Tamil Nadu Facts and Information
General Information
| Capital | Chennai (Madras) |
|---|---|
| Formation Date | 1 November 1956 (renamed from Madras State on 14 Jan 1969) |
| Largest City | Chennai |
| Official Language | Tamil (classical language) |
| State Animal | Nilgiri tahr |
| State Bird | Emerald dove |
| State Flower | Glory lily |
| State Name | Tamil Nadu |
| State Tree | Palmyra palm |
Government and Administration
| Chief Minister | C. Joseph Vijay (TVK) |
|---|---|
| Governor | Rajendra Arlekar |
| High Court | Madras High Court |
| Legislature | Unicameral (234 Assembly seats) |
| Lok Sabha Seats | 39 |
| Number of Districts | 38 |
| Rajya Sabha Seats | 18 |
Geography and Environment
| Area | 130,058 km² |
|---|---|
| Climate | Tropical with northeast monsoon |
| Coastline | 1,076 km (2nd longest in India) |
| Forest Cover | ~20.3% |
| Major Rivers | Kaveri (Cauvery), Vaigai, Tamiraparani |
| Western Ghats | UNESCO Natural Heritage portion |
Demographics and Social Structure
| Density | ~555/km² |
|---|---|
| Literacy Rate | 80.09% |
| Population (2011 Census) | 72.1 million |
| Sex Ratio | 996 |
| Urbanization | 48.4% (one of highest in India) |
Economy and Industry
| Auto Manufacturing | 'Detroit of India' (Hyundai, Ford, BMW, Renault-Nissan) |
|---|---|
| Industrial Hub | 2nd largest industrial state economy |
| Major Ports | Chennai, Ennore, Tuticorin |
| Software Exports | Chennai is a top IT/IT-services destination |
| Textile Hub | Tiruppur (knitwear exports), Coimbatore (textile machinery) |
Education and Research
| Famous | Loyola College, Madras Christian College |
|---|---|
| Medical Education | Highest number of medical colleges in India |
| Premier Institutes | IIT Madras, IIM Tiruchirappalli, IIT Madras Research Park |
| Universities | Anna University, University of Madras |
Infrastructure and Connectivity
| Highway Density | Among highest in India |
|---|---|
| Major Airports | Chennai (international hub), Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli |
| Major Ports | Chennai (one of India's busiest) |
| Metro | Chennai Metro |
Culture and Heritage
| Cinema | Tamil cinema ('Kollywood') — major film industry |
|---|---|
| Classical Dance | Bharatanatyam (origin) |
| Classical Music | Carnatic music |
| Major Festival | Pongal, Thaipusam, Tamil New Year |
| UNESCO Sites | Great Living Chola Temples, Mahabalipuram Monuments |
Tourism and Places of Interest
| Coastal | Marina Beach (one of world's longest urban beaches) |
|---|---|
| Cultural City | Madurai (one of world's oldest continuously inhabited cities) |
| Hill Stations | Ooty, Kodaikanal, Yercaud |
| Pilgrimage | Madurai Meenakshi Temple, Rameswaram, Tirupati (nearby) |
| UNESCO Heritage | Brihadeeswarar Temple (Thanjavur), Mahabalipuram |
Fun facts
| Chola Empire | Maritime trade reached as far as Indonesia, China |
|---|---|
| Marina Beach | One of the longest urban beaches in the world (13 km) |
| Tamil Antiquity | Tamil is one of world's longest-surviving classical languages |