Jammu and Kashmir i/dmu/ & /kmr/ is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains.

Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the Pakistan-administered territories of Azad Kashmir and GilgitBaltistan, to the west and northwest respectively. Formerly a part of the erstwhile Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu, which governed the larger historic region of Kashmir, this territory is disputed among China, India and Pakistan. Pakistan, which claims the territory as disputed[1], refers to it alternatively as Indian-occupied Kashmir or Indian-held Kashmir, while some international agencies such as the United Nations,[2] call it Indian-administered Kashmir. The regions under the control of Pakistan are referred to as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir or PoK within India. Jammu and Kashmir consists of three regions: Jammu, the Kashmir valley and Ladakh. Srinagar is the summer capital, and Jammu is the winter capital. While the Kashmir valley is famous for its beautiful mountainous landscape, Jammu's numerous shrines attract tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims every year. Ladakh, also known as "Little Tibet", is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and Buddhist culture.

climate
The Jhelum River is the only major Himalayan river which flows through the Kashmir valley. The Indus, Tawi, Ravi and Chenab are the major rivers flowing through the state. Jammu and Kashmir is home to several Himalayan glaciers. With an average altitude of 5,753 metres (18,875 ft) above sea-level, the Siachen Glacier is 70 km (43 mi) long making it the longest Himalayan glacier. The climate of Jammu and Kashmir varies greatly owing to its rugged topography. In the south around Jammu, the climate is typically monsoonal, though the region is sufficiently far west to average 40 to 50 mm (1.6 to 2 inches) of rain per month between January and March. In the hot season, Jammu city is very hot and can reach up to 40 C (104 F) whilst in July and August, very heavy though erratic rainfall occurs with monthly extremes of up to 650 millimetres (25.5 inches). In September, rainfall declines, and by October conditions are hot but extremely dry, with minimal rainfall and temperatures of around 29 C (84 F).

Administrative divisions
Main article: Districts of Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir consists of three divisions: Jammu, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, and is further divided into 22 districts:[27] The Siachen Glacier, although under Indian military control, does not lie under the administration of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Kishtwar, Ramban,

Reasi, Samba, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kulgam and Shopian are newly formed districts, and their areas are included with those of the districts from which they were formed.[27]

Name Kathua District Jammu District Samba District Udhampur District Reasi District Rajouri District Poonch District Doda District Ramban District Kishtwar District Jammu Division Anantnag District Kulgam District Pulwama District Shopian District Budgam District Srinagar District Ganderbal District

Headquarters Area (km) Kathua Jammu Samba Udhampur Reasi Rajouri Poonch Doda Ramban Kishtwar Jammu Anantnag Kulgam Pulwama Shopian Budgam Srinagar Ganderbal 1,371 2,228 1,398 26,293 3,984 2,630 1,674 11,691 4,550 2,651 3,097

Population Population 2001 Census 2011 Census 550,084 1,343,756 245,016 475,068 268,441 483,284 372,613 320,256 180,830 190,843 4,430,191 734,549 437,885 441,275 211,332 629,309 990,548 211,899 615,711 1,526,406 318,611 555,357 314,714 619,266 476,820 409,576 283,313 231,037 5,350,811 1,069,749 423,181 570,060 265,960 755,331 1,250,173 297,003

Name Bandipora District Baramulla District Kupwara District

Headquarters Area (km) Bandipora Baramulla Kupwara 4,588 2,379 15,948 14,036 45,110 59,146 101,387

Population Population 2001 Census 2011 Census 316,436 853,344 650,393 5,476,970 119,307 117,232 236,539 385,099 1,015,503 875,564 6,907,622 143,388 147,104 290,492

Kashmir Valley Division Srinagar Kargil District Leh District Ladakh Division TOTAL Major cities Kargil Leh Leh

10,143,700 12,548,925

Municipal Corporations: 2 {Srinagar, Jammu} Municipal Councils: 9 {Udhampur, Kathua, Rajauri, Poonch, Leh, Anantnag, Bandipore, Sopore, Baramulla} Municipal Boards: 21 {Samba, Ranbirsinghpora, Akhnoor, Reasi, Ramban, Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Kargil, Duru-Verinag, Bijbehara, Pulwama, Tral, Badgam, Kulgam, Shopian, Ganderbal, Pattan, Sumbal, Kupwara, Handwara}

Population of major cities

Name Srinagar Jammu Rank 1 2 Population State Region 2011 Census 11,92,792 9,51,373 2,08,505 1,82,778 Kashmir Jammu Kashmir Jammu

Anantnag 3 Udhampur 4

Name

Rank

Population State Region 2011 Census 1,67,986 1,62,988 66,963 41,552 40,987 27,513 25,714 Kashmir Jammu Kashmir Jammu Jammu Ladakh Kashmir

Baramulla 5 Kathua Sopore Rajouri Poonch Leh 6 7 8 9 10

Bandipore 11

Demographics

A mosque in Srinagar

[show]Population growth

Jammu and Kashmir has a Muslim majority population. Though Islam is practiced by about 67% of the population of the state and by 97% of the population of the Kashmir valley,[30] the state has large communities of Buddhists, Hindus (inclusive of Megh Bhagats) and Sikhs.[31] In Jammu, Hindus constitute 65% of the population, Muslims 31% and Sikhs, 4%; In Ladakh, Buddhists constitute about 46% of the population, the remaining being Muslims. The people of Ladakh are of Indo-Tibetan origin, while the southern area of Jammu includes many

communities tracing their ancestry to the nearby Indian states of Haryana and Punjab, as well as the city of Delhi. In totality, the Muslims constitute 67% of the population, the Hindus about 30%, the Buddhists 1%, and the Sikhs 2% of the population.[31]

Vaishno Devi temple located in the state is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Shakti.

According to political scientist Alexander Evans, approximately 95% of the total population of 160,000170,000 of Kashmiri Brahmins, also called Kashmiri Pandits, (i.e. approximately 150,000 to 160,000) left the Kashmir Valley in 1990 as militancy engulfed the state.[32] According to an estimate by the Central Intelligence Agency, about 300,000 Kashmiri Pandits from the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir have been internally displaced due to the ongoing violence.[33]

Division

Population

% Muslim

% Hindu

% Sikh

% Buddhist and other

Kashmir (53.9%)

5,476,970

97.16%

1.84%

0.88%

0.11%

Jammu (43.7%)

4,430,191

30.69%

65.23%

3.57%

0.51%

Ladakh (2.3%)

236,539

47.40%

6.22%

45.87%

Jammu and Kashmir

10,143,700

66.97%

29.63%

2.03%

1.36%

Statistics calculated from the 2001 Census India District Profiles There are roughly 1.5 million refugees from Indian Administered Kashmir in Pakistan Administered

Kashmir and other parts of Pakistan.[34] An estimated 50100,000 Kashmiri Muslims[35][36] and 150 300,000 Kashmiri Pandits have been internally displaced due to militancy.[33][37]

In Jammu and Kashmir, the principal spoken languages are Kashmiri, Urdu, Dogri, Pahari, Balti, Ladakhi, Gojri, Shina and Pashto. However, Urdu written in the Persian script is the official language of the state. Many speakers of these languages use Hindi or English as a second language.[38]

Statehood
The Kashmir Valley is dominated by ethnic Kashmiris, who have largely driven the Azadi campaign. Non-Kashmiri Muslim ethnic groups (Paharis, Sheenas, Gujjars and Bakarwalas), who dominate areas along the Line of Control, have remained indifferent to the separatist campaign. Jammu province region has a 70:30 Hindu-Muslim ratio. Parts of the region were hit by militants, but violence has ebbed there, along with the Valley, after India and Pakistan started a peace process in 2004.[39] Dogras (67%) are the single largest group in the multi-ethnic region of Punjabis, Paharis, Bakerwals and Gujjars. Statehood is demanded in Hindu-dominated districts. Ladakh is the largest region in the state with over two hundred thousand people. Its two districts are Leh (77% Buddhist) and Kargil (80% Muslim population). Union territory status has been the key demand of Leh Buddhists for many years.[39]

Politics and government

Main article: Politics of Jammu and Kashmir

A soldier guards the roadside checkpoint outside Srinagar International Airport. Jan 2009

Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India which enjoys special autonomy under Article 370 of the Constitution of India, according to which no law enacted by the Parliament of India, except for those in the field of defence, communication and foreign policy, will be extendable in

Jammu and Kashmir unless it is ratified by the state legislature of Jammu and Kashmir. Subsequently, jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India over Jammu and Kashmir has been extended.[40] Jammu and Kashmir is also the only Indian state that has its own flag and constitution, and Indians from other states cannot purchase land or property in the state.[41] Designed by the then ruling National Conference, the flag of Jammu and Kashmir features a plough on a red background symbolizing labour; it replaced the Maharaja's state flag. The three stripes represent the three distinct administrative divisions of the state, namely Jammu, Valley of Kashmir, and Ladakh.[42] Since 1990, the Armed Forces Act, which gives special powers to the Indian security forces, has been enforced in Jammu and Kashmir.[43] The decision to invoke this act was criticized by the Human Rights Watch.[44] Like all the states of India, Jammu and Kashmir has a multi-party democratic system of governance with a bicameral legislature. At the time of drafting the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, 100 seats were earmarked for direct elections from territorial constituencies. Of these, 25 seats were reserved for the areas of Jammu and Kashmir State that came under Pakistani occupation; this was reduced to 24 after the 12th amendment of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir:
"The territory of the State shall comprise all the territories which on the fifteenth day of August 1947, were under the sovereignty or suzerainty of the Ruler of the State" and Section 48 therein states that, "Notwithstanding anything contained in section 47, until the area of the State under the occuptions of Pakistan ceases to so occupied and the people residing in that area elect their representatives (a) twenty-five seats in the Legislative Assembly shall remain vacant and shall not be taken into account for reckoning the total member-ship of the Assembly; and the said area shall be excluded in delimiting the territorial Constituencies Under Section 47".
[45]

After a delimitation in 1988, the total number of seats increased to 111, of which 87 were within Indian-administered territory.[46] The Jammu & Kashmir Assembly is the only state in India to have a 6-year term, in contrast to the norm of a 5-year term followed in every other state's Assembly.[47] There was indication from the previous INC Government to bring parity with the other states,[48] but this does not seem to have received the required support to pass into law. Influential political parties include the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC), the Indian National Congress (INC), the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other smaller regional parties. After dominating Kashmir's politics for years, the National Conference's influence waned in 2002, when INC and PDP formed a political alliance and rose to power.[49] Under the power-sharing agreement, INC leader Ghulam Nabi Azad replaced PDP's Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in late 2005. However, in 2008, PDP withdrew its support from the government on the issue of temporary diversion of nearly 40 acres (16 ha) of land to the Sri Amarnath Shrine

Board.[50] In the 2008 Kashmir Elections that were held from 17 November to 24 December, the National Conference party and the Congress party together won enough seats in the state assembly to form a ruling alliance.[51] Some Kashmiris, especially those residing in the Kashmir Valley, demand greater autonomy, sovereignty and even independence from India. Due to the economic integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India, separatist movements across the Kashmir Valley declined.[52] However, following the unrest in 2008, which included more than 500,000 protesters at a rally on 18 August, secessionist movements gained a boost.[53][54] The 2009 edition of the Freedom in the World (report) by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees rated Jammu and Kashmir as partly free,[55] while in comparison Pakistan-administered Kashmir was rated to be not free.[56]

Economy

Tourism forms an integral part of the state's economy. Shown here is the Shalimar Gardens. In a famous incident, a Persian Emperor claimed it to be a paradise on Earth.

A map of the Kashmir railway. The Udhampur-Qazigund section is currently under construction, the route crosses major earthquake zones, and is subjected to extreme temperatures of cold and heat, as well as inhospitable terrain, making it an extremely challenging engineering project. It is expected to increase tourism and travel to Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir's economy is predominantly dependent on agriculture and allied activities.[57] The Kashmir valley is also known for its sericulture and cold-water fisheries. Wood from Kashmir is used to make high-quality cricket bats, popularly known as Kashmir Willow. Kashmiri saffron is also very famous and brings the state a handsome amount of foreign exchange. Agricultural exports from Jammu and Kashmir include apples, barley, cherries, corn, millet, oranges, rice, peaches, pears, saffron, sorghum, vegetables, and wheat, while manufactured exports include handicrafts, rugs, and shawls. Horticulture plays a vital role in the economic development of the state. With an annual turnover of over Rs. 300 crore, apart from foreign exchange of over Rs. 80 crore, this sector is the next biggest source of income in the states economy.[58] The region of Kashmir is known for its horticulture industry[59] and is the wealthiest region in the state.[60] Horticultural produce from the state includes apples, apricots, cherries, pears, plums, almonds and walnuts.[58] The Doda district has deposits of high-grade sapphire.[61] Though small, the manufacturing and services sector is growing rapidly, especially in the Jammu division. In recent years, several consumer goods companies have opened manufacturing units in the region. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has identified several industrial sectors which can attract investment in the state, and accordingly, it is working with the union and the state government to set up industrial parks and special economic zones.[62] In the fiscal year 200506, exports from the state amounted to Rs. 1,150 crore.[63] However, industrial development in the state faces several major constraints including extreme mountainous landscape and power shortage.[64] The Government of India has been keen to economically integrate Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. The state is one of the largest recipients of grants from New Delhi, totaling $ 812 million per year.[65] It also has a mere 4% incidence of poverty, one of the lowest in the country.[65] In an attempt to improve the infrastructure in the state, the Indian government has commenced work on the ambitious Kashmir Railway project which is being constructed by Konkan Railway Corporation and IRCON at a cost of more than US$2.5 billion.[66] The Jammu & Kashmir Bank, which is listed as a S&P CNX 500 conglomerate, is based in the state. It reported a net profit of Rs. 598 million in 2008.[67] Two other railways, the Bilaspur-Mandi-Leh Railway and the Jammu-Poonch railway are planned.
Year Gross State Domestic Product (in million INR) 1980 11,860

1985 22,560 1990 36,140 1995 80,970 2000 147,500 2006 539,850

Tourism
Main article: Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir

Skiing is popular in Gulmarg, showing cable car in a snow-clad mountain.

Before the insurgency intensified in 1989, tourism formed an important part of the Kashmiri economy. The tourism economy in the Kashmir valley was worst hit. However, the holy shrines of Jammu and the Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh continue to remain popular pilgrimage and tourism destinations. Every year, thousands of Hindu pilgrims visit holy shrines of Vaishno Devi and Amarnath, which has had significant impact on the state's economy.[68] It was estimated in 2007 that the Vaishno Devi yatra contributed Rs.4.75 billion to the local economy annually a few years ago.[69] The contribution would be much more now as the numbers of visitors have increased considerably. Tourism in the Kashmir valley has rebounded in recent years, and in 2009, the state became one of the top tourist destinations of India.[70] Gulmarg, one of the most popular ski resort destinations in India, is also home to the world's highest green golf course.[71] However, the decrease in violence in the state has boosted the state's economy and tourism.[72] It was reported that more than a million tourists visited Kashmir in 2011.[73][74][75]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Kashmir

Buddhism is an integral part of Ladakh's culture. Shown here is a statue of Buddha in a monastery in Likir.

Ladakh is famous for its unique Indo-Tibetan culture. Chanting in Sanskrit and Tibetan language forms an integral part of Ladakh's Buddhist lifestyle. Annual masked dance festivals, weaving and archery are an important part of traditional life in Ladakh. Ladakhi food has much in common with Tibetan food, the most prominent foods being thukpa, noodle soup; and tsampa, known in Ladakhi as Ngampe, roasted barley flour. Typical garb includes gonchas of velvet, elaborately embroidered waistcoats and boots, and gonads or hats. People adorned with gold and silver ornaments and turquoise headgears throng the streets during various Ladakhi festivals.

Shikaras are a common feature in lakes and rivers across the Kashmir valley.

The Dumhal is a famous dance in the Kashmir Valley, performed by men of the Wattal region. The women perform the Rouff, another traditional folk dance. Kashmir has been noted for its fine arts for centuries, including poetry and handicrafts. Shikaras, traditional small wooden boats, and houseboats are a common feature in various lakes and rivers across the Valley. The Constitution of India does not allow people from regions other than Jammu and Kashmir to purchase land in the state. As a consequence, houseboats became popular among those who were

unable to purchase land in the Valley and has now become an integral part of the Kashmiri lifestyle. Kawa, traditional green tea with spices and almond, is consumed all through the day in the chilly winter climate of Kashmir. Most of the buildings in the Valley and Ladakh are made from softwood and are influenced by Indian, Tibetan, and Islamic architecture. Jammu's Dogra culture and tradition is very similar to that of neighbouring Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Traditional Punjabi festivals such as Lohri and Vaisakhi are celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm throughout the region, along with Accession Day, an annual holiday which commemorates the accession of Jammu & Kashmir to the Dominion of India.[76] After Dogras, Gujjars form the second-largest ethnic group in Jammu. Known for their semi-nomadic lifestyle, Gujjars are also found in large numbers in the Kashmir Valley. Similar to Gujjars, Gaddis are primarily herdsmen who hail from the Chamba region in Himachal Pradesh. Gaddis are generally associated with emotive music played on the flute. The Bakkarwalas found both in Jammu and the Vale of Kashmir are wholly nomadic pastoral people who move along the Himalayan slopes in search for pastures for their huge flocks of goats and sheep.

Education

Admin Block at Old University Campus, Government College of Engineering and Technology, Jammu

In 1970, the state government of Jammu and Kashmir established its own education board and university. Education in the state is divided into primary, middle, high secondary, college and university level. Jammu and Kashmir follows the 10+2 pattern for education of children. This is handled by Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education (abbreviated as JKBOSE). Various private and public schools are recognized by the board to impart education to students. Board examinations are conducted for students in class VIII, X and XII. In addition there are various Kendriya Vidyalayas (run by the Government of India) and Indian Army schools that also impart secondary school education. These schools follow the Central Board of Secondary Education pattern. Notable higher education or research institutes in Jammu and Kashmir include Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura Srinagar, National Institute of Technology Srinagar, Government College of Engineering and Technology, Jammu and the Government Medical

College of Jammu. University-level education is provided by University of Jammu, University of Kashmir, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Shere-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Islamic University of Science & Technology, Baba Ghulam Shah Badhshah University, Institution of Technicians and Engineers (Kashmir), and Government Degree College Kathua.

Rajasthan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Rajasthan
State

Seal

Location of Rajasthan in India

Map of Rajasthan

Coordinates (Jaipur):

263422N 735020E26.57268N

73.83902ECoordinates:
263422N 735020E26.57268N 73.83902E

Country Established Capital Largest city Districts Government Governor Chief Minister Legislature

India 1 November 1956 Jaipur Jaipur 33 total

Margaret Alva Ashok Gehlot (INC) Unicameral (200 seats)

Parliamentary constituency 25 High Court Area Total Area rank Population (2011) 342,239 km2 (132,139 sq mi) 1st Rajasthan High Court

 Total Rank Density Time zone ISO 3166 code HDI HDI rank Literacy Official languages Website

68,621,012 8th 200/km2 (520/sq mi) IST (UTC+05:30) IN-RJ 0.637 (medium) 21st (2005) 68% (20th) Hindi rajasthan.gov.in

Rjasthn /rdstn/ (Hindustani pronunciation: radst an ( listen)) the land of Rajasthanis, ("the land of kings"), is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert (Thar Desert), which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with Pakistan. The state is bordered by Pakistan to the west, Gujarat to the southwest, Madhya Pradesh to the southeast, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to the northeast and Punjab to the north. Rajasthan covers 10.4% of India, an area of 342,269 square kilometres (132,151 sq mi). Jaipur is the capital and the largest city of the state. Geographical features include the Thar Desert along north-western Rajasthan and the termination of the Ghaggar River near the archaeological ruins at Kalibanga of the Indus Valley Civilization, which are the oldest in the Indian subcontinent discovered so far. One of the world's oldest mountain ranges, the Aravalli Range, cradles the only hill station of Rajasthan, Mount Abu, famous for Dilwara Temples, a sacred pilgrimage for Jains. Eastern Rajasthan has the world famous Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur, a World Heritage Site[1] known for its bird life. It also has two national tiger reserves, Ranthambore and Sariska Tiger Reserve, and a famous temple in Khatu, Sikar district, dedicated to Khatu Shyam Ji. Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949, when the region known until then as Rajputana, consisting of erstwhile princely states ruled mainly by Rajputs.

Contents
[hide]

1 Etymology 2 History

3 Geography 4 Language 5 Religion 6 Economy 7 Tourism 8 Culture 9 Administration o 9.1 Government 10 Politics 11 Districts 12 Demographics 13 Education 14 Flora and fauna 15 Wildlife 16 Transport 17 Statistics 18 See also 19 References 20 External links

[edit] Etymology
The first mention of word Rajasthan appears in James Tod's 1829 publication, Annals and Antiquities of Rajast'han or the Central and Western Rajpoot States of India.[2] Rajasthan literally means a Land of Kingdoms. George Thomas (Military Memories) was the first in 1800 A.D., to term this region as Rajputana.[2] John Keay in his book, India: A History stated that the Rajputana name was coined by the British, but that the word even achieved a retrospective authenticity: in an 1829 translation of Ferishta's history of early Islamic India, John Briggs discarded the phrase Indian princes, as rendered in Dow's earlier version, and substituted Rajpoot princes.[3] R. C. Majumdar explained that the region was long known as Gurjaratra that is Country protected or ruled by the Gurjars, early form of Gujarat, before it came to be called Rajputana.[4][5]

[edit] History
Main article: History of Rajasthan The Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world's first and oldest civilizations, was located in parts of what is now Rajasthan. Kalibangan in Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan was a major provincial capital of the Indus Valley Civilization.[6] It is believed that Western Kshatrapas (405 35 BC) were Saka rulers of the western part of India (Saurashtra and Malwa: modern Gujarat, Southern Sindh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan). They were successors to the Indo-Scythians, and were contemporaneous with the Kushans who ruled the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. The Indo-Scythians invaded the area of Ujjain and establish the Saka era (with Saka calendar),

marking the beginning of the long-lived Saka Western Satraps state.[7] Matsya, a state of the Vedic civilization of India, is said to roughly corresponded to former state of Jaipur in Rajasthan, and included the whole of Alwar with portions of Bharatpur.[8][9][10][11][12] The capital of Matsya was at Viratanagar (modern Bairat) which is said to have been named after its founder king Virata.[13] Traditionally the Gurjars, Rajputs, Charans, Yadavs, Jats, Meenas, Bhils, Bishnois and other tribes made a great contribution in building the state of Rajasthan. All these tribes suffered great difficulties in protecting their culture and the land. Millions[14] of them were killed trying to protect their land. A number of Gurjars had been exterminated in Bhinmal and Ajmer areas fighting with the invaders. Bhils once ruled Kota.[14] Meenas were rulers of Bundi and Dhundhar region.[citation needed] Gurjars ruled many dynasties in this part of the country. In fact this region was long known as Gurjaratra.[4] Up to the tenth century almost the whole of North India, excepting Bengal, acknowledged the supremacy of Gurjars with their seat of power at Kannauj.[15]

The Chittorgarh Fort is one of the largest forts in Asia. The Gurjar Pratihar Empire acted as a barrier for Arab invaders from the 6th to the 11th century. The chief accomplishment of the Gurjara Pratihara empire lies in its successfully resistance to the foreign invasions from the west, starting in the days of Junaid. Historian Majumdar says that this was openly acknowledged by the Arab writers themselves. He further notes that historians of India have wondered at the slow progress of Muslim invaders in India, as compared with their rapid advance in other parts of the world. Now there seems little doubt that it was the power of the Gurjara Pratihara army that effectively barred the progress of the Muslims beyond the confines of Sindh, their first conquest for nearly three hundred years.[16]

The iconic Mehrangarh Fort built by Rao Jodha in 1459.

Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, Last Hindu Emperor of North India

Hawa Mahal or "Palace of Winds" in Jaipur. The earlier contributions of warriors and protectors of the land Meenas, Gurjars, Ahirs, Jats, Bhils were ignored and lost in history due to the stories of great valour shown by certain specific clans in later years, which gained more prominence than older acts of bravery.[17] Rajasthan means the Land of the Kings. Modern Rajasthan includes most of Rajputana, which comprises mainly the erstwhile Rajput kingdoms as well as two Jat kingdoms and a Muslim kingdom. Marwar (Jodhpur), Bikaner, Mewar (Udaipur), Alwar and Dhundhar (Jaipur) were some of the main Rajput states. The Jats were rulers in Bharatpur and Dholpur. Tonk was ruled by a Muslim Nawab. Rajput families rose to prominence in the 6th century CE. The Rajputs put up a valiant resistance to the Islamic invasions and protected this land with their warfare and chivalry for more than 500 years. They also resisted Mughal incursions into India and thus contributed to their slower than anticipated access to the Indian Subcontinent. Later the Mughals,

through a combination of treachery and skilled warfare were able to get a firm grip on northern India, including Rajasthan. The fighter spirit and valour of Rajputs impressed the Mughals to such an extent that even after defeating the Rajputs, the Mughals held their valour and value in the highest esteem. Mewar led other kingdoms in its resistance to outside rule. Most notably Rana Sanga fought the Battle of Khanua against Babur, the founder of the Mughal empire. Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, the Hindu Emperor, also known as Hemu in the history of India was born in the village of Machheri in Alwar District in the year 1501. He won 22 battles against Afghans, from Punjab to Bengal and defeated Akbar's forces twice at Agra and Delhi in 1556,[18] before acceeding to the throne of Delhi and establishing 'Hindu Raj' in North India, albeit for a short duration, from Purana Quila in Delhi. He was killed in the Second Battle of Panipat.

Maharana Pratap Singh, legendary sixteenth century Rajput ruler of Rajasthan. Maharana Pratap of Mewar resisted Akbar in the famous Battle of Haldighati (1576) and later operated from hilly areas of his kingdom. Bhils were Maharana's main allies during these wars. Most of these attacks were repulsed even though the Mughal forces outnumbered Mewar Rajputs in all the wars fought between them. The Haldighati war was fought between 10,000 Mewaris and a 100,000 strong Mughal force (including many Rajputs like Kachwahas from Dhundhar). Over the years the Mughals began to have internal disputes which greatly distracted them at times. The Mughal Empire continued to weaken and several groups across their kingdom found opportunities to establish their power whilst the army was fighting somewhere else. The Rajputs saw this as an opportunity to reassert their independence. With the decline of the Mughal Empire

in the 18th century, Rajputana came under attack by the Marathas until the Maratha general Scindia captured Ajmer. Following their rapid defeat, the Rajput kings concluded treaties with the British in the early 19th century, accepting British sovereignty in return for local autonomy. Following the Mughal tradition as well as its strategic location Ajmer became a province of British India, while the autonomous Rajput states, the Muslim state Tonk, and the Jat states (Bharatpur and Dholpur) were organized into the Rajputana Agency. Rajasthan's formerly independent kingdom created a rich architectural and cultural heritage, seen even today in their numerous forts and palaces (Mahals and Havelis) which are enriched by features of Muslim and Jain architecture. The development of the frescos in Rajasthan is linked with the history of the Marwaris who also played a crucial role in the economic development of the region. Many wealthy families throughout Indian history have links to Marwar. These families include the legendary Birla, Bhandari, Bajaj, Mittal and Mirza families[citation needed].

[edit] Geography

The Aravalli Range adds diversity to the landscape of Rajasthan.

The Thar Desert

The hills around Jaipur. The main geographic features of Rajasthan are the Thar Desert and the Aravalli Range, which runs through the state from southwest to northeast, almost from one end to the other, for more than 850 km. Mount Abu lies at the southwestern end of the range, separated from the main ranges by the West Banas River, although a series of broken ridges continues into Haryana in the direction of Delhi where it can be seen as outcrops in the form of the Raisina Hill and the ridges farther north. About three-fifths of Rajasthan lies northwest of the Aravallis, leaving two-fifths on the east and south direction. The northwestern portion of Rajasthan is generally sandy and dry. Most of this region is covered by the Thar Desert which extends into adjoining portions of Pakistan. The Aravalli Range does not intercept the moisture-giving southwest monsoon winds off the Arabian Sea, as it lies in a direction parallel to that of the coming monsoon winds, leaving the northwestern region in a rain shadow. The Thar Desert is thinly populated; the town of Bikaner is the largest city in the desert. The Northwestern thorn scrub forests lie in a band around the Thar Desert, between the desert and the Aravallis. This region receives less than 400 mm of rain in an average year. Temperatures can exceed 45 C in the summer months and drop below freezing in the winter. The Godwar, Marwar, and Shekhawati regions lie in the thorn scrub forest zone, along with the city of Jodhpur. The Luni River and its tributaries are the major river system of Godwar and Marwar regions, draining the western slopes of the Aravallis and emptying southwest into the great Rann of Kutch wetland in neighboring Gujarat. This river is saline in the lower reaches and remains potable only up to Balotara in Barmer district. The Ghaggar River, which originates in Haryana, is an intermittent stream that disappears into the sands of the Thar Desert in the northern corner of the state and is seen as a remnant of the primitive Saraswati river. The Aravalli Range and the lands to the east and southeast of the range are generally more fertile and better watered. This region is home to the Kathiarbar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion, with tropical dry broadleaf forests that include teak, Acacia, and other trees. The hilly Vagad region lies in southernmost Rajasthan, on the border with Gujarat. With the exception of Mount Abu, Vagad is the wettest region in Rajasthan, and the most heavily forested. North of Vagad lies the Mewar region, home to the cities of Udaipur and Chittaurgarh. The Hadoti region lies to the southeast, on the border with Madhya Pradesh. North of Hadoti and Mewar lies the Dhundhar region, home to the state capital of Jaipur. Mewat, the easternmost region of Rajasthan, borders Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Eastern and southeastern Rajasthan is drained by the Banas and Chambal rivers, tributaries of the Ganges.

The Aravali Range runs across the state from the southwest peak Guru Shikhar (Mount Abu), which is 1,722 m in height, to Khetri in the northeast. This range divides the state into 60% in the northwest of the range and 40% in the southeast. The northwest tract is sandy and unproductive with little water but improves gradually from desert land in the far west and northwest to comparatively fertile and habitable land towards the east. The area includes the Thar Desert. The south-eastern area, higher in elevation (100 to 350 m above sea level) and more fertile, has a very diversified topography. in the south lies the hilly tract of Mewar. In the southeast, a large area within the districts of Kota and Bundi forms a tableland. To the northeast of these districts is a rugged region (badlands) following the line of the Chambal River. Farther north the country levels out; the flat plains of the northeastern Bharatpur district are part of an alluvial basin. Merta City lies in the geographical center of Rajasthan.

[edit] Language
Main article: Rajasthani Language Rajasthani (although constitutional status is pending) is the main spoken language although Hindi and English are used for official purpose.[19] It is spoken by 13 million people in Rajasthan and other states of India.[20] A number of tribal languages are still spoken in Rajasthan.[citation needed] . The state of Rajasthan is also populated by Sindhis, who came to Rajasthan from Sindh province (now in Pakistan) in 1947 and speak Sindhi, especially older generation.

[edit] Religion
Religion in Rajasthan State
Religion Percent

Hinduism Islam Sikhism Jainism other religions

89% 8.5% 1.4% 1.2% 0.53%

Rajasthan's population is made up mainly of Hindus, who account for 88.8% of the population.[21] Muslims make up 8.5%, Sikhs 1.4% and Jains 1.2% of the population.[21]

[edit] Economy
Main article: Economy of Rajasthan

A marble quarry in Kishangarh Ajmer

Industrial plant near Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

Rajasthan Canal(Indira Gandhi Canal) passing through Thar desert near Chhatargarh Bikaner district, Rajasthan Rajasthan's economy is primarily agricultural and pastoral. Wheat and barley are cultivated over large areas, as are pulses, sugarcane, and oilseeds. Cotton and tobacco are the state's cash crops. Rajasthan is among the largest producers of edible oils in India and the second largest producer of oilseeds. Rajasthan is also the biggest wool-producing state in India and the main opium producer and consumer. There are mainly two crop seasons. The water for irrigation comes from wells and tanks. The Indira Gandhi Canal irrigates northwestern Rajasthan. The main industries are mineral based, agriculture based, and textiles. Rajasthan is the second largest producer of polyester fibre in India. The Pali and Bhilwara District produces more cloth than Bhiwandi, Maharashtra and the bhilwara is the largest city in suitings production and export

and Pali is largest city in cotton and polyster in blouse pes and rubia production and export. Several prominent chemical and engineering companies are located in the city of Kota, in southern Rajasthan. Rajasthan is pre-eminent in quarrying and mining in India. The Taj Mahal was built from the white marble which was mined from a town called Makrana. The state is the second largest source of cement in India. It has rich salt deposits at Sambhar, copper mines at Khetri, Jhunjhunu and zinc mines at Dariba, Zawar mines at Zawarmala for zinc, Rampura Aghucha (opencast) near Bhilwara. Dimensional stone mining is also undertaken in Rajasthan. Jodhpur sandstone is mostly used in monuments, important buildings and residential buildings. This stone is termed as "chittar patthar". North India's largest integrated IT park, Mahindra World City, is located in Jaipur and is named as Jaipur covering nearly 3,000 acres (12 km2) of land.

[edit] Tourism
Main article: Tourism in Rajasthan

Lake of Pushkar near Ajmer.

The Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the largest royal palaces in the world.

The Jain temple of Ranakpur.

Camel ride in the Thar desert near Jaisalmer.

A decorated Indian elephant during a fair in Jaipur, India

Rajasthani Up-Down Dolls found in the road-side shops of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan Rajasthan attracted 14 percent of total foreign visitors during 20092010 which is the fourth highest among Indian states. It is fourth also in Domestic tourist visitors.[22] Endowed with natural beauty and a great history, tourism is a flourishing industry in Rajasthan. The palaces of Jaipur and Ajmer-Pushkar, the lakes of Udaipur, the desert forts of Jodhpur, Taragarh Fort (Star Fort) in Bundi, and Bikaner and Jaisalmer rank among the most preferred destinations in India for many tourists both Indian and foreign. Tourism accounts for eight percent of the state's domestic product. Many old and neglected palaces and forts have been converted into heritage hotels. Tourism has increased employment in the hospitality sector. Rajasthan is famous for its forts, intricately carved temples, and decorated havelis, which were built by Rajput kings in pre-Muslim era Rajasthan. Rajasthan's Jaipur Jantar Mantar, Dilwara Temples, Chittorgarh Fort, Lake Palace, miniature paintings in Bundi, and numerous city palaces

and havelis are an important part of the architectural heritage of India. Jaipur, the Pink City, is noted for the ancient houses made of a type of sand stone dominated by a pink hue. In Bundi, maximum houses are painted blue. At Ajmer, the white marble Bara-dari on the Anasagar lake is exquisite. Jain Temples dot Rajasthan from north to south and east to west. Dilwara Temples of Mount Abu, Ranakpur Temple dedicated to Lord Adinath in Pali District, Jain temples in the fort complexes of Chittor, Jaisalmer and Kumbhalgarh, Lodurva Jain temples, Bhandasar and Karni Mata Temple of Bikaner are some of the best examples.

[edit] Culture
Rajasthan is culturally rich and has artistic and cultural traditions which reflect the ancient Indian way of life. There is rich and varied folk culture from villages which is often depicted and is symbolic of the state. Highly cultivated classical music and dance with its own distinct style is part of the cultural tradition of Rajasthan. The music is uncomplicated and songs depict day-today relationships and chores, more often focused around fetching water from wells or ponds. The Ghoomar dance from Udaipur and Kalbeliya dance of Jaisalmer have gained international recognition. Folk music is a vital part of Rajasthani culture. Kathputli, Bhopa, Chang, Teratali, Ghindr, Kachchhighori, Tejaji etc. are the examples of the traditional Rajasthani culture. Folk songs are commonly ballads which relate heroic deeds and love stories; and religious or devotional songs known as bhajans and banis (often accompanied by musical instruments like dholak, sitar, sarangi etc.) are also sung. Rajasthan is known for its traditional, colorful art.wall painting in bundi . The block prints, tie and dye prints, Bagaru prints, Sanganer prints, and Zari embroidery are major export products from Rajasthan. Handicraft items like wooden furniture and handicrafts, carpets, and blue pottery are some of the things commonly found here. Rajasthan is a shoppers' paradise, with beautiful goods found at low prices. Reflecting the colorful Rajasthani culture, Rajasthani clothes have a lot of mirror-work and embroidery. A Rajasthani traditional dress for females comprises an ankle length skirt and a short top, also known as a lehenga or a chaniya choli. A piece of cloth is used to cover the head, both for protection from heat and maintenance of modesty. Rajasthani dresses are usually designed in bright colours like blue, yellow and orange. The main religious festivals are Deepawali, Holi, Gangaur, Teej, Gogaji, Shri Devnarayan Jayanti, Makar Sankranti and Janmashtami, as the main religion is Hinduism. Rajasthan's desert festival is celebrated with great zest and zeal. This festival is held once a year during winter. Dressed in brilliantly hued costumes, the people of the desert dance and sing haunting ballads of valor, romance and tragedy. There are fairs with snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers. Camels, of course, play a stellar role in this festival.

[edit] Administration
[edit] Government
Main article: Government of Rajasthan

The current government in Rajasthan is that of Indian National Congress. The current Chief Minister is Ashok Gehlot.

[edit] Politics
Main article: Politics of Rajasthan The Political life of Rajasthan is dominated by two major parties Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Indian National Congress.

[edit] Districts
Main article: Districts of Rajasthan Rajasthan is divided into 33 districts and seven divisions:

Ajmer Division: Ajmer, Bhilwara, Nagaur, Tonk. Bharatpur Division: Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur. Bikaner Division: Bikaner, Churu, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh. Jaipur Division: Jaipur, Alwar, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Dausa. Jodhpur Division: Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jodhpur, Pali, Sirohi. Kota Division: Baran, Bundi, Jhalawar, Kota. Udaipur Division: Banswara, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Dungarpur, Udaipur, Rajsamand

[edit] Demographics

Part of a series on

Rajasthani people
Culture Architecture Art Cinema Cuisine Dance Dress Folk art Literature Media Music Folklore Religion

Sport Theatre Tourism In other region Maharashtra West Bengal Tamil Nadu Religion Hinduism Islam Jainism Sufism

Language Rajasthani Rajasthan Portal v t e

Rajasthan has a mainly Rajasthani population. Hindus account for 88.8% of the population.[21] Muslims make up 8.5%, Sikhs 1.4% and Jains 1.2% of the population.[21] The state of Rajasthan is also populated by Sindhis, who came to Rajasthan from Sindh province (now in Pakistan) during the India-Pakistan separation in 1947. The mother tongue of the majority of people in Rajasthan is Rajasthani. Rajasthani and Hindi are the most widely used languages in Rajasthan. Rajasthani is used as a medium of instruction, along with Hindi and English, in some schools. Some other languages used in Rajasthan are Gujarati, Sindhi and Punjabi. See also: List of people from Rajasthan

[edit] Education
During recent years, Rajasthan has made significant progress in the area of education. The state government has been making sustained efforts to improve the educational standard. In recent decades, the literacy rate of Rajasthan has increased significantly. In 1991, the state's literacy rate was only 38.55% (54.99% male and 20.44% female). In 2001, the literacy rate increased to 60.41% (75.70% male and 43.85% female). This was the highest leap in the percentage of literacy recorded in India (the rise in female literacy being 23%).[23] At the Census 2011, Rajasthan had a literacy rate of 67.06% (80.51% male and 52.66% female). Although Rajasthan's

literacy rate is below the national average of 74.04% and although its female literacy rate is the lowest in the country (closely followed by Bihar at 53.33%), the state has been praised for its efforts and achievements in raising both male and female literacy rates.[24][25] Rajasthan has nine universities and more than two hundred and fifty colleges, fifty five thousand primary and seven thousand four hundred secondary schools. There are forty-one engineering colleges with an annual enrollment of about 11,500 students. The state has twenty-three polytechnics and one-hundred and fifty-two Industrial Training Institute (ITIs) that impart vocational training to the students.[26]

[edit] Flora and fauna

Great Indian Bustard

Aquila rapax in Tal Chhapar Sanctuary Though a large percentage of the total area is desert, and even though there is little forest cover, Rajasthan has a rich and varied flora and fauna. The natural vegetation is classed as Northern Desert Thorn Forest (Champion 1936). These occur in small clumps scattered in a more or less open forms. Density and size of patches increase from west to east following the increase in rainfall.

The Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, spread over an area of 3162 km, is an excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert, and its diverse fauna. Seashells and massive fossilized tree trunks in this park record the geological history of the desert. The region is a haven for migratory and resident birds of the desert. One can see many eagles, harriers, falcons, buzzards, kestrel and vultures. Short-toed Eagles (Circaetus gallicus), Tawny Eagles (Aquila rapax), Spotted Eagles (Aquila clanga), Laggar Falcons (Falco jugger) and kestrels are the commonest of these. The Ranthambore National Park located in Sawai Madhopur, is one of the finest Tiger Reserves in the Country which became a part of Project Tiger in 1973. The Dhosi Hill located in district Jhunjunu, known as "Chayvan Rishi's Ashram' where 'Chayawanprash' was formulated for the first time has unique and rare herbs growing The Sariska Tiger Reserve located in Alwar district, 200 km from Delhi and 107 km from Jaipur covers an area of approximately 800 km2.The area was declared a National Park in 1979. Tal Chhapar Sanctuary is a very small sanctuary in Sujangarh, Churu District, 210 km from Jaipur, in the Shekhawati region. This sanctuary is home to a large population of graceful Blackbuck. Desert Fox and desert cat can also be spotted along with typical avifauna such as partridge and sand grouse. The Great Indian Bustard, which is a state bird, is now at the stage of extinction.[citation needed] In Rajasthan bustard is also known as "Godavan".

[edit] Wildlife
Rajasthan is also noted for National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. There are four national park and wildlife sanctuaries named the Keoladeo National Park of Bharatpur, Sariska Tiger Reserve of Alwar, Ranthambore National Park of Sawai Madhopur, and Desert National Park of Jaisalmer. Ranthambore National Park and Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary are both known worldwide for their tiger population and considered by both wilderness lovers and photographers as the best places in India to spot tigers. At one point, due to poaching and negligence, tigers became extinct here, but recently 5 tigers have been shifted here[citation needed] . Prominent among the wildlife sanctuaries are Mount Abu Sanctuary, Bhensrod Garh Sanctuary, Darrah Sanctuary, Jaisamand Sanctuary, Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Jawahar Sagar sanctuary and Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary. There are a variety of wildlife species in Rajasthan, notably including the apex predator Caracal.[27]

[edit] Transport
Rajasthan is connected by many national highways. Most renowned being NH 8, which is India's first 48 lane highway. Rajasthan also has an inter-city surface transport system both in terms of railways and bus network. All chief cities are connected by air, rail and road.

By Air: There are three main airports at Rajasthan- Jaipur International Airport, Udaipur Airport, and Jodhpur Airport. These airports connect Rajasthan with the major cities of India such as Delhi and Mumbai. There are two other airports in Kota and Jaisalmer, but are not open for commercial/civilian flights yet. By Rail: Rajasthan is connected with the main cities of India by rail. Jaipur, Kota, Bikaner, Ajmer, Udaipur and Jodhpur are the principal railway stations in Rajasthan. Kota City is the only Electrified Section served by three Rajdhani Expresses and trains to all major cities of India. There is also an international railway, the Thar Express from Jodhpur to Karachi. However, this is not open to foreign nationals currently. By Road: Rajasthan is well connected to the main cities of the country including Delhi, Ahmedabad and Indore by State and National Highways and served by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC)[28] and Private operators.

[edit] Statistics

Population:68.6 million (2011 Census, estimated at more than 68 million now) Cities and Towns: 222 Major cities: Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Banswara, Udaipur, Ajmer, Bikaner, Bharatpur, Alwar, Bhilwara, Sri Ganganagar, Sikar and Hanumangarh. Roads: 1,51,914 km. (8,798 km National Highway) National highways crossing Rajasthan: Delhi-Ahmedabad, Agra-Bikaner, Jaipur-Bhopal, Bhatinda-Kandla, Shivpuri-Kota, Kota-Udaipur and Pali-Ambala. Climate: Generally dry with monsoon during JulyAugust Districts: 33 Languages: English and Hindi commonly used, as well as indigenous Rajasthani languages, Braj Bhasha etc. Literacy: 67.063%(According to Census2011)

Tamil Nadu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search

Tamil Nadu

 State

Tamil Nadu Emblem

Motto: Truth alone Triumphs Anthem: Invocation to Goddess Tamil

Location of Tamil Nadu in India

Map of Tamil Nadu

Coordinates:

1305N 8016E13.09N 80.27ECoordinates:

1305N 8016E13.09N 80.27E

Country Established Capital Largest city Districts Government Governor Chief Minister Legislature

India 26 January 1950 Chennai Chennai 32 total

Konijeti Rosaiah Jayalalithaa (AIADMK) Unicameral (234 seats)

 Chief Justice Area Total Area rank Population (2011)[1] Total Rank Density Time zone ISO 3166 code HDI HDI rank Literacy Official languages Website

M. Yusuf Eqbal

130,058 km2 (50,216 sq mi) 11th

72,138,958 7th 550/km2 (1,400/sq mi) IST (UTC+05:30) IN-TN 0.736 (high) 10th (2006)[2] 90.3% Tamil tn.gov.in

^ Established in 1773; Madras State was formed in 1950 and renamed as Tamil Nadu on 14 January 1969[3]

Tamil Nadu (/tml ndu/ TAM-il-NAH-doo; Tamil: , tami nu ? pronunciation (helpinfo), literally "Land of the Tamils") is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital is Chennai, the largest city. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala,

Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. It is bound by the Eastern Ghats in the north, the Nilgiri, the Anamalai Hills, and Palakkad on the west, by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Gulf of Mannar, the Palk Strait in the south east, and by the Indian Ocean in the south. Tamil Nadu is the eleventh largest state in India by area and the seventh most populous state. It is the second largest state economy in India as of 2012[4]. The state ranked among the top 5 states in India in Human Development Index as of 2006.[2] Tamil Nadu is also the most urbanised state in India.[5] The state has the highest number (10.56%) of business enterprises and stands second in total employment (9.97%) in India,[6] compared to the population share of about 6%. The region has been the home of the Tamil people since at least 500 BCE. Its official language Tamil has been in use in inscriptions and literature for over 2000 years.[7] Tamil Nadu is home to many natural resources, Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture, hill stations, beach resorts, multi-religious pilgrimage sites and eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.[8][9]

Contents
[hide]

1 History o 1.1 Prehistory o 1.2 Early history (Sangam Period- 300BCE-300CE) o 1.3 Medieval Period (6001300) 1.3.1 Chola Empire o 1.4 Vijayanagar and Nayak period (13361646) o 1.5 Rule of Nawabs and Nizams (16921801) o 1.6 European rule (18011947) o 1.7 Tamil Nadu in independent India (1947 -) 2 Geography 3 Flora and fauna 4 National and State Parks 5 Climate 6 Governance and administration 7 Districts 8 Politics 9 Demographics o 9.1 Religion o 9.2 Language 10 Education 11 Culture o 11.1 Literature o 11.2 Festivals and Traditions o 11.3 Music o 11.4 Arts and Dance o 11.5 Film industry o 11.6 Cuisine

12 Economy o 12.1 Agriculture o 12.2 Textiles o 12.3 Automobiles o 12.4 Heavy industries o 12.5 Others o 12.6 Electronics and software o 12.7 Leather industry 13 Infrastructure o 13.1 Transport 13.1.1 Road 13.1.2 Rail 13.1.3 Airports 13.1.4 Seaport o 13.2 Energy 14 Sports 15 Tourism 16 See also 17 Notes 18 References 19 External links

[edit] History
Main article: History of Tamil Nadu [edit] Prehistory

Tamil Nadu's history dates back to pre-historic times. Archaeological evidence points to this area (In places like Adhichanallur,Tirunelveli) being one of the longest continuous habitations in India.[10] In Adichanallur, 24 km (15 mi) from Tirunelveli, archaeologists from the Archaeological Survey of India unearthed 169 clay urns containing human skulls, skeletons and bones, plus husks and grains of rice, charred rice and Neolithic celts, giving evidence confirming them to be of the Neolithic period, 3800 years ago.[11] The ASI archaeologists have proposed that the script used at that site is "very rudimentary" Tamil Brahmi.[12] Adichanallur has been announced as an archaeological site for further excavation and studies.[13] About 60% of the total epigraphical inscriptions found by ASI in India are from Tamil Nadu and most of which are in Tamil language.[14] Geologists have discovered hundreds of fossilised dinosaur eggs, perhaps 65 million years old, underneath a stream in a tiny village in Ariyalur district.[15] Researchers from the Salem-based Periyar University believe that the clusters of eggs belonged to the aggressive Carnosaur and the leaf-eating Sauropoda.[16]
[edit] Early history (Sangam Period- 300BCE-300CE) Main article: Sangam period

Roman pottery excavated in Arikamedu (1st century AD, Guimet Museum)

The early history of the people and rulers of Tamil Nadu is spotlighted by Tamil literature known as Sangam literature. Numismatic, archaeological and literature sources corroborate that the Sangam period lasted for about six centuries spanning 300 BCE 300 CE. Three dynasties, namely Chera, Chola and Pandya, ruled the whole of present-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Chera ruled the whole of present day Kerala and parts of western Tamil Nadu comprising Coimbatore, Karur, Salem and Erode districts from the capital of Vanchi Muthur (thought to be modern day Karur). The Chola dynasty ruled the northern and central parts of Tamil Nadu from Uraiyur as capital, and the Pandya dynasty ruled southern Tamil Nadu from Korkai and Madurai as capital. All three dynasties had extensive trade relationships with then known ancient kingdoms of Rome, Greece, Egypt, Ceylon, Phoenicia, Arabia, Mesopotamia and Persia. Trade flourished in commodities like spices, ivory, pearls, beads and gems. Chera traded extensively from Muziris on the west coast, Chola from Arikamedu and Puhar and Pandya through Korkai port. The Greco-Roman trade and travel document Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (c. 60100 CE) gives an elaborate description of the Tamil country and its ports. The Kalabhras invaded and displaced the three Tamil kingdoms and ruled between the third and the seventh centuries CE of the Sangam period. This is referred to as the Dark Age in Tamil history. They were expelled by the Pallavas and the Pandyas in the sixth century.
[edit] Medieval Period (6001300)

During the Kalabhras' rule Buddhism flourished in the land of the Tamils. The didactic work Naaladiyar was composed during their reign. It consists of moral sayings in the venpa meter, 400 in number in 40 chapters, each by one Buddhist ascetic, according to tradition. Following the tradition of Tamil Buddhism, Naaladiyar emphasises virtues such as control of the senses, Dhamma (Lord Buddha's teaching), renunciation, and other desirable social qualities. Pali was the court language of the Kalabhras who were also called Kalapara or Kalaparaya according to the Koramangalam inscription.

Shore Temple built by the Pallavas at Mamallapuram (c. eighth century C.E.) UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During the fourth to eighth centuries C.E., Tamil Nadu saw the rise of the Pallavas under Mahendravarman I and his son Mamalla Narasimhavarman I and his uncle Bodhidharma.[17] The Pallavas ruled a large portion of South India with Kanchipuram as their capital. Dravidian architecture reached its peak during Pallava rule. Narasimhavarman II built the Shore Temple which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Pallavas were replaced by the Cholas as the dominant kingdom in the 10th century C.E. and they in turn were replaced by Pandyas in the 13th century C.E. The Pandyan capital Madurai was in the deep south away from the coast. They had extensive trade links with the Southeast Asian maritime empires of Srivijaya and their successors, as well as contacts, even formal diplomatic contacts, reaching as far as the Roman Empire. During the 13th century C.E. Marco Polo mentioned the Pandyas as the richest empire in existence. Temples such as the Meenakshi Amman Temple at Madurai and Nellaiappar Temple at Tirunelveli are the best examples of Pandyan temple architecture.[18][19] The Pandyas excelled in both trade and literature. They controlled the pearl fisheries along the South Indian coast, between Sri Lanka and India, which produced some of the finest pearls in the known ancient world. [edit] Chola Empire
Main article: Chola dynasty

Chola Empire under Rajendra Chola c. 1030 C.E.

A sculpture at Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram, built by Tamil Chola Kings. The group of monuments are UNESCO World Heritage sites

The Cholas, who were very active during the Sangam age, were entirely absent during the first few centuries.[20] The period started with the rivalry between the Pandyas and the Pallavas, which in turn caused the revival of the Cholas. During the ninth century, the Chola dynasty was once again revived by Vijayalaya Chola, who established Thanjavur as Chola's new capital by conquering central Tamil Nadu from the local clans of Mutharayar and the Pandya king Varagunavarman II. Aditya I and his son Parantaka I expanded the kingdom to the northern parts of Tamil Nadu by defeating the last Pallava king, Aparajitavarman. Parantaka Chola II expanded the Chola empire into what is now interior Andhra Pradesh and coastal Karnataka, while under the great Rajaraja Chola and his son Rajendra Chola, the Cholas rose to a notable power in South East Asia. Now the Chola Empire stretched as far as Bengal and Sir Lanka. At its peak, the empire spanned almost 3,600,000 km2 (1,400,000 sq mi). Rajaraja Chola conquered all of peninsular South India and parts of Sri Lanka. Rajendra Chola's navy went even further, occupying coasts from Burma (now Myanmar) to Vietnam, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Sumatra, Java, Malaya in South East Asia and Pegu islands. He defeated Mahipala, the king of Bengal, and to commemorate his victory he built a new capital and named it Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

Brihadeeswara Temple built by Raja Raja Chola I in 1010 C.E.

Natarajan, Siva as celestial dancer, an example of Chola art

The Cholas were prolific temple builders right from the times of the first medieval king Vijayalaya Chola. These are the earliest specimen of Dravidian temples under the Cholas. His son Aditya I built several temples around the Kanchi and Kumbakonam regions. The Cholas went on to becoming a great power and built some of the most imposing religious structures in their lifetime and they also renovated temples and buildings of the Pallavas, acknowledging their common socio-religious and cultural heritage. The celebrated Nataraja temple at Chidambaram and the Sri Ranganathaswami Temple at Srirangam held special significance for the Cholas which have been mentioned in their inscriptions as their tutelary deities. Rajaraja Chola I and his son Rajendra Chola, who built temples such as the Brihadeshvara Temple of Thanjavur and Brihadeshvara Temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the Airavatesvara Temple of Darasuram and the Sarabeswara (Shiva) Temple, also called the Kampahareswarar Temple at Thirubhuvanam, the last two temples being located near Kumbakonam. The first three of the above four temples are titled Great Living Chola Temples among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Chola period is also remarkable for its sculptures and bronzes all over the world. Among the existing specimens in museums around the world and in the temples of South India the fine figures of Siva in various forms, Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi, and the Siva saints are the examples of Chola bronze. Though conforming generally to the iconographic conventions established by long tradition, the sculptors worked with great freedom in the 11th and the 12th centuries to achieve a classic grace and grandeur. The best example of this can be seen in the form of Nataraja the Divine Dancer.[21] With the decline of the Chola dynasty between 1230 and 1280 C.E., the Pandyas rose to prominence once again, under Maravarman Sundara Pandya and his younger brother, the celebrated Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan. This revival was short-lived as the Pandya capital of Madurai itself was sacked by Alauddin Khilji's troops under General Malik Kafur in 1316. The Muslim invasion led to the establishment of the short-lived Madurai Sultanate.[22]
[edit] Vijayanagar and Nayak period (13361646) Main article: Vijayanagara Empire

The Muslim invasions of South India triggered the establishment of the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire in the Deccan. It eventually conquered the entire Tamil country by c. 1370 C.E. and ruled for almost two centuries till the defeat at the Battle of Talikota in 1565 by the Deccan sultanates. Subsequently, as the Vijayanagara Empire went into decline after the mid-16th century, many local rulers, called Nayaks, succeeded to the throne of Vijayanagara. This resulted in its grip loosening over its feudatories; many Nayaks declared themselves independent, among whom the Nayaks of Madurai and Tanjore were the first to declare their independence, despite initially maintaining loose links with the Vijayanagara kingdom."[18] The Nayaks of Madurai and Nayaks of Thanjavur were the most prominent of Nayaks in the 17th century. They reconstructed some of the well-known temples in Tamil Nadu such as the Meenakshi Temple.
[edit] Rule of Nawabs and Nizams (16921801) See also: Nawab of the Carnatic, Nizam of Hyderabad, and Kingdom of Mysore

Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal at Madurai.

In the early 18th century, the eastern parts of Tamil Nadu came under the dominions of the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of the Carnatic. While Wallajah was supported by the English, Chanda Shahib was supported by the French by the middle of the 18th century. In the late 18th century, the western parts of Tamil Nadu came under the dominions of Hyder Ali and later Tipu Sultan, particularly with their victory in the Second Anglo-Mysore War.
[edit] European rule (18011947) Main article: Madras Presidency

Fort Dansborg at Tharangambadi built by the Danish

Around 1609, the Dutch established a settlement in Pulicat, while the Danish had their establishment in Tharangambadi also known as Tranquebar. In 1639, the British, under the British East India Company, established a settlement further south of Pulicat, in present day Chennai. In the late 18th century, the British fought and reduced the French dominions in India to Pondicherry. Nizams of Hyderabad and the Nawabs of the Carnatic bestowed tax revenue collection rights on the East India Company for defeating the Kingdom of Mysore. After winning the Polygar wars, the East India Company consolidated most of southern India into the Madras Presidency coterminous with the dominions of Nizam of Hyderabad. Pudukkottai remained as a princely state.
[edit] Tamil Nadu in independent India (1947 -)

When India became independent in 1947, Madras Presidency became Madras State, comprising present day Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh up to Ganjam district in Orissa, South Canara district Karnataka, and parts of Kerala. The state was subsequently split up along linguistic lines. In 1969, Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu, meaning Tamil country.

[edit] Geography

Topographic map of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu covers an area of 130,058 square kilometres (50,216 sq mi), and is the eleventh largest state in India. The bordering states are Kerala to the west, Karnataka to the northwest and Andhra Pradesh to the north. To the east is the Bay of Bengal and the union territory of Pondicherry. The southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula is located in Tamil Nadu. At this point is the town of Kanyakumari which is the meeting point of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. The western, southern and the north-western parts are hilly and rich in vegetation. The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats and they both meet at the Nilgiri hills.[23] The Western Ghats

dominate the entire western border with Kerala, effectively blocking much of the rain bearing clouds of the South West Monsoon from entering the state. The eastern parts are fertile coastal plains and the northern parts are a mix of hills and plains. The central and the south central regions are arid plains and receive less rainfall than the other regions. Tamil Nadu has a coastline of about 1,076 kilometres (700 mi) which is the countrys third longest coastline. Tamil Nadu's coastline bore the brunt of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami when it hit India, which caused 7,793 direct deaths in the state.[24] Tamil Nadu falls mostly in a region of low seismic hazard with the exception of the western border areas that lie in a low to moderate hazard zone; as per the 2002 Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) map, Tamil Nadu falls in Zones II & III. Historically, parts of this region have experienced seismic activity in the M5.0 range.[25]

[edit] Flora and fauna

Main articles: Wildlife of Tamil Nadu and List of birds of Tamil Nadu

A Bengal tiger in the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary

There are about 2000 species of wildlife that are native to Tamil Nadu. Protected areas provide safe habitat for large mammals including elephants, tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, gaurs, lion-tailed macaques, Nilgiri Langurs, Nilgiri Tahrs, Grizzled Giant Squirrels and Sambar deer, resident and migratory birds such as cormorants, darters, herons, egrets, Open-billed storks, Spoonbills and White Ibises, Little Grebes, Indian Moorhen, Black-winged Stilts, a few migratory Ducks and occasionally Grey pelicans, marine species such as the Dugongs, turtles, dolphins and Balanoglossus and a wide variety of fish and insects.

Endangered Lion-tailed Macaque

Indian Angiosperm diversity comprises 17,672 species with Tamil Nadu leading all states in the country, with 5640 species accounting for 1/3 of the total flora of India. This includes 1559 species of medicinal plants, 533 endemic species, 260 species of wild relatives of cultivated plants and 230 red-listed species. The Gymnosperm diversity of the country is 64 species of which Tamil Nadu has four indigenous species and about 60 introduced species. The Pteridophytes diversity of India includes 1022 species of which Tamil Nadu has about 184 species. Vast numbers of bryophytes, lichen, fungi, algae and bacteria are among the wild plant diversity of Tamil Nadu. Common plant species include the state tree: Palmyra Palm, Eucalyptus, Rubber, Cinchona, Clumping Bamboos (Bambusa Arundinacea), Common teak, Anogeissus latifolia, Indian Laurel, Grewia, and blooming trees like Indian labumusum, Ardisia, and Solanaceae. Rare and unique plant life includes Combretum ovalifolium, Ebony (Diospyros nilagrica), Habenaria rariflora (Orchid), Alsophila, Impatiens elegans, Ranunculus reniformis, and Royal fern.[26]

[edit] National and State Parks

Main article: Protected areas of Tamil Nadu

The Emerald Lake in the Nilgiris.

Mudumalai forest

Tamil Nadu includes a wide range of Biomes, extending east from the South Western Ghats montane rain forests in the Western Ghats through the South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests and Deccan thorn scrub forests to tropical dry broadleaf forests and then to the beaches, estuaries, salt marshes, mangroves, and coral reefs of the Bay of Bengal. The state has a range of flora and fauna with many species and habitats. To protect this diversity of wildlife there are Protected areas of Tamil Nadu as well as biospheres which protect larger areas of natural habitat often include one or more National Parks. The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve established in 1986 is a marine ecosystem with seaweed and sea grass communities, coral reefs, salt marshes and mangrove forests. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve located in the Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills comprises part of adjoining states of Kerala and Karnataka. The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve is in the south west of the state bordering Kerala in the Western Ghats. Tamil Nadu is home to five declared National parks located in Annamalai, Mudumalai, Mukurithi, Gulf of Mannar and Guindy located in the center of Chennai city. Besides these bioreserves, there are many state and central run wild life sanctuaries for tiger, elephant and birds.

[edit] Climate

A semi-arid wasteland near Tirunelveli. Monsoon clouds pour torrents of rain on windward-facing Kerala, but are prevented from reaching Tirunelveli by the Agasthyamalai Range of the Western Ghats (background).

Tamil Nadu is heavily dependent on monsoon rains, and thereby is prone to droughts when the monsoons fail. The climate of the state ranges from dry sub-humid to semi-arid. The state has three distinct periods of rainfall:

advancing monsoon period, South West monsoon from June to September, with strong southwest winds; North East monsoon from October to December, with dominant northeast winds; dry season from January to May.

The normal annual rainfall of the state is about 945 mm (37.2 in) of which 48% is through the North East monsoon, and 32% through the South West monsoon. Since the state is entirely dependent on rains for recharging its water resources, monsoon failures lead to acute water scarcity and severe drought.[27] Tamil Nadu is classified into seven agro-climatic zones: north-east, north-west, west, southern, high rainfall, high altitude hilly, and Cauvery Delta (the most fertile agricultural zone). The table below shows the maximum and minimum temperatures that the state experiences in the plains and hills.[28]

[edit] Governance and administration

Main articles: Government of Tamil Nadu and Tamil Nadu Legislature

State symbols of Tamil Nadu[29]

Dance Bharathanattiyam

Animal Nilgiri Tahr

Bird Emerald Dove

Flower Gloriosa Lily

Tree Palm Tree

Sport Kabaddi

The Governor is the constitutional head of the state while the Chief Minister is the head of the government and the head of the council of ministers. The Chief Justice of the Madras High Court is the head of the judiciary. The present Governor, Chief Minister and the Chief Justice are Konijeti Rosaiah, J. Jayalalitha and M. Y. Eqbal respectively. Administratively the state is divided into 32 districts. It has 10 city corporations, 125 municipalities, 529 town panchayats and 12,524 village panchayats.[30][31] Chennai (formerly known as Madras) is the state capital. It is the fourth largest city in India and is also one of the eight Metropolitan cities of India. The state comprises 39 Lok Sabha constituencies and 234 Legislative Assembly constituencies. Tamil Nadu had a bicameral legislature until 1986, when it was replaced with a unicameral legislature, like most other states in India. The term length of the government is five years, as is elsewhere in India. The present government run by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led alliance came to power in 2011 and consists of a council of 33 ministers, headed by the Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha. The Tamil Nadu legislative assembly is housed at the Fort St. George in Chennai. The state had come under the President's rule rule on four occasions first from 1976 to 1977, next for a short period in 1980, then from 1988 to 1989 and the latest in 1991. The local administration is divided into revenue administration and developmental administration. Revenue administrative units are classified based on the district. Each of the 32 districts in Tamil Nadu is divided into divisions, which are further divided to Taluks.[32] Each of these Taluks have a list of revenue villages under them. Tahsildar is the head of these Taluks. Developmental administration, in contrast, is carried out by Panchayat Unions (called blocks) in rural areas. These panchayat unions have a set of panchayat villages under them. In urban areas, the governance is done by municipal corporations, municipalities or town panchayats based on the size of the town.[32] Tamil Nadu has 10 municipal corporations: Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Salem, Vellore, Tirunelveli, Erode, Tirupur and Thoothukudi. Tamil Nadu has been a pioneering state of E-Governance initiatives in India. A large part of the government records like land ownership records are digitised and all major offices of the state government like Urban Local Bodies all the corporations and municipal office activities

revenue collection, land registration offices, and transport offices have been computerised. Tamil Nadu is one of the states where law and order has been maintained largely successfully.[33] The Tamil Nadu Police Force is over 140 years old. It is the fifth largest state police force in India and has the largest strength of women police personnel in the country.[34] As of 2003, the state had a total police population ratio of 1:668, higher than the national average of 1:717. The current Director General of Police (law and order) of Tamil Nadu is K. Ramanujan.[35]

[edit] Districts

Districts of Tamil Nadu

Chennai with Chennai Central railway station (top), Bharata Natyam dancer in center left, Marina beach in center right, San Thome Basilica in bottom left and Kapaleeshwarar Temple in bottom right. Main article: Districts of Tamil Nadu

The 32 districts of Tamil Nadu are listed below with the numbers corresponding to those in the image at right.
District 1 Ariyalur 2 Chennai 3 Coimbatore 4 Cuddalore 5 Dharmapuri 6 Dindigul Headquarters Ariyalur Chennai Coimbatore Cuddalore Dharmapuri Dindigul Area 1,944 km Population Pop density (2011) 752,481 387 /km

174 km 4,681,087 26,903 /km 4,642 km 3,472,578 3,705 km 2,600,880 4,527 km 1,502,900 6,054 km 2,161,367 748 /km 702 /km 332 /km 357 /km

District 7 Erode 8 Kanchipuram 9 Kanyakumari 10 Karur 11 Krishnagiri 12 Madurai 13 Nagapattinam 14 Namakkal 15 Nilgiris 16 Perambalur 17 Pudukkottai

Headquarters Erode Kanchipuram Nagercoil Karur Krishnagiri Madurai Nagapattinam Namakkal

Area

Population Pop density (2011) 397 /km 927 /km

5,692 km 2,259,608 4,305 km 3,990,897

1,685 km 1,863,174 1,106 /km 2,902 km 1,076,588 5,091 km 1,883,731 3,695 km 3,041,038 2,416 km 1,614,069 3,402 km 1,721,179 735,071 564,511 371 /km 370 /km 823 /km 668 /km 506 /km 288 /km 323 /km 348 /km 320 /km 663 /km 324 /km 691 /km 433 /km 378 /km 602 /km 458 /km 476 /km

Udagamandalam 2,552 km Perambalur Pudukkottai 1,748 km

4,652 km 1,618,725

18 Ramanathapuram Ramanathapuram 4,180 km 1,337,560 19 Salem 20 Sivaganga 21 Thanjavur 22 Theni 23 Thoothukudi 24 Tiruchirappalli 25 Tirunelveli 26 Tirupur 27 Tiruvallur Salem Sivaganga Thanjavur Theni Thoothukudi Tiruchirappalli Tirunelveli Tirupur Tiruvallur 5,249 km 3,480,008 4,140 km 1,341,250 3,477 km 2,402,781 2,872 km 1,243,684 4,599 km 1,738,376 4,508 km 2,713,858 6,709 km 3,072,880 5,192 km 2,471,222

3,552 km 3,725,697 1,049 /km

District 28 Tiruvannamalai 29 Tiruvarur 30 Vellore 31 Viluppuram 32 Virudhunagar

Headquarters Tiruvannamalai Tiruvarur Vellore Viluppuram Virudhunagar

Area

Population Pop density (2011) 654 /km 533 /km 646 /km 482 /km 454 /km

6,188 km 3,468,965 2,379 km 1,268,094 6,081 km 3,928,106 7,185 km 3,463,284 4,280 km 1,943,309

[edit] Politics
Main articles: Elections in Tamil Nadu, Politics of Tamil Nadu, and Dravidian parties Political Alliance AIADMK+ DMK+ Independent/Other AssemblyLok Sabha (2011) (2009) 203 31 0 12 27 0
[36][37]

Source: Election Commission of India.

Fort St. George, Chief Secretariat, Govt. of Tamil Nadu

Prior to Indian independence Tamil Nadu was under British colonial rule as part of the Madras Presidency. The main party in Tamil Nadu at that time was the Indian National Congress (INC).

Regional parties have dominated state politics since 1916. One of the earliest regional parties, the South Indian Welfare Association, a forerunner to Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu, was started in 1916. The party was called after its English organ, Justice Party, by it opponents. Later, South Indian Liberal Federation was adopted as its official name. The reason for victory of the Justice Party in elections was the non-participation of the INC, demanding complete independence of India. The Indian Independence movement saw great leaders like Muthuramalinga Thevar, K. Kamaraj, Subramanya Bharathi, Subramaniya Siva, V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, Tiruppur Kumaran, Rajagopalachariar (Rajaji) and Satyamurti. The Justice Party which was under E.V.Ramaswamy was renamed Dravidar Kazhagam (DK for short) in 1944. DK was a non-political party which demanded the establishment of an independent state called Dravida Nadu. However, due to the differences between its two leaders EVR and C.N. Annadurai, the party was split. Annadurai left the party to form the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The DMK decided to enter politics in 1956. In the 19th century, western scholars discovered that the Dravidian languages dominating South India formed a different linguistic group than the Indo-Aryan languages predominant in North India. They also classified Indians into distinct Aryan and Dravidian races. It was proposed that the generally darker-skinned Dravidians constituted a distinct race. This concept has affected thinking in India about racial and regional differences and had an impact on aspects of Tamil nationalism, which has appropriated the claim that Dravidians are the earliest inhabitants of India, and the Aryan population were oppressive interlopers from whom Dravidians should liberate themselves.[38] Re-organisation of Indian states according to linguistic and ethnic basis has moderated Tamil nationalism, especially the demand for separation from the Indian Union. The Anti-Hindi agitations in mid-1960s made the DMK more popular and a more powerful political force in the state. The DMK routed the INC in the 1967 elections and took control of the state government, ending INC's stronghold in Tamil Nadu. C.N. Annadurai became the DMK's first Chief Minister. Muthuvel Karunanidhi took over as Chief Minister and party leader after Annadurai's death in 1969. Karunanidhi's leadership was soon challenged by M.G. Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR. In 1972, he split from DMK and formed the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK) and later renamed the party as All India Anna Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam. He was the Chief Minister of the state from 1977 until his death in 1987. After the death of MGR, AIADMK was defeated in 1989 assembly polls because of the split of the party into two factions headed by Janaki (wife of MGR) and Jayalalithaa. Later on J. Jayalalithaa took control of the party. She was elected as the General Secretary of the unified AIADMK. There have been several splits in both the DMK and the AIADMK, but since 1967 one of those two parties has held power in the state.

[edit] Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Tamil Nadu

[show]Population Growth

Tamil Nadu is the seventh most populous state in India with a population of 72,138,958 (5.96% of India's population; census 2011 fig.). It is the seventh most densely populated state in India with a population density of 555 persons per square kilometre as of 2011, having increased from 429 in 1991, significantly higher than the Indian average of 382 persons per square kilometre. 44% of the state's population live in urban areas, the highest among large states in India.[5] Tamil Nadu's population grew by 15.6% between 2001 and 2011, the sixth lowest rate for that period amongst populous states (states whose population exceeded 20 million in 2011). Although its decadal rate of population growth has declined since 1971, the population growth during the last decade (20012011) has increased. The state has registered the lowest fertility rate in India in year 200506 with 1.7 children born for each woman, lower than required for population sustainability.[40][41]
[edit] Religion Religions in Tamil Nadu[42]
Religion Percent

Hinduism Christianity Islam Others

88.3% 6.1% 5.6% 0.3%

Meenakshi Amman Temple complex in Madurai, one of the grandest Hindu temples in India

About 89% of the population are Hindus and Tamil Nadu is the home of the core schools of medieval and modern Hinduism as well as several non-mainstream Hindu movements. These include Saiva Siddhanta, Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita, Alvars' Sri Vaishnavism, and Nayanmars Saivisim. Several important Hindu Tamil figures became important figures for Hinduism as a whole (e.g.Ramanuja.) In modern times, well known figures for Hinduism in the state include Ramana Maharishi and the Kanchi Paramacharya. Murugan, Thirumal (Vishnu), Sivan, Sakthi in various forms and a large number of village deities are also worshiped by Hindus in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu dominates the list of largest Hindu Temples in the world. Christians and Muslims together form over 11% of the population. Christians are mainly concentrated in the southern districts of Kanyakumari (54% of the population, 2001), Thoothukudi (17%, 2001) and Tirunelveli (11%,2001). St. Thomas Mount in Chennai, the place where St. Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus, was believed to have been martyred, is an important pilgrimage site for Indian Christians. The Santhome Basilica, widely believed by Christians in India to have been built atop the tomb of St. Thomas, and the Vailankanni Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health are churches revered by Christians in India. The Church of South India and the Pentecostal Mission Church are headquartered in Chennai.

Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health at Velankanni, a Christian pilgrimage centre

Muslims are mainly concentrated in areas such as Adirampattinam, Kayalpatnam, Kilakarai, Pernambut, Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Madurai, Nagore, and Melapalayam, with the state capital Chennai also home to a number of Muslims. Among Muslims, 97.5% are Sunni and the rest are Shias. The Sunnis adhere to either Hanafi or Shafi schools of thought. Erwadi in Ramanathapuram district and Nagore in Nagapattinam district are important pilgrimage sites for Muslims. Kazimar Big Mosque in Kazimar Street, Madurai and Karpudaiyar masjid in Kayalpatnam are one of the earlier mosques in Tamil Nadu. Samanars or Tamil Jains have a legacy dating back 250 BC. They made significant contributions to Tamil literature. According to the 2001 census there were 83,359 Jains in Tamil Nadu. There is a popular atheist movement in the 1940s as well. Jains make up 0.13% of the population.

Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes comprise 19% and 1% of the population respectively.[43][44]
[edit] Language Languages in Tamil Nadu
Language Percent

Tamil Telugu Kannada Urdu Others

89.43% 5.65% 1.68% 1.51% 1.73%

Tamil is the only official language of Tamil Nadu. English is also in common usage as an official language of India. When India adopted national standards, Tamil was the very first language to be recognised as a classical language of India.[45] The Tamil people regard their language a very important part of their cultural identity. Tamil is spoken as the first language by 89.43% of the population. Minority languages include Telugu (5.65%), Kannada (1.68%), Urdu (1.51%), Malayalam (0.89%), Gujarati / Saurashtri (0.32%), Hindi (0.30%) and Marathi (0.10%).[46] Tamil is the official and the principal spoken language of the state. As of the 2001 Census, Tamil is spoken as the first language by 89.43% of the population followed by Telugu at 5.66%, Kannada at 1.68%, Urdu at 1.51% and Malayalam at 0.89%.[47]

[edit] Education
Main article: Education in Tamil Nadu

District level literacy (2011 data)

Tamil Nadu is one of the most literate states in India.[48] Tamil Nadu has performed reasonably well in terms of literacy growth during the decade 20012011. A survey conducted by the Industry body Assocham ranks Tamil Nadu top among Indian states with about 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in primary and upper primary education.[49] One of the basic limitations for improvement in education in the state is the rate of absence of teachers in public schools, which at 21.4% is significant.[50] The analysis of primary school education in the state by Pratham shows a low drop-off rate but poor quality of state education compared to other states.[51][52]

The statue of C.N. Annadurai at the CEG campus of Anna University

Tamil Nadu has 37 universities,[53] 455 engineering colleges[citation needed], 449 Polytechnic Colleges[54] and 566 arts and science colleges, 34335 elementary schools, 5167 high schools, 5054 higher secondary schools and 5000 hospitals. Some of the notable educational institutes present in Tamil Nadu are, College of Engineering, Guindy, IIT Madras, NIT Tiruchi, University of Madras, SSN College of Engineering, Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering (SVCE), Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, PSG College of Technology, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, SRM University, SASTRA University, Loyola College, Ethiraj College for Women, Madras Christian College, Madras Medical College, Christian Medical College, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, TANUVAS, American College, etc. India has a human development index calculated as 0.619, while the corresponding figure for Tamil Nadu is 0.736, placing it among the top states in the country.[55][56] The life expectancy at birth for males is 65.2 years and for females it is 67.6 years.[57] However, it has a high level of poverty especially in the rural areas. As of 20042005, the poverty line was set at 351.86/month for rural areas and 547.42/month for urban areas. Poverty in the state dropped from 51.7% in 1983 to 21.1% in 2001[58] For the period 20042005, the Trend in Incidence of Poverty in the state was 22.5% compared with the national figure of 27.5%. The World Bank is currently assisting the state in reducing poverty, High drop-out and low completion of secondary schools continue to hinder the quality of training in the population. Other problems include class, gender, inter-district and urban-rural disparities. Based on URP Consumption for the period 2004 2005, percentage of the state's population Below Poverty Line was 27.5%. The Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative ranks Tamil Nadu to have a Multidimensional Poverty Index of 0.141, which is in the level of Ghana among the developing countries.[59] Corruption is a

major problem in the state with Transparency International ranking it the second most corrupt among the states of India.[60] Tamil Nadu now has 69% reservation in educational institutions for socially backward section fo the society, the highest among all Indian states.[61] The Midday Meal Scheme program in Tamil Nadu, initiated by Kamaraj, was expanded considerably during the rule of the AIADMK in 1983, although the state is among the 12 states in India that have an alarming level of hunger, according to the 2008 Global Hunger Index.[62][63]

[edit] Culture

Kolam a Traditional art form of the Tamil people Main articles: Tamil people, Temples of Tamil Nadu, and Tamil literature

Tamil Nadu has a long tradition of venerable culture. Tamil Nadu is known for its rich tradition of literature, music and dance which continue to flourish today. Unique cultural features like Bharatanatyam (dance), Tanjore painting, and Tamil architecture were developed and continue to be practised in Tamil Nadu.
[edit] Literature

Most early Tamil literary works are in verse form, with prose not becoming more common until later periods. Throughout its history, Tamil literature has sought to inform and inspire, educate and entertain. Notable examples of Tamil poetry include the Tirukkural, written during the Tamil Sangams period. The poem encompasses a universal outlook, as the author, Tiruvalluvar, does not mention his religion, land, or the audience for his work. He is often portrayed as a holy saint of Tamil Nadu today. Ancient Tamil literature is predominantly secular and deals with everyday life in the Tamil Context.[64]

-( 'Learning is a wealth that none could destroy Nothing else gives genuine joy' (Tirukkural 400)

400)

The first Tamil printing press was established at Tarangambadi by the Danish missionaries. During the Indian freedom struggle, many Tamil poets and writers sought to provoke national spirit, social equity and secularist thoughts among the common man, notably Subramanya Bharathy and Bharathidasan. Even today, Tamil Nadu is home to creative writers like Vairamuthu.
[edit] Festivals and Traditions

Overflowing during cooking of Pongal indicates overflowing of joy and prosperity

Pongal, also called as Tamizhar Thirunaal (festival of Tamils) or Makara Sankranti elsewhere in India, a four-day harvest festival is one of the most widely celebrated festivals throughout Tamil Nadu. The Tamil language saying Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum literally meaning, the birth of the month of Thai will pave way for new opportunities is often quoted with reference to this festival. The first day, Bhogi Pongal, is celebrated by throwing away and destroying old clothes and materials by setting them on fire to mark the end of the old and emergence of the new. The second day, Surya Pongal, is the main day which falls on the first day of the tenth Tamil month Thai (14 January or 15 January in western calendar). The third day, Maattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to the cattle, as they provide milk and are used to plough the lands. Jallikattu, a bull taming contest, marks the main event of this day. During this final day, Kaanum Pongal the word "kaanum", means 'to view' in Tamil. In 2011 the Madras High Court Bench ordered the cockfight at Santhapadi and Modakoor Melbegam villages permitted during the Pongal festival while disposing of a petition filed attempting to ban the cockfight.[65]

Thiruvannamalai annamalaiyar chariot festival

The first month in the Tamil calendar is Chitterai and the first day of this month in mid-April is celebrated as Tamil New Year. Thiruvalluvar Calendar is 31 years ahead of Gregorian Calendar, that is 2000 AD in Gregorian calendar is represented as 2031 in Thiruvalluvar Calendar. Aadi Perukku is celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month Aadi, which celebrates the rising of the water level in the river Cauvery. Apart from these major festivals, in every village and town of Tamil Nadu, the inhabitants celebrate festivals for the local gods once a year and the time varies from place to place. Most of these festivals are related to the goddess Maariyamman, the mother goddess of rain. Other major Hindu festivals including Deepavali (Death of Narakasura), Ayudha Poojai, Saraswathi Poojai (Dasara), Krishna Jayanthi and Vinayaka Chathurthi are also celebrated. In addition, Christmas, Eid ul-Fitr, Easter and Bakrid are celebrated by Christians and Muslims in the state.
[edit] Music See also: Ancient Tamil music and Carnatic music

Nadhaswaram and Thavil players

The Kings of ancient Thamizhagam created sangams for Iyal Isai Nadagam (Literature, Music and Drama). Music played a major role in sangams. Music in Tamil Nadu had different forms. In villages where farming was the primary occupation, women who worked in the fields used to sing kulavai songs. Odhuvars, Sthanikars or Kattalaiyars offer short musical programmes in the temples by singing the devotional Thevaram songs. In sharp contrast with the restrained and intellectual nature of Carnatic music, Tamil folk music tends to be much more exuberant.

Popular forms of Tamil folk music include the Villuppu, a form of music performed with a bow, and the Nuppurappu, ballads that convey folklore and folk history. Some of the leading Tamil folk artists in the early 21st century are Pushpuvanam Kuppuswamy, Dr. Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan, Chinnaponnu, Paravai muniammal etc. Carnatic music is the classical music form of Southern India. This is one of the world's oldest & richest musical traditions.[66] The Trinity of Carnatic music Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri were from Tamil Nadu. Thyagarajar Aaradhanai (worship) takes place every year in the month of Marghazhi in Thiruvaiyaru all carnatic musicians render their obesiance to Saint Thyagarajar by singing his compositions.[67] The composers belonging to the Tamil Trinity, namely Muthu Thandavar (?1560 ?1640), Arunachala Kavi (17121779) and Marimutthu Pillai (17171787) composed hundreds of devotional songs in Tamil and helped in the evolution of Carnatic music. Chennai hosts a large cultural event, the annual Madras Music Season during DecemberJanuary, which includes performances by hundreds of artists all over the city. In terms of modern cine-music, Ilaiyaraaja was a prominent composer of film music in Tamil cinema during the late 1970s and 1980s. His work highlighted Tamil folk lyricism and introduced broader Western musical sensibilities to the South Indian musical mainstream. Tamil Nadu is also the home of the double Oscar Winner A.R. Rahman[68][69][70] who has composed film music in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi films, English and Chinese films, was once referred to by Time magazine as "The Mozart of Madras".
[edit] Arts and Dance

A Bharatanatyam dancer

Tamils have a large number of folk dances. These are performed for every possible occasion, to celebrate the arrival of seasons, birth of a child, weddings and festivals. Tamil dance is closely intertwined with the Tamil theatrical tradition. The most celebrated of these is karakattam. In its religious form, the dance is performed in front of an image of the goddess Mariamman. The dancer bears on his or her head a brass pot filled with uncooked rice, decorated with flowers and

surrounded by a bamboo frame, and tumbles and leaps to the rhythm of a song without spilling a grain. Karakattam is usually performed to a special type of song known as temmanguppu or thevar pu, a folk song in the mode of a lover speaking to his beloved, to the accompaniment of a nadaswaram and melam. Other Tamil folk dances include mayilam, where the dancers tie a string of peacock feathers around their waist; yilttam, danced in a circle while waving small pieces of cloth of various colours; poikkal kuthiraiyaaam, where the dancers use dummy horses; manattam, where the dancers imitate the graceful leaping of deer; paraiyam, a dance to the sound of rhythmical drumbeats, and thppandam, a dance involving playing with burning wooden torches. Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form originating from Tamil Nadu. Prior to the colonial perriod, it used to be performed in Hindu temples by Devadasis. In this form, it as also been called sadir or chinna melam. Many of the ancient sculptures in Hindu temples are based on Bharata Natyam dance postures. Bharatanatyam is a traditional dance-form known for its grace, purity, tenderness, and sculpturesque poses. It continues to be a popular dance style at present times and is practised by male and female dancers all over India. Terukkuttu or Kattaikkuttu is a traditional form of Tamil street theatre folk dance/drama.
[edit] Film industry Main article: Tamil cinema

Tamil Nadu is also home to the Tamil film industry, often colloquially referred to as 'Kollywood'. It is known for being the second largest film industry in terms of revenue and worldwide distribution, in India.[71] It is based at Kodambakkam in Chennai city.
[edit] Cuisine Main article: Tamil cuisine

Idly and Vadai served with Sambar

Traditional Tamil lunch served in banana leaf

Tamil cuisine is typical of South Indian cuisine, in that rice and rice-derived dishes form the major portion of a diet (see rice and curry). There are regional sub-varieties namely Chettinadu, Kongunadu, Madurai, Tirunelveli varieties etc. Traditionally, food is served on a banana leaf instead of a plate and eaten with the right hand. Rice is the staple food of Tamils and is typically eaten mixed with coconut chutney sambhar (with or without ghee), vegetarian or non-vegetarian kulambu, rasam, curd and buttermilk. This is accompanied with various vegetarian and/or nonvegetarian dishes like kootu, aviyal, poriyal, appalam, varuval, peratal, kothsu, varieties of pickles and chicken, mutton, or fish fry. Breakfast and snack items include dosai, Adai, idly, vadai, pongal, appam (aappam), paniyaram, puttu, uppumavu (uppuma), santhakai (a sort of noodles), idiyappam and uthappam. These items are eaten along with sambar, varieties of chatni and podi. Traditionally prepared filter coffee is unique in taste and popular all over the state. The Chettinad region is famous for its spicy non-vegetarian cuisine, while Ambur, Dindigal and Sankarankoil are known for their Biriyani. Sweet items that are native to Tamil Nadu are Athirasam, Chakkarai Pongal (prepared during Pongal) and Kuli Paniyaram. The city o fThirunelveli is renowned for its unique sweetmeat, Thirunelveli Halwa, while Palani is known for its Panchamirtham. North Indian, Western, Chinese and fast food culture are also becoming popular in modern Tamil Nadu.

[edit] Economy
Main articles: Economy of Tamil Nadu, List of conglomerates in Tamil Nadu, and List of rivers of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is the second largest contributor to India's GDP. Tamil Nadu's gross state domestic product for the year 2011-2012 was 4.28 lakh crore or $145,868 Million. The state has shown a growth of 9.4% in the year 2011-2012.[72] Tamil Nadu is the most industrialised state in India.[73] It ranks third in foreign direct investment (FDI) approvals (cumulative 19912002) of 225,826 million ($5,000 million), next only to Maharashtra and Delhi constituting 9.12% of the total FDI in the country.[74] The per capita income in 20072008 for the state was 72,993 ranking third

among states with a population over 10 million and has steadily been above the national average.[75]

Gross State Domestic Product in Crores at Constant Prices[76]

Year

GSDP

Growth Rate

Share in India

200001

142,065

5.87%

7.62%

200102

139,842

-1.56%

7.09%

200203

142,295

1.75%

6.95%

200304

150,815

5.99%

6.79%

200405

219,003

11.45%

7.37%

200506

249,567

13.96%

7.67%

200607

287,530

15.21%

8.07%

200708

305,157

6.13%

7.83%

200809

320,085

4.89%

7.70%

200910

350,258

9.43%

7.77%

201011

391,372

11.74%

8.01%

201112

428,109

9.39%

8.20%

According to the 2011 Census, Tamil Nadu is the most urbanised state in India(49%), accounting for 9.6% of the urban population while only comprising 6% of Indias total population and .[77] and is the most urbanised state in India.[5] Services contributes to 45% of the economic activity in the state, followed by manufacturing at 34% and agriculture at 21%. Government is the major investor in the state with 51% of total investments, followed by private Indian investors at 29.9% and foreign private investors at 14.9%. Tamil Nadu has a network of about 113 industrial parks and estates offering developed plots with supporting infrastructure.[78] According to the publications of the Tamil Nadu government the Gross State Domestic Product at Constant Prices (Base year 20042005) for the year 20112012 is 428,109 crores,[79] an increase of 9.39% over the previous year. The per capita income at current price is 72,993.
[edit] Agriculture Main articles: Agriculture in Tamil Nadu and Animal husbandry in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has historically been an agricultural state and is a leading producer of agricultural products in India. In 2008, Tamil Nadu was India's fifth biggest producer of Rice. The total cultivated area in the State was 5.60 million hectares in 200910.[80] The Cauvery delta region is known as the Rice Bowl of South India. In terms of production, Tamil Nadu accounts for 10% in fruits and 6% in vegetables, in India.[81] Annual food grains production in the year 200708 was 100.35 lakh mt.[80] Mango and banana are the leading fruit crops in Tamil Nadu accounting for over 87% of the total fruit production. The main vegetables grown are tapioca, tomato, onion, brinjal (eggplant), and drumstick. Tamil Nadu is also a leading state in the production of flowers with the total production of horticultural crops standing at 99.47 Lakhs during 200304. The main flowers grown in Tamil Nadu are jasmine, mullai, chrysanthemum, marigold and rose The state is the largest producer of bananas, flowers,[81] tapioca,[81] the second largest producer of mango,[81] natural rubber,[82] coconut, groundnut and the third largest producer of coffee,[83] sapota,[81] Tea[84] and Sugarcane. Tamil Nadu's sugarcane yield per hectare is the highest in India. The state has 17,000 hectares of land under oil palm cultivation, the second highest in India.[85]

Paddy fields at Nagercoil

Tamil Nadu is the home to Dr M.S. Swaminathan, known as the "father of the Green Revolution" in India.[86] Tamil Nadu Agricultural University with its seven colleges and thirty two research stations spread over the entire state contributes to evolving new crop varieties and technologies and disseminating through various extension agencies. Among states in India, Tamil Nadu is one of the leaders in livestock, poultry and fisheries production. Tamil Nadu had the second largest number of poultry amongst all the states and accounted for 17.7% of the total poultry population in India.[87] In 20032004, Tamil Nadu had produced 37,836 lakhs of eggs, which was the second highest in India representing 9.37% of the total egg production in the country.[88] With the third longest coastline in India, Tamil Nadu represented 27.54% of the total value of fish and fishery products exported by India in 2006.
[edit] Textiles

Textile mills and engineering industries are present around the city of Coimbatore. It is home to textile, automotive spare parts and motor pump manufacturing units. Cities of Tirupur and Erode are the country's largest exporters of knitwear.[89] They are well known for textile manufacturing industries and exports to such extent that the districts of Coimbatore, Tirupur, Karur, Erode, Namakkal and Salem . The region around Coimbatore, Tirupur, Karur and Erode is referred to as the "Textile Valley of India" with the export from the Tirupur 50,000 million ($1,000 million) and Karur generates around 35,500 million ($750 million) an year in foreign exchange.. 56% of India's total knitwear exports come from Tirupur & Karur make above 60% of India's Home Textiles. Gobichettipalayam, Pollachi, Theni and Vedasandur are known for its cotton mills. Rajapalayam is famous for its cotton market. Kanchipuram and Arani are world famous for their pure zari silk sarees and handloom silk weaving industries. Aruppukottai, Salem, Sathiyamangalam are also famous for Art-Silk sarees. Andipatti, Tiruchengodu, Paramakudi, Kurinjipadi are major handloom centres. Negamam, Cinnalapatti, Woraiyur, Pochampalli are famous for its soft cotton saree weavings. Madurai is well known for its Chungidi cotton saree.
[edit] Automobiles

Tamil Nadu has seen major investments in the automobile industry over many decades manufacturing cars, railway coaches, battle-tanks, tractors, motorcycles, automobile spare parts and accessories, tyres and heavy vehicles. Major global automobile companies including BMW, Ford, Renault-Nissan, Caterpillar, Hyundai, Mitsubishi Motors and Michelin as well as local automobile majors like Ashok Leyland, Hindustan Motors, TVS Motors, Irizar-TVS, Royal Enfield, MRF, Apollo Tyres, TAFE Tractors, DaimlerChrysler AG Company also invested ( ) 4 billion for establishing new plant in Tamil Nadu[90] have manufacturing operations in Tamil Nadu. Karur is a hub for Bus body building industries. Namakkal is the major source of Heavy Vehicle and lorry body building. Recently India Yamaha, Yamaha Motor Corporation's Indian subsidiary, has decided to set up a new factory in Tamil Nadu.[91]

[edit] Heavy industries

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited at Tiruchirapalli(Trichy)

Tamil Nadu is one of the highly industrialised states in India. Over 11.2% of the S&P CNX 500 conglomerates have corporate offices in Tamil Nadu. Many heavy engineering and manufacturing companies are located in and around the suburbs of Chennai. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, one of India's largest electrical equipment manufacturing company, has manufacturing plants at Tiruchirapalli and Ranipet. India's leading steel producer, SAIL has a steel plant in Salem. Sterlite Industries has their copper smelter plant in Tuticorin and aluminium plant in Mettur.Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL)is an Indian state-owned oil and gas corporation headquartered in Chennai.CPCL has refinery in Manali, Chennai and panangudi, Nagapattinam (Cauvery basin).The state government owns the Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd. (TNPL),[92] the world's biggest bagasse based Paper mills in Karur, as well as the world's sixth largest manufacturer of watches together with TATA at Hosur, under the brand name of "Titan". Number of large Cement factories such as Chettinad cements, Ramco cements, Tancem, Dalmia cements,UltraTech Cements, ACC are present across the state. Ariyalur is termed as the land of cement industries in the state.
[edit] Others

Namakkal is also one of the main source of Egg production in India. Karur is also the major manufacturer of Nylon nets (HDPE) Filaments over 65% of India. Sivakasi is a major centre of fireworks and safety match production and offset printing in India, over 60% of firework production is contributed from sivakasi.
[edit] Electronics and software

Infosys' campus at Mahindra World City near Chennai

Electronics manufacturing is a growing industry in Tamil Nadu, with many telecommunications giants like Nokia, Flextronics, Motorola, Sony-Ericsson, Foxconn, Samsung, Cisco, Moser Baer and Dell having chosen Chennai as their South Asian manufacturing hub. Products manufactured include circuit boards and cellular phone handsets.[93] Tamil Nadu is the second largest software exporter by value in India, second only to Karnataka. Software exports from Tamil Nadu grew from 76 billion ($1.6 billion) in 200304 to 207 billion {$5 billion} by 200607 according to NASSCOM[94] and to 366 billion in 200809 which shows 29% growth in software exports according to STPI.[95] Major national and global IT Companies such as Syntel, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Tata Consultancy Services, Mahindra Satyam, Verizon, Hewlett-Packard, Amazon.com, Paypal, IBM, Accenture, Ramco Systems, Computer Sciences Corporation, Cognizant Technology solutions, Tech Mahindra, Polaris, Aricent, MphasiS, MindTree, BBM info 24/7 Customers, and many others have offices in Tamil Nadu.
[edit] Leather industry

The state accounts for 70 per cent of leather tanning capacity in India and 38 per cent of leather footwear and components. The exports from Tamil Nadu are valued at about US $ 762 million, which accounts for 42 per cent of Indian leather exports. Hundreds of leather and tannery industries are located around Vellore, Dindigul and Erode its nearby towns such as Ranipet, Ambur, Perundurai, Nilakottai and Vaniyambadi. The Vellore district is the top exporter of finished leather goods in the country. That leather accounts for more than 37% of the country's Export of Leather and Leather related products such as finished leathers, shoes, garments, gloves and so on. The tanning industry in India has a total installed capacity of 225 million pieces of hide and skins of which Tamil Nadu alone contributes to an inspiring 70%. Leather industry occupies a pride of place in the industrial map of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu enjoys a leading position with 40% share in India 's export. It currently employs about 2.5 million persons Leather exports by the end of the year 20002001 were Rs. 9000 crores..

[edit] Infrastructure

Pamban road (left) and rail (right) bridges, connecting the Indian mainland with the Pamban Island [edit] Transport

[edit] Road
Main articles: Transport in Tamil Nadu and Road network in Tamil Nadu . The rail bridge was opened to traffic in 1914, and was considered an engineering marvel in its time

Tamil Nadu has a transportation system that connects all parts of the state. Tamil Nadu is served by an extensive road network, providing links between urban centres, agricultural market-places and rural areas. There are 28 national highways in the state, covering a total distance of 5,036 km (3,129 mi).[96] The state is also a terminus for the Golden Quadrilateral project. The state has a total road length of 167,000 km (103,769 mi), of which 60,628 km (37,672 mi) are maintained by Highways Department. This is nearly 2.5 times higher than the density of all-India road network.[97] The major road junctions are Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem, Karur, Krishnagiri, Dindigul, Kanniyakumari. [edit] Rail

MRTS Train station in Chennai

Tamil Nadu has a well-developed rail network as part of Southern Railway. Headquartered at Chennai, the Southern Railway network extends over a large area of India's Southern Peninsula, covering the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondicherry, a small portion of Karnataka and a small portion of Andhra Pradesh. Tamil Nadu has a total railway track length of 5,952 km (3,698 mi) and there are 532 railway stations in the state. The system connects it with most major cities in India. Main rail junctions in the state include Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) and Erode. Chennai has a well-established suburban railway network and is in the process of developing a metro. [edit] Airports

Tamil Nadu has 4 international airports and 3 domestic airports. Chennai International Airport is a major international airport that is connected with 19 countries with more than 169 direct flights every week. This is the third largest airport in India after Mumbai and Delhi and has a passenger growth of 18%. Other international airports present in the state are Coimbatore International Airport, Madurai International Airport and Tiruchirapalli International Airport. Salem Airport and Tuticorin Airport are domestic airports with convenient connections to the rest of the state and the country. Increased industrial activity has given rise to an increase in passenger traffic as well as freight movement which has been growing at over 18 per cent per year. [edit] Seaport Tamil Nadu has three major seaports at Chennai, Ennore and Tuticorin, as well as one intermediate port, at Nagapattinam (Seven other minor ports including Cuddalore and Nagapattinam).[80] Chennai Port is an artificial harbour situated on the Coromandel Coast in South-East India and it is the second principal port in the country for handling containers. Ennore Port handles all the coal and ore traffic in Tamil Nadu. The volume of cargo in the ports grew by 13 per cent during 2005.[98]
[edit] Energy

Windmills for Electricity Generation in a Coimbatore District

As of 2005, Tamil Nadu is one of the few Indian states with surplus Electricity generation capacity, enabling the electrical authority to sell it to neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka. The Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant, Ennore Thermal Plant, Neyveli Lignite Power Plant, many hydroelectric plants including Mettur Dam, hundreds of windmills and the Narimanam Natural Gas Plants are major sources of Tamil Nadu's electricity. Tamil Nadu generates a significant proportion of its power needs from renewable sources with wind power installed capacity at over 6007 MW[99] It is presently adding the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant to its energy grid, which on completion would be the largest atomic power plant in the country, in terms of capacity.[100] The total installed capacity of electricity in the State is 8,249 MW. The installed capacity of State Sector is 5,288 MW, and that of Private Sector is 1,058 MW. Apart from this, 1,903 MW is available as share from Central Sector.[80] Tamil Nadu ranks

first nationwide in diesel-based thermal electricity generation with a national market share of over 34%.[101]

Aralvaimozhy railway station in Nagercoil with a view of wind farm

[edit] Sports
See also: List of sportspeople from Tamil Nadu

Traditional sport of Tamil Nadu and Tamil people include Silambam a Tamil martial arts played with a long bamboo staff, Cockfight, Jallikattu a bull taming sport famous on festival occasions, ox-wagon racing known as Rekkala, Kite also known as Pattam viduthal and Kabaddi also known as Sadugudu is the state game of Tamil Nadu. Most of these traditional sports are associate with traditional festivals and mostly played in rural Tamil Nadu. In urban area of Tamil Nadu modern sports like bat and ball games are played. The most popular game just like rest of India is Cricket. M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is an international cricketing arena with a capacity of 50,000 and houses the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan are few of the many cricketers from Tamil Nadu. The MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai is a much sought after fast bowling academy by pace bowlers all over the world. Cricket contests between local clubs, franchises and teams are popular across the state. Chennai Super Kings represents Chennai among the nine Indian cities featuring in the nation level Twenty-20 cricket competition, the Indian Premier League. Tamil Nadu has a long standing motor sports culture. The sport was pioneered by Sundaram Karivardhan in its early days. Motor racing between 60s and 80s were conducted at Sholavaram track using an abandoned word war II air strip as track. Modern motor racing events are held at two venues, the Irungattukottai Race Track owned and operated by Madras Motor Sports Club near Sriperumbudur and Kari Motor Speedway near Coimbatore. Notable racing people from Tamil Nadu include Narain Karthikeyan, the first Indian to participate in F1 racing, and Karun Chandhok.

Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore

Tennis is also a famous sport in Tamil Nadu with notable international players including Vijay Amritraj and Mahesh Bhupathi. The ATP Chennai Open tournament held in Chennai every January is the biggest Tennis event in South Asia.[102] The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT)owns Nungambakkam tennis stadium which hosts Chennai Open and Davis Cup play off tournaments. World Chess champion and Indian Grand Master Viswanathan Anand and Arjuna Awardee & two-time world carrom champion Maria Irudayam hail from Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu boasts of total of 8 Grand Masters and numerous International Masters.[103]

Viswanathan Anand, the world chess champion

The Tamil Nadu Hockey Association is the governing body of Hockey in the state. Vasudevan Baskaran was the captain of the Indian team that won gold medal in 1980 Olympics at Moscow. The Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai hosts international hockey events and is regarded by the International Hockey Federation as one of the best in the world for its infrastructure.[104] The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) is the government body that is vested with the responsibility of developing sports and related infrastructure in the state.[105] The SDAT owns and operates world class stadiums and organises sporting events.[106] It also accommodates sporting events, both at domestic and international level, organised by other sports associations at its venues. The YMCA College of Physical Education at Nandanam in Chennai was established in 1920 and was the first college for physical education in Asia.[107] The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai is a multi-purpose stadium hosting Football and Track & Field events. The Indian Triathlon Federation and the Volleyball Federation of India are headquartered in Chennai. Chennai hosted Indias first ever International Beach Volleyball Championship in 2008.[108] The SDAT TNSRA Squash Academy in Chennai, one of the very few modern squash facilities in South Asia, hosts international squash events.

Snooker was invented by General Sir Frederick Roberts at the Ooty Club in Ooty, a hill station in the state.[109][110] Tamil Nadu has six 18-hole Golf courses,[111] the most popular of which are Kodaikanal Golf Club, established in 1895, Ooty Golf Course, established in 1896, and Gymkhana Club, Chennai. The Madras Boat Club, set up in 1867, hosts regular rowing races on the Adyar River. The 232year-old Guindy race course in Chennai is a horse racing venue. Adventure sports have gained popularity, especially amongst the tourists visiting the state.[112]

[edit] Tourism
Main article: Tourism in Tamil Nadu

Hogenakkal Falls on Kaveri river, Dharmapuri district

Tamil Nadu's tourism industry is the second largest in India, with an annual growth rate of 16%. Tourism in Tamil Nadu is promoted by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), a Government of Tamil Nadu undertaking. The tagline adopted for tourism promotion in Tamil Nadu is Enchanting Tamil Nadu. Approximately 2,804,687 foreign and 111,637,104 domestic tourists visited the state in 2010.[113] Tamil Nadu is a land of varied beauty. It boasts some of the grandest Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture. These temples are of a distinct style renowned for their towering Gopurams. The Brihadishwara Temple in Thanjavur, built by the Cholas, the Airavateswara temple in Darasuram and the Shore Temple, along with the collection of other monuments in Mahabalipuram (also called Mamallapuram) have been declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.[114][115] Madurai is home to one of the grandest Hindu temples in the World Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam is the largest functioning temple in the world, Tiruchirappalli where the famous Rockfort Temple is located, Rameshwaram whose temple walk-ways corridor (Praagarams) are the longest [1.2 km] of all Indian temples in the world, Kanchipuram and Palani are important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Other popular temples in Tamil Nadu include those in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Chidambaram, Thiruvannaamalai, Tiruchendur, Tiruvarur, Kumbakonam, Srivilliputhur, Tiruttani, Namakkal, Vellore, Karur, Bhavani, Coimbatore, Kanniyakumari.

Dolphin's Nose at Kodaikanal

Sunrise in Kanyakumari with Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar statue in the foreground.

Tamil Nadu is also home to beautiful hill stations. Popular among them are Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Kodaikanal, Yercaud, Coonoor, Topslip, Valparai, Yelagiri and Manjolai. The Nilgiri hills, Palani hills, Shevaroy hills, Kolli Hills and Cardamom hills are all abodes of thick forests and wildlife. Mukurthi National Park & Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve are the two tiger reserves in the state. Tamil Nadu has many National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Elephant and Bird Sanctuaries, Reserved Forests, Zoos and Crocodile farms. Prominent among them are Mudumalai National Park, The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and Arignar Anna Zoological Park. The mangrove forests at Pichavaram are also eco-tourism spots of importance. Kanyakumari, the southern most tip of peninsular India, is famous for its beautiful sunrise, Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar's statue built off the coastline. Marina Beach in Chennai is one of the longest beaches in the world.[116] The stretch of beaches from Chennai to Mahabalipuram are home to many resorts, theme parks and eateries. The prominent waterfalls in the state are Courtallam, Hogenakal, Papanasam, Manimuthar, Thirparappu, Pykara and Silver Cascade. The Chettinad region of the state is renowned for its Palatial houses and cuisine. With medical care in Chennai, Vellore, Coimbatore and Madurai, Tamil Nadu has the largest numbers in Medical tourism in India.

[edit] See also

India portal

Tamil diaspora Tamil Eelam