Traditional art, culture, religion and society are a living reality in Tamil Nadu. This region made a substantial contribution to the development of Indian civilisation.
Religion is a main topic in this region and here they say, that a village without a temple is like a man without a heart. Many villages grew around a temple, contained in concentric walls.
The elaborate rituals of worship included music and dance. A variety of craftsmen were needed to cater to the temple, but the bronze casters and silk weavers are especially renowned. Scale apart, the south Indian temple is different from it's northern counterpart in architectural details. The tower rising above the sanctuary, consists of several receding pyramidal storeys. The gateways have towers, while 1000 pillared halls within the precincts are also characteristic.

Mahabalipuram.

Mahabalipuram is 34 miles( 55 km) on the coastal road from Madras, and has one of the earliest examples of temple art in south India. There is anbundance or carved monuments, five monolitic shrines, named the heross of Mahabrata and the beautiful Shore temple dedicated to Shiva and Skanda.

Kanchipuram.

Kanchipuram 43 miles ( 70 km) from Madras is one of India's seven sacred cities, and famous for it's silk. There are more than 150 temples, the most famous being the Kailasnath Temple ( 725 A.D. )dedicated to Shiva.

Thanjavur.

Thanjavur or Tanjore is well known fro the most imposing temple of the region, built by Rajasraraja I in the 10th century. It is called the "Devalaya Chakravartin, the emperor among temples. The granite temple has a tower rising to 216 feet ( 65 m) on the top of which is an 80-ton shikara. It was raised by that height by an inclined plane that started four miles ( six km ) away. There is also an enormous Nandi, the bull, which was Shiva's mount.
the city is also famous for inlay in copper, and more for it's paintings, portraits of gods and goddesses made on wood, against the background of gold leaf. Tanjore is also an important center for Carnatic music and Bharata Natyam dance.

Chidambaram.

chidambaram is beleived to be the venue of the cosmic dance of Shiva and has a magnificent Chola temple spread over 32 acres ( 13 hectares ) Here Shiva, as Natraj, king of dance, manifests creative energy. Chidambaram has a 1,00-pillared hall.

Tiruchirapalli.

Tiruchirapalli enshrines Vishnu in an enormous temple town complex contained within seven concentric walls. Additions to the temple were made up to the 18th century.

Madurai.

This place is the the home of Sri Meenakshi, the fisheyed goddess, venrated in a thriving temple dedicated to her. Here the gopurams tower to such a heith, are so profusely carved that they dwarf even the tower.