The southern part of the Indian subcontinent earlier known as Dravida is believed by many to be the homeland to the Dravidians, the original inhabitants if India whom the Aryans invaded and conquered. Though predominantly a Hindu state since the pre historic times, the incursion of Muslim armies and later Christian missionaries in India saw the spread of other religions in India and Tamil Nadu. A tour to the religious places in Tamil Nadu therefore is vital for in depth knowledge on the religious history of the region.
Mosques in Tamil Nadu :
The Thousand Lights Mosque close to the Anna Flyover on Mount Road Chennai is quite an important place of worship for the Muslims. This mosque also happens to have a separate worshiping area for women.
The Big Mosque on Triplicane High Road dates back to 1795. This beautiful granite structure now hidden behind the big new age buildings is an important stopover for Muslims residing in the area.
Churches in Tamil Nadu :
St. Francis Xavier, who dedicated his entire life for the growth of Christianity in the Kanyakumari District saw success in form of a sizeable number of conversions to Christianity. The Tamil Nadu Churches therefore hold a special place in the history of Christianity in South India and are among the important religious places to visit during a Tamil Nadu tour. Some of the most important and most visited churches in Tamil Nadu are listed below.
- St. Thome Cathedral Basilica
- St. Mary’s Church
- St. John’s Church
C.S.I. Holy Cross Church, which is more than 120 years old and was originally called the Perambur Railway Church. This was when it was under the railway authorities.
Other Churches in Tamil Nadu
- St. George’s Cathedral
- Velankanni Church
Temples of Tamil Nadu :
The Tamil Nadu temples are pretty much the icing on the cake and the major show stealers during a tour of the religious places in Tamil Nadu. The magnificent architecture, intricately carved pillars and gopuras have drawn the attention of tourists, architects, historians and art lovers since long. Some of the most visited Tamil Nadu temples are listed below.
- Meenakshi Temple
- Kanyakumari Temple
- Brihadeeswara Temple
- Ramanathasamy Temple
- Trichy Rock fort Temple
Tamil Nadu Tour Packages
