Archaeological evidence points to Tamil Nadu being inhabited for more than 400 millennia and has more than 5,500 years of continuous cultural history.
Historically, the
Tamilakam region was inhabited by Tamil-speaking
Dravidian people and was ruled by several regimes over centuries, such as the
Sangam eratriumverate of the
Cheras,
Cholas and
Pandyas, the
Pallavas (3rd–9th century CE), and the later
Vijayanagara Empire (14th–17th century CE).
European colonization began with establishing trade ports in the 17th century, with the
British controlling much of
South India as the
Madras Presidency for two centuries before the
Indian Independence in 1947. After independence, the region became the
Madras State of the Republic of India and was further re-organized when states were redrawn linguistically in
1956 into the current shape. The state was renamed as Tamil Nadu, meaning "Tamil Country", in 1969. Hence,
culture,
cuisine and
architecture have seen multiple influences over the years and have developed diversely.
As the most urbanised state of India, Tamil Nadu boasts an
economy with gross state domestic product (GSDP) of ₹23.65 trillion (US$280 billion), making it the
second-largest economy amongst the 28 states of India. It has the country's
9th-highest GSDP per capita of ₹275,583 (US$3,300) and ranks
11th in
human development index. Tamil Nadu is also one of the most industrialised states, with the
manufacturing sector accounting for nearly one-third of the state's GDP. With its diverse culture and architecture, long coastline, forests and mountains, Tamil Nadu is home to a number of ancient relics, historic buildings, religious sites,
beaches,
hill stations,
forts,
waterfalls and four
World Heritage Sites with the state's
tourism industry, the largest among the Indian states. Forests occupy an area of 22,643 km2 (8,743 sq mi) constituting 17.4% of the geographic area of which protected areas cover an area of 3,305 km2 (1,276 sq mi), around 15% of the recorded forest area of the state and consists of three
biosphere reserves,
mangrove forests, five
National Parks, 18
wildlife sanctuaries and 17
bird sanctuaries. The
Tamil film industry, nicknamed as Kollywood, plays an influential role in the state's popular culture.
Archaeological evidence points to the region being inhabited by hominids more than 400 millennia ago.[12][13] Artifacts recovered in
Adichanallur by the
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) indicate a continuous history from more than 3,800 years ago.[14]Neolithiccelts with the
Indus script dated between 1500 and 2000 BCE indicate the use of the
Harappan language.[15][16] Excavations at
Keezhadi have revealed a large urban settlement dating to the 6th century BCE, during the time of urbanization in the
Indo-Gangetic plain.[17] Further epigraphical inscriptions found at Adichanallur use
Tamil Brahmi, a rudimentary script dated to 5th century BCE.[18] Potsherds uncovered from Keeladi indicate a script which is a transition between the Indus Valley script and Tamil Brahmi script used later.[19]
The
Sangam period lasted for about eight centuries, from 500 BCE to 300 CE with the main source of history during the period coming from the Sangam literature.[20][21] Ancient
Tamilakam was ruled by a
triumvirate of monarchical states,
Cheras,
Cholas and
Pandyas.[22] The Cheras controlled the western part of Tamilkam, the Pandyas controlled the south, and the Cholas had their base in the
Kaveri delta. The kings called Vendhar ruled over several tribes of Velala (peasants), headed by the Velir chiefs.[23] The rulers patronized multiple religions including
vedic religion,
Buddhism and
Jainism and sponsored some of the earliest
Tamil literature with the oldest surviving work being
Tolkāppiyam, a book of Tamil grammar.[24]
The kingdoms had significant diplomatic and trade contacts with other kingdoms to the north and
Romans.[25] Much of the commerce from the Romans and Han China were facilitated via seaports including
Muziris and
Korkai with
spices being the most prized goods along with
pearls and
silk.[26][27] From 300 CE, the
Kalabhras much of Tamilkam, who are believed to be of the
Vellalar community of warriors who were possibly once the feudatories of the ancient Tamil kingdoms.[28] The Kalabhra era is referred to as the "dark period" of Tamil history, and information about it is generally inferred from any mentions in the literature and inscriptions that are dated many centuries after their era ended.[29] The twin
Tamil epics
Silappatikaram and
Manimekalai were written during the era.[30] Tamil classic
Tirukkural by
Valluvar, a collection of couplets is attributed to the same period.[31][32]
Medieval era (4th–13th century CE)
Around the 7th century CE, the Kalabhras were overthrown by the Pandyas and Cholas, who patronised Buddhism and Jainism before the revival of
Saivism and
Vaishnavism during the
Bhakti movement.[33] Though they existed previously, the period saw the rise of the
Pallavas in the sixth century CE under
Mahendravarman I, who ruled parts of
South India with
Kanchipuram as their capital.[34] Pallavas were noted for their patronage of architecture with the origins of massive
gopuram, ornate towers at the entrance of temples, traced back to the
Pallavas. They built the group of
rock-cut monuments in
Mahabalipuram and temples in
Kanchipuram.[35] Throughout their reign, Pallavas remained in constant conflict with the Cholas and Pandyas. The Pandyas were revived by
Kadungon towards the end of the 6th century CE and with the Cholas in obscurity in
Uraiyur, the Tamil country was divided between the Pallavas and the Pandyas.[36] The
Pallavas were finally defeated by
Aditya I in the 9th century CE.[37]
The Cholas became the dominant kingdom in the 9th century under
Vijayalaya Chola, who established
Thanjavur as Chola's new capital with further expansions by subsequent rulers. In the 11th century CE,
Rajaraja I expanded the Chola empire with conquests of entire Southern India and parts of present-day
Sri Lanka,
Maldives and increasing Chola influence across the
Indian Ocean.[38][39] Rajaraja brought in administrative reforms including the reorganisation of Tamil country into individual administrative units.[40] Under his son
Rajendra Chola I, the Chola empire reached its zenith and stretched as far as
Bengal in the north and across the Indian Ocean.[41] The Cholas built many temples in the
Dravidian style with the most notable being the
Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, one of the foremost temples of the era built by Raja Raja and
Gangaikonda Cholapuram built by Rajendra.[42]
The Pandyas again reigned supreme early in the 13th century under
Maravarman Sundara I.[43] They ruled from their capital of
Madurai and expanded trade links with other maritime empires.[44] During the 13th century,
Marco Polo mentioned the Pandyas as the richest empire in existence. Pandyas also built a number of temples including the
Meenakshi Amman Temple at Madurai.[45]
Vijayanagar and Nayak period (14th–17th century CE)
In the 13th and 14th century, there were repeated attacks from
Delhi Sultanate.[46] The
Vijayanagara kingdom was founded in 1336 CE.[47] The Vijayanagara empire eventually conquered the entire Tamil country by
c. 1370 and ruled for almost two centuries until its defeat in the
Battle of Talikota in 1565 by a confederacy of
Deccan sultanates.[48][49]
Later, the
Nayaks, who were the military governors in the Vijaynagara Empire, took control of the region amongst whom the
Nayaks of Madurai and
Nayaks of Thanjavur were the most prominent.[50][51] They introduced the
palayakkararar system and re-constructed some of the well-known temples in Tamil Nadu including the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai.[52]
Later conflicts and European colonization (17th to 20th century CE)
Europeans started to establish trade centers from the 16th century along the eastern coast. The
Portuguese arrived in 1522 and built a port named
São Tomé near present-day
Mylapore in Madras.[58] In 1609,
Dutch established a settlement in
Pulicat and the
Danish had their establishment in
Tharangambadi.[59][60] On 20 August 1639, Francis Day of the
British East India Company met with the Vijayanager emperor
Peda Venkata Raya and obtained a grant for land on the Coromandel coast for their trading activities.[61][62][63] A year later, the company built
Fort St. George, the first major English settlement in India, which became the nucleus of the
British Raj in the region.[64][65] By 1693,
French established trading posts at
Pondichéry. The British and French competed to expand the trade which led to
Battle of Wandiwash as part of the
Seven Years' War.[66] The British regained control in 1749 through the
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle and resisted a
French siege attempt in 1759.[67][68] The Nawabs of the Carnatic surrendered much of its territory to the British East India Company in the north and bestowed tax revenue collection rights in the South, which led to constant conflicts with the Palaiyakkarars known as the
Polygar Wars.
Puli Thevar was one of the earliest opponents, joined later by
Rani Velu Nachiyar of
Sivagangai and
Kattabomman of Panchalakurichi in the first series of Polygar wars.[69][70] The
Maruthu brothers along with
Oomaithurai, the brother of Kattabomman formed a coalition with
Dheeran Chinnamalai and Kerala Varma
Pazhassi Raja, which fought the British in the Second Polygar Wars.[71] In the later 18th century, the
Mysore kingdom captured parts of the region and engaged in constant fighting with the British which culminated in the four
Anglo-Mysore Wars.[72]
By the 18th century, the British had conquered most of the region and established the
Madras Presidency with Madras as the capital.[73] After the defeat of Mysore in the
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799 and the British victory in the second Polygar war in 1801, the British consolidated most of southern India into what was later known as the
Madras Presidency.[74] On 10 July 1806, The
Vellore mutiny, which was the first instance of a large-scale mutiny by Indian sepoys against the British East India Company took place in
Vellore Fort.[75][76] After the
Indian Rebellion of 1857, the
British Raj was formed after the British crown took over the control of governance from the company.[77]
After the
India Independence in 1947, Madras presidency became
Madras state, comprising present-day Tamil Nadu and parts of
Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka and
Kerala.
Andhra state was split from the state in 1953 and the state was further re-organized when states were redrawn linguistically in
1956 into the current shape.[83][84] On 14 January 1969, Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu, meaning "Tamil country".[85][86] In 1965,
agitations against the
imposition of Hindi and in support of continuing English as a medium of communication arose which eventually led to English being retained as an official language of India alongside Hindi.[87] After independence, the economy of Tamil Nadu conformed to a
socialist framework, with strict governmental control over
private sector participation,
foreign trade, and
foreign direct investment. After experiencing fluctuations in the decades immediately after Indian independence, the economy of Tamil Nadu consistently exceeded national average growth rates from the 1970s, due to
reform-oriented economic policies.[88] In the 2000s, the state has become one of the most urbanized states in the country with and a higher standard of living.[89]
The Western Ghats runs south along the western boundary with the highest peak at
Doddabetta (2,636 m (8,648 ft)) in the
Nilgiri Hills.[94][95] The
Eastern Ghats run parallel to the Bay of Bengal along the eastern coast and the strip of land between them forms the
Coromandel region.[96] They are a discontinuous range of mountains intersected by
Kaveri river.[97] Both mountain ranges meet at the
Nilgiri mountains which run in a crescent approximately along the borders of Tamil Nadu with northern Kerala and Karnataka, extending to the relatively low-lying hills of the Eastern Ghats on the western portion of the Tamil Nadu–Andhra Pradesh border.[98] The
Deccan plateau is the elevated region bound by the mountain ranges and the plateau slopes gently from West to East resulting in major rivers arising in the Western Ghats and flowing east into the Bay of Bengal.[99][100][101]
Tamil Nadu has a 1,076 km (669 mi)
coastline long and is the second longest
coastline in the country after
Gujarat.[102] There are
coral reefs located in the Gulf of Mannar and Lakshadweep islands.[103] Tamil Nadu's coastline was permanently altered by the
Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.[104]
Geology
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 and III.[105] The volcanic
basalt beds of the Deccan were laid down in the massive
Deccan Traps eruption, which occurred towards the end of the
Cretaceous period, between 67 and 66 million years ago.[106] Layer after layer was formed by the volcanic activity that lasted many years and when the volcanoes became extinct, they left a region of highlands with typically vast stretches of flat areas on top like a table.[107] The predominant soils of Tamil Nadu are
red loam,
laterite,
black,
alluvial and
saline. Red soil with a higher iron content, occupies a larger portion of the state and all the inland districts. Black soil is found in
western Tamil Nadu and parts of southern coast. Alluvial soil is found in the fertile Kaveri delta region with laterite soil found in pockets and saline soil across the coast where the evaporation is high.[108]
Climate
The region has a
tropical climate and depends on monsoons for rainfall.[109] Tamil Nadu is divided into seven agro-climatic zones: northeast, northwest, west, southern, high rainfall, high altitude hilly, and
Kaveri delta.[110] A
tropical wet and dry climate prevails over most of the inland peninsular region except for a semi-arid
rain shadow east of the Western Ghats. Winter and early summer are long dry periods with temperatures averaging above 18 °C (64 °F); summer is exceedingly hot with temperatures in low-lying areas exceeding 50 °C (122 °F); and the rainy season lasts from June to September, with annual rainfall averaging between 750 and 1,500 mm (30 and 59 in) across the region. Once the dry northeast monsoon begins in September, most precipitation in India falls in Tamil Nadu, leaving other states comparatively dry.[111] A
hot semi-arid climate predominates in the land east of the Western Ghats which includes inland south and south central parts of the state and gets between 400 and 750 millimetres (15.7 and 29.5 in) of rainfall annually, with hot summers and dry winters with temperatures around 20–24 °C (68–75 °F). The months between March and May are hot and dry, with mean monthly temperatures hovering around 32 °C (90 °F), with 320 millimetres (13 in) precipitation. Without artificial irrigation, this region is not suitable for agriculture.[112]
The
southwest monsoon from June to September accounts for most of the rainfall in the region. The Arabian Sea branch of the southwest monsoon hits the Western Ghats from Kerala and moves northward along the
Konkan coast, with precipitation on the western region of the state.[113] The lofty Western Ghats prevent the winds from reaching the Deccan Plateau; hence, the leeward region (the region deprived of winds) receives very little rainfall.[114][115] The Bay of Bengal branch of the southwest monsoon heads toward northeast India, picking up moisture from the Bay of Bengal and the Coramandel coast does not receive much rainfall from the southwest monsoon, due to the shape of the land.[116] Northern Tamil Nadu receives most of its rains from the
northeast monsoon.[117] The northeast monsoon takes place from November to early March, when the surface
high-pressure system is strongest.[118] The
North Indian Ocean tropical cyclones occur throughout the year in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, bringing devastating winds and heavy rainfall.[119][120] The annual rainfall of the state is about 945 mm (37.2 in) of which 48 per cent is through the northeast monsoon, and 52 per cent through the southwest monsoon. The state has only 3% of the water resources nationally and is entirely dependent on rains for recharging its water resources, monsoon failures lead to acute
water scarcity and
severe drought.[121][122]
Chennai is the capital of the state and houses the
state executive,
legislative and
head of judiciary.[156] The administration of the state government functions through various secretariat departments. There are 43 departments of the state and the departments have further sub-divisions which may govern various undertakings and boards.[157] The state is divided into 38
districts, each of which is administered by a
District Collector, who is an officer of the
Indian Administrative Service (IAS) appointed to the district by the Government of Tamil Nadu. For revenue administration, the districts are further subdivided into 87 revenue divisions administered by Revenue Divisional Officers (RDO) which comprise 310
taluks administered by
Tahsildars.[158] The taluks are divided into 1349
revenue blocks called Firkas which consist of 17,680 revenue villages.[158] The
local administration consists of 15
municipal corporations, 121
municipalities and 528
town panchayats in the urban and 385
panchayat unions and 12,618
village panchayats, administered by Village Administrative Officers (VAO).[159][158][160]Greater Chennai Corporation, established in 1688, is the second oldest in the world and Tamil Nadu was the first state to establish town panchayats as a new administrative unit.[161][159]
The
Madras High Court was established on 26 June 1862 and is the highest judicial authority of the state with control over all the civil and criminal courts in the state.[170] It is headed by a
Chief Justice and has a bench at Madurai since 2004.[170] The
Tamil Nadu Police, established as Madras state police in 1859, operates under the
Home ministry of Government of Tamil Nadu and is responsible for maintaining law and order in the state.[171] As of 2023[update], it consists of more than 132,000 police personnel, headed by a
Director General of Police.[172][173] Women form 17.6% of the police force and specifically handle
violence against women through 222 special all-women police stations.[174][175][176] As of 2023[update], the state has 1854 police stations, the highest in the country, including 47 railway and 243 traffic police stations.[174][177] The traffic police under different district administrations is responsible for the traffic management in the respective regions.[178] The state is consistently ranked as one of the
safest for women with a crime rate of 22 per 100,000 in 2018.[179]
The
Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu led to the rise of Dravidian parties that formed Tamil Nadu's first government, in
1967.[187] In 1972, a split in the DMK resulted in the formation of the
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) led by
M. G. Ramachandran.[188]Dravidian parties continue to dominate Tamil Nadu electoral politics with the national parties usually aligning as junior partners to the major Dravidian parties, AIADMK and DMK.[189]M. Karunanidhi became the leader of the DMK after Annadurai and
J. Jayalalithaa succeeded as the leader of AIADMK after M. G. Ramachandran.[190][184] Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa dominated the state politics from the 1980s to early 2010s, serving as chief ministers combined for over 32 years.[184]
As per the
2011 census, Tamil Nadu had a population of 72.1 million and is the
seventh most populous state in India.[1] The population is projected to be 76.8 million in 2023 and to grow to 78 million by 2036.[195] Tamil Nadu is one of the most urbanized states in the country with more than 48.4 per cent of the population living in urban areas.[89] As per the 2011 census, the
sex ratio was 996 females per 1000 males, higher than the national average of 943.[196] The sex ratio at birth was recorded as 954 during the fourth
National Family Health Survey (NFHS) in 2015-16 which reduced further to 878 in the fifth NFHS in 2019–21, ranking
third worst amongst states.[197] As per the 2011 census,
Literacy rate was 80.1%, higher than the national average of 73%.[198] The literacy rate was estimated to be 82.9% as per the 2017
National Statistical Commission (NSC) survey.[199] As of 2011[update], there were about 23.17 million households with 7.42 million children under the age of six.[200] A total of 14.4 million (20%) belonged to
Scheduled Castes (SC) and 0.8 million (1.1%) to
Scheduled tribes (ST).[201]
The capital of Chennai is the
most populous urban agglomeration in the state with more than 8.6 million residents, followed by Coimbatore, Madurai,
Tiruchirappalli and
Tiruppur, respectively.[206]
The state is home to a diverse population of ethno-religious communities.[208][209] According to the 2011 census,
Hinduism is followed by 87.6% of the population.
Christians form the largest
religious minority in the state with 6.1% of the population;
Muslims form 5.9% of the population.[210]
The
LGBT rights in Tamil Nadu are among the most progressive in
India.[236][237] In 2008, Tamil Nadu set up the Transgender welfare board and was the first to introduce a transgender welfare policy, wherein transgender people can avail free
sex reassignment surgery in government hospitals.[238]Chennai Rainbow Pride has been held in Chennai annually since 2009.[239] In 2021, Tamil Nadu became the first Indian state to ban conversion therapy and
forced sex-selective surgeries on intersex infants, following the directions of the Madras High Court.[240][241][242] In 2019, the Madras High Court ruled that the term "bride" under the
Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 includes trans-women, thereby legalizing marriage between a man and a transgender woman.[243]
Tamil women traditionally wear a sari, a garment that consists of a drape varying from 5 to 9 yards (4.6 to 8.2 m) in length and 2 to 4 feet (0.61 to 1.22 m) in breadth that is typically wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, baring the midriff, as according to Indian philosophy, the navel is considered as the source of life and creativity.[244][245] Ancient Tamil poetry such as the Cilappadhikaram, describes women in exquisite drapery or sari.[246] Women wear colourful
silk sarees on special occasions such as marriages.[247] The men wear a dhoti, a 4.5 metres (15 ft) long, white rectangular piece of non-stitched cloth often bordered in brightly coloured stripes. It is usually wrapped around the waist and the legs and knotted at the waist.[248] A colourful lungi with typical
batik patterns is the most common form of male attire in the countryside.[249] People in urban areas generally wear tailored clothing, and western dress is popular. Western-style school uniforms are worn by both boys and girls in schools, even in rural areas.[249]Kanchipuram silk sari is a type of
silksari made in the
Kanchipuram region in Tamil Nadu and these saris are worn as bridal & special occasion saris by most women in South India. It has been recognized as a
Geographical indication by the Government of India in 2005–2006.[250][251]Kovai Cora Cotton is a type of
cottonsaree made in the Coimbatore.[251][252]
Cuisine
Rice is the diet staple and is served with sambar, rasam, and poriyal as a part of a Tamil meal.[253]Coconut and spices are used extensively in Tamil cuisine. The region has a rich cuisine involving both traditional non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes made of rice,
legumes, and
lentils with its distinct aroma and flavour achieved by the blending of
flavourings and spices.[254][255] The traditional way of eating a meal involves being seated on the floor, having the food served on a
banana leaf,[256] and using clean fingers of the right hand to take the food into the mouth.[257] After the meal, the fingers are washed; the easily degradable banana leaf is discarded or becomes fodder for cattle.[258] Eating on banana leaves is a custom thousands of years old, imparts a unique flavor to the food, and is considered healthy.[259]Idli, dosa, uthappam, pongal, and paniyaram are popular breakfast dishes in Tamil Nadu.[260]Palani Panchamirtham,
Ooty varkey,
Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai and
Srivilliputhur Palkova are unique foods that have been recognized as
Geographical Indications.[261]
Literature
Tamil Nadu has an independent
literary tradition dating back over 2500 years from the Sangam era.[6] Early Tamil literature was composed in three successive poetic assemblies known as the
Tamil Sangams, the earliest of which, according to legend, were held on a now vanished
continent far to the south of India.[262][263][264] This includes the oldest grammatical treatise, Tolkappiyam, and the epics Cilappatikaram and Manimekalai.[265] The earliest
epigraphic records found on rock edicts and hero stones date from around the 3rd century BCE.[266][267] The available literature from the Sangam period was categorised and compiled into two categories based roughly on chronology: the
Patiṉeṇmēlkaṇakku consisting of
Eṭṭuttokai and the
Pattupattu, and the
Patiṉeṇkīḻkaṇakku. The existent Tamil grammar is largely based on the 13th-century grammar book Naṉṉūl based on the Tolkāppiyam. Tamil grammar consists of five parts, namely eḻuttu, sol, poruḷ, yāppu, aṇi.[268][269]Tirukkural, a book on ethics by
Thiruvalluvar, is amongst the most popular works of Tamil literature.[270]
Dravidian architecture is the distinct style of rock architecture in Tamil Nadu.[281] In Dravidian architecture, the temples considered of porches or Mantapas preceding the door leading to the sanctum, Gate-pyramids or Gopurams in quadrangular enclosures that surround the temple and Pillared halls used for many purposes and are the invariable accompaniments of these temples. Besides these, a South Indian temple usually has a tank called the Kalyani or Pushkarni.[282] The
Gopuram is a monumental tower, usually ornate at the entrance of the temple forms a prominent feature of
Koils and
Hindu temples of the Dravidian style.[283] They are topped by the kalasam, a bulbous stone
finial and function as gateways through the walls that surround the temple complex.[284] The gopuram's origins can be traced back to the
Pallavas who built the group of monuments in
Mahabalipuram and
Kanchipuram.[35] The
Cholas later expanded the same and by the
Pandya rule in twelfth century, these gateways became a dominant feature of a temple's outer appearance.[285][286] The
state emblem also features the
Lion Capital of Ashoka with an image of a Gopuram on the background.[287]Vimanam are similar structures built over the garbhagriha or inner sanctum of the temple but are usually smaller than the gopurams in the Dravidian architecture with a few exceptions including the
Brihadisvara Temple in
Thanjavur.[288][289]
With the
Mugal influence in medieval times and the
British later, a rise in the blend of
Hindu,
Islamic and
Gothic revival styles, resulting in the distinct
Indo-Saracenic architecture with several institutions during the British era following the style.[290][291] By the early 20th century, the
art deco made its entry upon in the urban landscape.[292] After
Independence, the architecture witnessed a rise in the
Modernism with the transition from lime-and-brick construction to
concrete columns.[293]
Tamil Nadu is a major centre for music, art and dance in India.[294] Chennai is called the Cultural capital of South India.[295] In the Sangam era, art forms were classified into: iyal (poetry), isai (music) and nadakam (drama).[296]Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu and is one of the oldest dances of India.[297][298][299] Other regional folk dances include
Karakattam,
Kavadi,
Koodiyattam,
Oyilattam,
Paraiattam and
Puravaiattam.[300][301][302][303] The dance, clothing, and sculptures of Tamil Nadu exemplify the beauty of the body and motherhood.[304]Koothu is an ancient folk art, where artists tell stories from the epics accompanied by dance and music.[305][306]
The ancient Tamil country had its own
system of music called Tamil Pannisai described by Sangam literature such as the Silappatikaram.[307] A
Pallava inscription dated to seventh century CE has one of the earliest surviving examples of Indian music in notation.[308] There are many traditional instruments from the region dating back to the Sangam period such as
parai,
tharai,
yazh and
murasu.[309][310]Nadaswaram, a
reed instrument that is often accompanied by the
thavil, a type of
drum instrument are the major musical instruments used in temples and weddings.[311]Melam is a group of
Maddalams and other similar percussion instruments from the ancient Tamilakam which are played during events.[312] The traditional music of Tamil Nadu is known as
Carnatic music, which includes rhythmic and structured music by composers such
Muthuswami Dikshitar.[313]Gaana, a combination of various folk musics is sung mainly in the working-class area of North Chennai.[314]
The state is home to many museums, galleries, and other institutions which engage in arts research and are major tourist attractions.[315] Established in the early 18th century,
Government Museum and
National Art Gallery are amongst the oldest in the country.[316] The museum inside the premises of Fort St. George maintains a collection of objects of the British era.[317] The museum is managed by the
Archaeological Survey of India and has in its possession, the first
Flag of India hoisted at
Fort St George after the declaration of India's Independence on
15 August 1947.[318]
Tamil Nadu is also home to the Tamil film industry nicknamed as "Kollywood" and is one of the largest industries of film production in India.[319][320] The term Kollywood is a blend of
Kodambakkam and Hollywood.[321] The first silent film in South India was produced in Tamil in 1916 and the first talkie was a multi-lingual film, Kalidas, which released on 31 October 1931, barely seven months after India's first talking picture Alam Ara.[322][323]Samikannu Vincent, who had built the first cinema of South India in Coimbatore, introduced the concept of "Tent Cinema" in which a tent was erected on a stretch of open land close to a town or village to screen the films. The first of its kind was established in Madras, called "Edison's Grand Cinemamegaphone".[324][325][326]
Festivals
Pongal is a major and multi-day
harvest festival celebrated by
Tamils.[327] It is observed in the month of Thai according to the
Tamil solar calendar and usually falls on 14 or 15 January.[328] It is dedicated to the
Surya, the Sun God and the festival is named after the ceremonial "Pongal", which means "to boil, overflow" and refers to the traditional dish prepared from the new harvest of rice boiled in milk with
jaggery offered to Surya.[329][330][331] Mattu Pongal is meant for celebration of
cattle when the cattle are bathed, their horns polished and painted in bright colors, garlands of flowers placed around their necks and processions.[332]Jallikattu is a traditional event held during the period attracting huge crowds in which a bull is released into a crowd of people, and multiple human participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull's back with both arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape.[333]
Puthandu is known as Tamil New Year which marks the first day of year on the
Tamil calendar. The festival date is set with the solar cycle of the solar
Hindu calendar, as the first day of the Tamil month Chithirai and falls on or about 14 April every year on the
Gregorian calendar.[335]Karthikai Deepam is a festival of lights that is observed on the
full moon day of the
Kartika month, called the
Kartika Pournami, falling on the
Gregorian months of November or December.[336][337]Thaipusam is a Tamil festival celebrated on the first full moon day of the Tamil month of Thai coinciding with
Pusam star and dedicated to lord
Murugan.
Kavadi Aattam is a ceremonial act of sacrifice and offering practiced by devotees which is a central part of Thaipusam and emphasizes debt bondage.[338][339]Aadi Perukku is a Tamil cultural festival celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month of
Adi which pays tribute to
water's life-sustaining properties. The worship of
Amman and
Ayyanar deities are organized during the month in temples across Tamil Nadu with much fanfare.[312]Panguni Uthiram is marked on the
purnima (full moon) of the month of
Panguni and celebrates the wedding of various Hindu gods.[340]
The economy of the state consistently exceeded national average growth rates, due to
reform-oriented economic policies in the 1970s.[345] As of 2022[update], Tamil Nadu's
GSDP was ₹23.65 trillion (US$280 billion),
second highest amongst Indian states which had grown significantly from ₹2.19 trillion (US$26 billion) in 2004.[4] The per-capita
NDSP is ₹275,583 (US$3,300).[5] Tamil Nadu is the most urbanized state in India.[346] Though the state had the lowest % of people under the poverty line, rural unemployment rate is considerably higher at 47 per thousand compared to the national average of 28.[205][347] As of 2020[update], the state had the most number of factories at 38,837 units with an engaged work-force of 2.6 million.[348][349]
As of 2022[update], the state is amongst the major
Information technology (IT) exporters of India with a value of ₹576.87 billion (US$6.9 billion).[355][356] Established in 2000,
Tidel Park in Chennai was amongst the first and largest IT parks in Asia.[357] The presence of
SEZs and government policies have contributed to the growth of the sector which has attracted foreign investments and job seekers from other parts of the country.[358][359] In the 2020s, Chennai has become a major provider of
SaaS and has been dubbed the "SaaS Capital of India".[360][361]
Manufacturing is various states are governed by state owned industrial corporation
Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) apart from central government owned companies. Electronics hardware is a major manufacturing industry with an output of $5.37 billion in 2023, largest amongst Indian states.[371][372] A large number of automotive companies have their manufacturing bases in the state with the
automotive industry in Chennai accounting for more than 35% of India's overall automotive components and automobile output, earning the nickname "
Detroit of India".[373][374][375]Integral Coach Factory in Chennai manufactures railway coaches and other rolling stock for
Indian Railways.[376]
Another major industry is textiles with the state being home to more than half of the operating fiber textile mills in India.[377][378] Coimbatore is often referred to as the Manchester of
South India due to its cotton production and textile industries.[379] As of 2022[update], Tiruppur exported garments worth $480 billion, contributing to nearly 54% of the all the textile exports from India and the city is known as the knitwear capital due to its cotton knitwear export.[380][381] As of 2015[update], the textile industry in Tamil Nadu accounts for 17% of the total invested capital in all the industries.[382] As of 2021[update], 40% of leather goods exported from India worth ₹92.52 billion (US$1.1 billion) are being manufactured in the state.[383] The state supplies two-thirds of India's requirements of motors and pumps, and is one of the largest exporters of
wet grinders with "
Coimbatore Wet Grinder", a recognized
Geographical indication.[384][385]
Agriculture contributes 13% to the GSDP and is a major employment generator in rural areas.[352] As of 2022[update], the state had 6.34 million hectares under cultivation.[391][392]Rice is the staple food grain with the state being one of the largest producer with an output of 7.9 million tonnes in 2021–22.[393] The Kaveri delta region is known as the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu.[394] Among non-food grains,
sugarcane is the major crop with an annual output of 16.1 million tonnes in 2021–22.[395] The state is a producer of
spices and is the top producer of
oil seeds,
tapioca,
cloves and
flowers in India.[396] The state accounts for 6.5% of fruit and 4.2% of vegetables production in the country.[397][398] The state is a leading producer of
banana and
mango with more than 78% of the area under fruit cultivation.[399] As of 2019[update], the state was the second largest producer of
natural rubber and
coconuts.[400]Tea is a popular crop in hill-stations with the state being a major producer of a unique flavored
Nilgiri tea.[401][402]
As of 2022[update], the state is a largest producer of
poultry and
eggs with an annual production of 20.8 billion units, contributing to more than 16% of the national output.[403] The state has a fishermen population of 1.05 million and the coast consists of 3 major fishing harbors, 3 medium fishing harbors and 363 fish landing centers.[404] As of 2022[update], the fishing output was 0.8 million tonnes with a contribution of 5% to the total fish production in India.[405] Aquaculture include
shrimp,
sea weed,
mussel,
clam and
oyster farming across more than 6000 hectares.[406]M. S. Swaminathan, known as the "father of the Indian
Green Revolution" was from Tamil Nadu.[407]
Infrastructure
Water supply
The state accounts for nearly 4% of the land area and 6% of the population, but has only 3% of the water resources of the country and the per capita water availability is 800 m3 (28,000 cu ft) which is lower than the national average of 2,300 m3 (81,000 cu ft).[408] The state is dependent on the monsoons for replenishing the water resources. There are 17 major river basins with 61 reservoirs and about 41,948 tanks with a total surface water potential of 24,864 million cubic metres (MCM), 90% of which is used for
irrigation. The utilizable groundwater recharge is 22,423 MCM.[408] The major rivers include
Kaveri,
Bhavani,
Vaigai and
Thamirabarani. With most of the rivers originating from other states, the states depends on neighboring states for considerable quantum of water which has often led to
disputes.[409] The state has 116
large dams.[410] Apart from the rivers, majority of the water comes from rainwater stored in more than 41,000
tanks and 1.68 million
wells across the state.[391]
Water supply and sewage treatment are managed by the respective local administrative bodies such as the
Chennai MetroWater Supply and Sewage Board in Chennai.[411][412]Desalination plants including the country's largest at
Minjur provide alternative means of drinking water.[413] As per the 2011 census, only 83.4% of the households have access to safe drinking water, less than the national average of 85.5%.[414] Water sources are also threatened by
environmental pollution and effluent discharge from industries.[415]
Health and sanitation
The state is one of the
leading states in terms of sanitation facilities with more than 99.96% of people having access to toilets.[416] The state has robust health facilities and ranks higher in all health related parameters such as high life expectancy of 74 years (sixth) and 98.4%
institutional delivery (second).[204][417] Of the three demographically related targets of the
Millennium Development Goals set by the
United Nations and expected to be achieved by 2015, Tamil Nadu achieved the goals related to improvement of maternal health and of reducing infant mortality and child mortality by 2009.[418][419]
The health infrastructure in the state includes both government-run and private hospitals. As of 2023[update], the state had 404 public hospitals, 1,776 public dispensaries, 11,030 health centers and 481 mobile units run by the government with a capacity of more than 94,700 beds.[420][421] The
General Hospital in Chennai was established on 16 November 1664 and was the first major hospital in India.[422] The state government administers free
polio vaccine for eligible age groups.[423] Tamil Nadu is a major center for medical tourism and Chennai is termed as "India's health capital".[424]Medical tourism forms an important part of the economy with more than 40% of total medical tourists visiting India making it to Tamil Nadu.[425]
Communication
Tamil Nadu is one of four Indian states connected by
undersea fibre-optic cables.[426][427][428] As of 2023[update], four mobile phone service companies operate
GSM networks including
Bharti Airtel,
BSNL,
Vodafone Idea and
Reliance Jio offering
4G and
5G mobile services.[429][430] Wireline and broadband services are offered by five major operators and other smaller local operators.[430] Tamil Nadu is amongst the states with a high internet usage and penetration.[431] In 2018, the state government unveiled a plan to lay 55,000 km (34,000 mi) of
optical fiber across the state to provide high-speed internet.[432]
Power and energy
Electricity distribution in the state is done by the
Tamil Nadu Electricity Board headquartered at Chennai.[433] As of 2023[update], the average daily consumption is 15,000 MW with only 40% of the power is generated locally with the remaining 60% met through purchases.[434] As of 2022[update], the state was the fourth largest power consumer with a per capita availability of 1588.7 Kwh.[435][436] As of 2023[update], the state has the
third highest installed power capacity of 38,248 MW with 54.6% from renewable resources.[437][438]Thermal power is the largest contributor with more than 10,000 MW.[437] Tamil Nadu is the only state with two operational
nuclear power plants at
Kalpakkam, the first fully indigenous nuclear power station in India and
Kudankulam, the largest nuclear power station in India and generates nearly one-third of the total nuclear power generated in the country.[439][440][441] Tamil Nadu has the largest established wind power capacity with over 8,000 MW mostly based out of two regions,
Palghat Gap and
Muppandal, one of the
largest operational onshore wind farms in the world.[442]
Media
Newspaper publishing started in the state started with the launch of the weekly The Madras Courier in 1785.[443] It was followed by the weeklies Madras Gazette and Government Gazette in 1795.[444][445]The Spectator, founded in 1836 was the first English newspaper to be owned by an Indian and became the first daily newspaper in 1853.[446][447] The first Tamil newspaper, Swadesamitran was launched in 1899.[448][449] The state has a number of newspapers and magazines published in various languages including Tamil, English and Telugu.[450] The major dailies with more than 100,000 circulation per day include
The Hindu,
Dina Thanthi,
Dinakaran,
The Times of India,
Dina Malar and
The Deccan Chronicle.[451] Several periodicals and local newspapers prevalent in select localities also bring out editions from multiple cities.[452]
Government run
Doordarshan broadcasts terrestrial and
satellite television channels from its Chennai center set up in 1974.[453]DD Podhigai, Doordarshan's Tamil language regional channel was launched on 14 April 1993.[454] There are more than 30 private satellite television networks including
Sun Network, one of India's largest broadcasting companies is the state, established in 1993.[455] The cable TV service is entirely controlled by the state government while
DTH and
IPTV is available via various private operators.[456][457]Radio broadcasting began in 1924 by the Madras Presidency Radio Club.[458]All India Radio was established in 1938.[459] There are many
AM and
FM radio stations operated by
All India Radio,
Hello FM,
Suryan FM,
Radio Mirchi,
Radio City and
BIG FM among others.[460][461] In 2006, the government of Tamil Nadu distributed free televisions to all families, which has led to high penetration of television services.[462][463] From the early 2010s,
Direct to Home has become increasingly popular replacing cable television services.[464]Tamil television serials form a major prime time source of entertainment.[465]
Others
Fire services are handled by the
Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services which operates 356 operating fire stations.[466] Postal service is handled by
India Post, which operates more than 11,800 post offices in the state.[467] The first post office was established on 1 June 1786 at Fort St. George on 1 June 1786.[468]
Tamil Nadu has an extensive road network covering about 271,000 km as of 2023 with a road density of 2,084.71 kilometres (1,295.38 mi) per 1000 km2 which is higher than the national average of 1,926.02 kilometres (1,196.77 mi) per 1000 km2.[469] The
Highways Department (HD) of the state was established in April 1946 and is responsible for construction and maintenance of
national highways, state highways, major district roads and other roads in the state.[470] It operates through eleven wings with 120 divisions and maintains 73,187 kilometres (45,476 mi) of highways in the state.[471][472]
There are 48 national highways of length 6,805 kilometres (4,228 mi) in the state and the National Highways Wing of the highways department of Tamil Nadu, established in 1971, is responsbile for the maintenance of
National Highways as laid down by
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).[473][474] There are
state highways of length 6,805 kilometres (4,228 mi) which connect
district headquarters, important towns and
national highways in the state.[475][472] As of 2020, 32,598 buses are operated with the state transport units operating 20,946 buses along with 7,596 private buses and 4,056 mini buses.[476]Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC), established in 1947 when private buses operating in
Madras presidency were nationalized, is the primary
public transport bus operator in the state.[476] It operates buses along intra and inter state bus routes, as well as city routes with eight divisions including the
State Express Transport Corporation Limited (SETC) which runs long-distance express services. Metropolitan Transport Corporation in Chennai and State Express Transport Corporation.[476][477] As of 2020, Tamil Nadu had 32.1 million registered vehicles.[478]
Tamil Nadu is one of the most literate states in India with a literacy rate was estimated to be 82.9% as per the 2017 National Statistical Commission survey, higher than the national average of 77.7%.[199][507] The state had seen one of the highest literacy growth since the 1960s due to the
midday meal scheme introduced on a large scale by K. Kamaraj to increase school enrollment.[508][509][510] The scheme was further upgraded in 1982 to 'Nutritious noon-meal scheme' to combat
malnutrition.[511][512] As of 2022[update], the state has one of the highest enrollment to secondary education at 95.6%, far above the national average of 79.6%.[513]
An analysis of primary school education by
Pratham showed a low drop-off rate but poor quality of education compared to certain other states.[514]
As of 2022[update], the state had over 37,211 government schools, 8,403 government-aided schools and 12,631 private schools which educate 5.47 million, 2.84 million, and 5.69 million students respectively.[515][516] There are 3,12,683 teachers with 80,217 teachers in government-aided schools with an average teacher-pupil ratio of 1:26.6.[517] Public schools are all affiliated with the
Tamil Nadu State Board, while private schools may be affiliated with either of Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education,
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE),
Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (ICSE) or
National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).[518] School education starts with two years of Kindergarten from age three onwards and then follows the Indian
10+2 plan, ten years of school and two years of higher secondary education.[519]
As of 2023[update], the state has 4622 public libraries.[538] Established in 1896,
Connemara Public Library is one of the oldest and is amongst the four
National Depository Centres in India that receive a copy of all newspapers and books published in the country and the
Anna Centenary Library is the largest library in Asia.[539][540] There are many research institutions spread across the state.[541] Chennai book fair is an annual book fair organized by the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI) and is typically held in December–January.[542]
With its diverse culture and architecture and varied geographies, Tamil Nadu has a robust tourism industry. In 1971,
Government of Tamil Nadu established the
Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, which is the nodal agency responsible for the promotion of
tourism and development of tourist related infrastructure in the state.[543] It is managed by the
Tourism,Culture and Religious Endowments Department.[544] The tag line "Enchating Tamil Nadu" was adopted in the tourism promotions.[545][546] In the 21st century, the state has been amongst the top destinations for domestic and international tourists.[546][547] As of 2020[update], Tamil Nadu recorded the most tourist foot-falls with more than 140.7 million tourists visiting the state.[548]
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