Map of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is a first-level division of India. Its largest mapped city is Chennai, with about 7.16 million people in the metropolitan area. The interactive map below is centred on Tamil Nadu, and the tables list its 19 mapped cities along with the mountains, dams, lakes, ports, World Heritage Sites nearest to them.
- Cities Mapped
- 19
- Largest City
- Chennai
- Country
- India
- Highest Point Mapped
- 2,695 m
Interactive Map of Tamil Nadu
About Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is the southernmost state of India. The tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population, it is the home of the Tamils, who speak the Tamil language, the state's official language and the first to be recognised as a classical language in India. Chennai is the state's largest city and capital.
Located on the south-eastern coast of the Indian peninsula, Tamil Nadu is straddled by the Western Ghats and Deccan Plateau in the west, the Eastern Ghats in the north, the Eastern Coastal Plains lining the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait to the south-east, the Laccadive Sea at the southern cape of the peninsula, with the river Kaveri bisecting the state. Politically, Tamil Nadu is bound by the Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, and encloses a part of the union territory of Puducherry. It shares an international maritime border with the Northern Province of Sri Lanka at Pamban Island.
Archaeological evidence indicates that the Tamil Nadu region could have been inhabited more than 385,000 years ago by archaic humans. The state has more than 5,500 years of continuous cultural history. Historically, the Tamilakam region was inhabited by Tamil-speaking Dravidian people, who were ruled by several regimes over centuries such as the Sangam era triumvirate of the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas, the Pallavas (3rd–9th century CE), and the later Vijayanagara Empire (14th–17th century CE). European colonisation began with establishing trade ports in the 17th century, with the British controlling much of the state as a part of the Madras Presidency for two centuries. After the Indian Independence in 1947, the region became the Madras State of the Republic of India and was further reorganised when states were redrawn linguistically in 1956 into its current shape. The state was renamed as Tamil Nadu, meaning "Tamil Country", in 1969.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Tamil Nadu (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Tamil Nadu in Depth
History
Archaeological evidence indicates that the Tamil Nadu region could have been inhabited more than 385,000 years ago by archaic humans. Artifacts recovered in Adichanallur by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) indicate a continuous history from more than 3,800 years ago. Neolithic celts with the Indus script dated between 1500 and 2000 BCE indicate the use of the Harappan language. Excavations at Keezhadi have revealed a large urban settlement, with the earliest artefact dated to 580 BCE, during the time of urbanisation in the Indo-Gangetic plain. Further epigraphical inscriptions found at Adichanallur use Tamil Brahmi, a rudimentary script dated to 5th century BCE.
Economy
As of December 2023, Tamil Nadu's GSDP was ₹27.22 trillion (US$280 billion), second highest amongst Indian states, which had grown significantly from ₹2.19 trillion (US$23 billion) in 2004. The per-capita NDSP is ₹315,220 (US$3,300). Tamil Nadu is the most urbanised state in India. Though the state had the lowest percentage of people under the poverty line, rural unemployment rate is considerably higher at 47 per thousand compared to the national average of 28. As of 2020, the state had the most number of factories at 38,837 units with an engaged work-force of 2.6 million.
The state has a diversified industrial base anchored by different sectors including automobiles, software services, hardware, textiles, healthcare and financial services.
Demographics
As per the 2011 census, Tamil Nadu had a population of 72.1 million and is the seventh most populous state in India. The population is projected to be 76.8 million in 2023 and to grow to 78 million by 2036. Tamil Nadu is one of the most urbanised states in the country with more than 48.4 per cent of the population living in urban areas. As per the 2011 census, the sex ratio was 996 females per 1000 males, higher than the national average of 943. 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. As per the 2011 census, Literacy rate was 80.1%, higher than the national average of 73%.
Tourism and recreation
With its diverse culture and architecture and varied geographies, Tamil Nadu has a robust tourism industry. In 1971, the 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. It is managed by the Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department. The tag line "Enchanting Tamil Nadu" was adopted in the tourism promotions. In the 21st century, the state has been amongst the top destinations for domestic and international tourists.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Tamil Nadu (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Tamil Nadu: Key Facts
| Population | 72,147,030 (2011) |
|---|---|
| Area | 130,058 km² |
| Capital | Chennai |
| Established | 26 January 1950 |
Facts from Wikidata Q1445 (CC0).
History of Tamil Nadu: Empires and States
The atlas records 24 polities whose mapped territory included part of Tamil Nadu, from The Maurya Empire in 291 BCE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here |
|---|---|
| The Maurya Empire | 291–226 BCE |
| Early Cholas | 291 BCE – 305 CE |
| Early Pandyas | 291 BCE – 305 CE |
| Late Pallava Empire | 306–805 CE |
| The Gupta Empire | 353–450 CE |
| Kalabhra Dynasty | 353–601 CE |
| Pandya Dynasty | 592–921 CE |
| The Imperial Chola Empire | 886–1249 CE |
| Pandya Empire | 1216–1325 CE |
| The Delhi Sultanate | 1326–1343 CE |
| Tughlaq Dynasty | 1326–1343 CE |
| The Vijayanagara Empire | 1344–1571 CE |
| Vassalage of Jaffna kingdom to Vijayanagara Empire | 1385–1501 CE |
| Nayaks of Madurai | 1529–1737 CE |
| Nayaks of Thanjavur | 1534–1676 CE |
| Bijapur Sultanate | 1653–1669 CE |
| Kingdom of Mysore | 1673–1799 CE |
| The Maratha Empire | 1677–1799 CE |
| Thanjavur Maratha Kingdom | 1677–1799 CE |
| The Mughal Empire | 1691–1712 CE |
| Carnatic Sultanate | 1713–1802 CE |
| The British Empire | 1799–1946 CE |
| British Raj | 1859–1946 CE |
| Republic of India | 1947–2024 CE |
Historical Maps of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (Tamil: தமிழ்நாடு Tamizhnāḍu), the land of Tamils, is a state in the south of India known for its temples and architecture, food, movies and classical Indian dance and Carnatic music. It is the historical home of the famous Chera, Chola, Pandya and Pallava kingdoms which thrived in ancient and medieval India.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Tamil Nadu (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Tamil Nadu
19 cities mapped. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chennai | 7.16 million | Tamil Nadu | Admin-1 capital |
| 2 | Coimbatore | 1.70 million | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 3 | Madurai | 1.29 million | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 4 | Tiruchirappalli | 951,000 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 5 | Salem | 873,000 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 6 | Tiruppur | 650,000 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 7 | Tirunelveli | 542,200 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 8 | Tuticorin | 436,094 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 9 | Rajapalaiyam | 369,991 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 10 | Nagercoil | 224,329 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 11 | Thanjavur | 219,571 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 12 | Dindigul | 200,797 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 13 | Vellore | 177,081 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 14 | Cuddalore | 158,569 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 15 | Kanchipuram | 155,029 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 16 | Kumbakonam | 139,264 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 17 | Tiruvannamalai | 138,243 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 18 | Valparai | 114,308 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
| 19 | Karur | 76,915 | Tamil Nadu | Populated place |
Highest Mountains in Tamil Nadu
2 mountains mapped. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anai Mudi | 2,695 m | 8,842 ft | Asia |
| 2 | Doda Betta | 2,636 m | 8,648 ft | Asia |
Major Dams in Tamil Nadu
11 dams mapped. Ranked by structural height. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Height | River | Capacity | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idukki Dam | 169 m | Periyar | 780 MW | 1976 |
| 2 | Cheruthoni Dam | 138 m | Periyar / Idukki | 780 MW | 1976 |
| 3 | Kulamavu Dam | 100 m | Periyar / Idukki | 780 MW | 1977 |
| 4 | Aliyar Dam | 81 m | Aliyar | 60 MW | 1969 |
| 5 | Sholayar Dam | 66 m | Chalakkudy | 54 MW | 1965 |
| 6 | Mettur Dam (Stanley Reservoir) | 65 m | Kaveri | 240 MW | 1934 |
| 7 | Mullaperiyar Dam | 53.6 m | Periyar | 140 MW | 1895 |
| 8 | Malampuzha Dam | 35.5 m | Bharathapuzha tributary | — | 1955 |
| 9 | Vaigai Dam | 34 m | Vaigai | 6 MW | 1959 |
| 10 | Bhavanisagar Dam | 32 m | Bhavani | 32 MW | 1955 |
| 11 | Kallanai Dam (Grand Anicut) | 6 m | Kaveri | — | 150 |
Largest Lakes in Tamil Nadu
2 lakes mapped. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Surface Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanley Reservoir | 157 km² | Reservoir |
| 2 | Pulicat Lake | 127 km² | Coastal Lagoon |
Ports in Tamil Nadu
8 ports mapped. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cuddalore | 56.7 m | Very Small | Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal | large vessels |
| 2 | Pondicherry | 34.7 m | Very Small | Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal | large vessels |
| 3 | Tuticorin | 31.1 m | Small | Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal | medium vessels |
| 4 | Nagappattinam | 27.4 m | Small | Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal | large vessels |
| 5 | Kamarajar Port | 23.8 m | Small | Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal | medium vessels |
| 6 | Karaikal Port | 23.8 m | Small | Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal | large vessels |
| 7 | Chennai (Madras) | 16.5 m | Major | Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal | medium vessels |
| 8 | Kolachel | — | Very Small | Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal | medium vessels |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tamil Nadu
3 World Heritage Sites mapped. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Group of monuments at Mahabalipuram | 1984 | Cultural | (i) (ii) (iii) (vi) |
| 2 | Great Living Chola Temples | 1987 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) |
| 3 | Western Ghats | 2012 | Natural | (ix) (x) |
Tamil Nadu: Quick Answers
- Where is Tamil Nadu?
- Tamil Nadu is a first-level division of India, in Asia. Its mapped cities centre on 10.8351° N, 78.4058° E.
- What is the largest city in Tamil Nadu?
- Chennai is the largest city mapped in Tamil Nadu, with a metropolitan population of about 7.16 million.
- How many cities are in Tamil Nadu?
- YearMaps maps 19 cities and towns in Tamil Nadu, with a combined metropolitan population of about 15.58 million. This counts mapped settlements, not every municipality.
- What is the highest mountain in Tamil Nadu?
- The highest summit mapped in Tamil Nadu is Anai Mudi at 2,695 m.
- What is the largest lake in Tamil Nadu?
- The largest lake mapped in or beside Tamil Nadu is Stanley Reservoir, at about 157 km².