
• Vasanthosavam for ten days
• Visaka Visakam (May – June)
• Skandha Sashti(October – November)
• Maha Utsavams called Aavanipperunthirunaal and Maasipperunthirunaal
• Maasi festival (January – February)

Keywords: Muruga, pilgrimage, Bay of Bengal, Tamil Nadu, temples, holy places, sea shore, lord, divine 

Marina Beach

Marina beach situated is the urban sea shore in the great city of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, India. The tides of the Marina Beach are raised from the ocean of Bay of Bengal. The shoreline starts form the Fort St. George at the North to the South of the Besant Nagar. The length of the sea shore is 13 km that is 8.1 miles, the longest beach in India.

This beach has named as the world’s second largest sea shore, which symbolize another famous of this beach. The Marina beach seems to be the rocky formation just like the Mumbai beach named Juhu. The average width of the Marina Beach is nearly three hundred meters long and the beach stretch more than five hundred meters long. 

Bathing and swimming are best and thrilling activities in Marine sea shore. But these activities are some time stopped in due to climatic change to avoid harmful dangers. At the same time, this beach also listed under the list of beach where peoples coming in the huge amount. Nearly thirty thousands of visitors remain at this beach every day and in week ends the number raise to fifty thousands and above. 

It is the place where people use to take refuge in the time of summer season to protect them from the sun’s heat. There are many shops, malls and food stalls in and near the Marina beach. The memorials and statues, morning walk, joggers' track, lovers' spot, aquarium, and the like desire to come again and again people of all ages.

Kite flying and beach cricket are the usual sports in this fabulous beach. There are two swimming pools that are present at this area are Marina swimming pool and Anna swimming pool.

Keywords: marina, beaches, sea shores,  Tamil Nadu

Hogenakkal Falls

Hogenakkal Falls is a one of the longest cascade in South India on the river Kaveri. This cascade is located in the Dharmapuri district in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This cascade is also called as “Niagara of India.” The major activities of this cascade are medicinal baths and ride charters and boats. It is the foremost tourist spot in Tamil Nadu. 

The water come out from this cascade is extremely used for the project regards with drinking water. This region is highly rich in Carbonatite rocks that considered as the oldest of this category in South Asia. At this place, the falls and cascade water spreads for miles around. Another best activity held in Hogenakkal is Hanging Bridge.

The water falls in this place falls from the height of twenty meter of long. In a little while after the water that falls and the river takes a southerly course and enters the Mettur Reservoir.  The river carries residue that makes the downriver land fertile.

At Hogenakkal cascade, the river spreads out in excess of a wide area of sandy beaches, then flows towards the Mettur Dam and creates a 60 sq mi (160 km2) of lake named Stanley Reservoir. From the year 1934, the pure water project has been used for the irrigation process and also for hydropower that proposed by Tamil Nadu government. 

Hogenakkal cascades are a good-looking tourist spot along with its waters supposed to be having curative powers. Bathing at the Hogenakkal falls seemed as the sacred bathing place and a spa-like health resort.

Earlier than reaching Hogenakkal, the river flows throughout a forest that contains herbs and this traditionally believed to develop health. Hence bathing in these waters is believed to be healing for many ailments.  

Boating is the best water activity in Hogenakkal region. In some occasion, there is the clear passage for the boats that made in this area. Good qualities of charters are operated from both the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka banks of the gorge, which bring more income for these boat operators. The charters are nearly 2.24 m in diameter and it has the capability to carry a load of eight persons in a moment. 

These charters are made up of bamboo, and with all materials available take about a day to build and most of them are waterproofed along with the plastic sheets. The usage of plastic is completely averted in this district to keep away the city from pollution.

Keywords: South India, hanging bridge, boating , Tamil Nadu 

Velankanni Church

This devotional church is located in Nagapattinam District at Tamil Nadu and it is under the part of Tanjore Roman Catholic Diocese. At the same time, Church is located at the shoreline of Bay of Bengal, which exists 12 km from Nagapattinam. The church in this divine place is significant for the Roman Catholic holy place for the Goddess of Good Health.   

The millions of devotees visit this holy place often to pray our Lady for various needs and thanking her for the favors got via mediation. Mother Mary appeared with the Infant Jesus in this small costal hamlet at the end of the 16th or in the early 17th century. After that, Vailankanni is the most central pilgrimage and nearly the synthesis of all Marian Sanctuaries for the holy place in the globe.

The devotees of Mother Mary come from all around the world. Day by day, the number of devout pilgrims visiting this holy place is goes on increasing. The fame of Vailankanni Matha spread gradually. 

The Franciscan priest Fr. Rozario has been prolonged the small church of 24 ft. x 12 ft. constructed by the Portuguese sailors, to 70 ft. x 22 ft. by extending the nave of the Church. But the prehistoric little sanctuary and the Altar were conserved intact. As the years goes on, the Catholic faith has strengthened by ardent missionaries functioning at Vailankanni.

After some years back, even this construction has found to be inadequate. In the year 1917 Fr. Sebastio Xavier de Noronha lengthened the Church by another 20 ft. from the nave of the Church. In addition, two gothic domes of 82 ft. each one on either side of the opening facing the ocean were also constructed. At the same time, a two-story parochial construction with competence for pilgrims was also built.

Keywords: Velankanni, Roman Catholic, Tamil Nadu, church, Mother Mary 

Nellaiappar Temple

Nellaiappar temple is the biggest Shivan shrine in Tamil Nadu. This eminent shrine in Tamil Nadu shaped in custom and history and also recognized for its musical pillars and other gleaming sculptural magnificence this is one of the largest temples in South India. The temple is constructed in behalf of Lord Shiva and Parvathi.

  

Shiva in this sanctuary held to have been worshipped by Agastya in a bamboo grove by Rama after having destroyed Mareecha, nine miles away from at Manoor. There is another holy place for Vishnu in close proximity to the sanctum, which signifying the trust that Nellai Govindan (Vishnu) visited Tirunelveli to oversee the godly marriage of Shiva and Kantimathi.

There are thousands and thousands of visitors are visiting this holy place each and every day. The musical pillars in Mani Mandapam will regulate sound for various pitches.  This temple comprises Somavara Mandapam that constructed with thousands of pillars. Some of the other mandapam’s are Tamra sabha, Vasantha Mandapam, and Sangili Mandapam. 

The important festivals celebrated in Nellaiyappar temples are Navaratri, Tirukkalyanam in Aippasi, Arudra Darisanam, Kaarthigai, Thaipoosam etc. the temple is located at the place named “Tirunelveli Town.”

Keywords: tamil nadu, south india, temple, nellaiyappar temple 

Padmanabhapuram Palace

Padmanabhapuram Palace is one of the historic palaces that indicate the rich and admirable cultural legacy of India that has been constructed before many centuries. Padmanabhapuram is a prehistoric area and also one of the four municipalities in Kanyakumari district, which located about thirty kilometers from the district capital.

The entire palace is assembled by the wood that focused as the peculiar features of this palace. The area of this gorgeous fort is enclosing nearly about two hundred acres. This palace is under the control of the Kerala state government though this palace constructed in ambit of Tamil Nadu. Each day the number of tourist visiting this palace is goes on soaring. 

Some of the interesting aspects of this fabulous fort are listed below:

• Three hundred year old clock is placed at this palace and running till now
• Big hall that comprises more than thousands persons gather at the time of festivals
• There is a secret passage through which the king and his family members used to go away in the event of any emergency. This secret passage extends to some kilometers 
• More than three bathing ponds are constructed inside this palace
• Various curios, Chinese jars and other Indian and Chinese interesting objects are seen here
• Tourist can able to glance olden days swords and daggers in the museum
• Brass lamps, wood and stone sculpture, a range of furniture and outsized mirrors made of polished metal are seen in this palace
• Tourist may go through some excellent paintings, wooden cots, medicine tree trunk, stone cot 

Keywords: kanyakumari, tamil nadu, Indian culture