Sitting Ladies Making Sarees With An Traditional Wooden Weaving Loom, Kumbakonam, India, 2008 (photo)

Tamil Nadu is the southeast part of India, one of the 28 states that composed the country, its capital is Chennai; this region, formerly called Madras State, is considered as the heart of Dravidian culture; Tamil Nadu is also known as a land of temples, about 30 000 are located in this area; the Tamil culture and traditions, rich and various occur in many aspects of life such as architecture, dance, food, music, religious pilgrimage, festivals; the magnificence of its landscapes, its hill stations, its eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the vitality of its fauna (tigers, elephants, monkeys and gaurs) make this region one of the most visited in India