Tired of same old destinations? Try these locations in Tamil Nadu

Mullaimanalan, an architect and avid biker, is fascinated by Sirumalai, a reserve forest merely 25 kilometres from Dindigul. “The lush green vistas make this hill a must-visit during summers. I think it is better than Kodaikanal and Ooty, which have now become a sea of plastic waste and commercial tourists. Here, you can find delicious native banana (called Sirumalai banana) and jackfruits,” he said.

For history buffs, Mullaimanalan recommends Tranquebar, an old Dutch settlement, and Manapad located near Tuticorin with its massive churches and old forts. Mallaipattinam Manora too has Manora Fort which was built by Marathi ruler Serfoji II. But, Mullaimanalan’s favourite is Thirumullaivasal in Nagapattinam, where culture buffs can find old Tamil folk arts being practiced. “There are Nadaswaram and Thavil vidwans and folk dancers teaching their art to the students, which is fascinating to watch,” he said.

According to Ramesh Kamak, founder of the Trichy Trekkers Club, there are many lesser-known reserve forests, with pristine waterfalls. “The Karandamalai Reserve Forest has a gorgeous waterfall that most people do not know about. Piranmalai in the Sivagangai district has an ancient fort atop the hill, which takes almost three hours to climb on foot. The Talamalai reserve forest, at 2,700 feet, could be climbed in three hours,” he said. Think summer and bumming on the beach is an inevitable picture. Ramesh said that there are many tiny islands, which can only be accessed after acquiring requisite official permission. “Near Tuticorin, there are many tiny islands like Nalla Thanni Theevu, which require permission from the Forest and Fisheries Department, before they can be accessed by boat. Karaikal, 30 km from Thanjavur, is yet another not-so-well-known destination that has all the trappings of a coastal town – beach side shacks selling sea food and towering lighthouses,” he said.