Tamil Nadu

Either a car with a driver or the train — this is one of the few Indian states where both genuinely work. Rail is excellent on the Chennai–Trichy–Madurai spine, including Vande Bharat services. A driver suits the temple circuit better because stops are frequent and the gaps between them are short.

Eight to twelve nights for the temple circuit from Chennai to Madurai at a reasonable pace. Add three for the hills. Under six means skipping either Thanjavur or Madurai, and both are the reason to come.

December to March. Tamil Nadu runs on the northeast monsoon rather than the southwest one, so it takes its heaviest rain from October to December — the opposite of most of India. Plan around that rather than assuming the usual Indian season applies.

Mostly yes, though some inner sanctums are restricted to Hindus and a few temples restrict entry more broadly. Dress modestly, remove footwear, and expect a separate camera fee. This is ticketing and temple custom rather than any kind of permit — Tamil Nadu requires none.

It is one of the strongest food states in India, and unusually good for vegetarians — idli, dosa and filter coffee are everyday rather than special. Chettinad cooking around Karaikudi is the spiciest regional tradition in the south and worth a detour.

Reasonably, with planning. Roads and trains are good and distances are moderate. The caution is the temples themselves: large complexes walked barefoot on hot stone, with steps and crowds. Visit early morning, and treat two temple towns as enough in a week.

Less than Rajasthan or Kerala, and it is worth saying plainly. There are colonial-era hotels in Ooty and Kodaikanal, restored Chettinad mansions around Karaikudi, and good business hotels in Chennai — but the temple towns themselves are served mainly by mid-range accommodation. Travel Tamil Nadu for the temples, not for the hotels.

Kanchipuram silk, woven where it is sold and the single best-known craft in the state. Thanjavur bronze and Tanjore painting with its gold leaf, Chettinad cotton, and stone carving at Mahabalipuram. Government Co-optex and Poompuhar outlets are the reliable places if you cannot judge silk yourself.

Yes, though differently from Kerala. Siddha medicine is the Tamil tradition rather than Ayurveda, and there are established centres near Coimbatore and in the hills. Isha near Coimbatore and the Aurobindo Ashram at Puducherry draw people for yoga and meditation specifically. It is a smaller, less commercial wellness scene than Kerala’s.

It suits couples interested in heritage rather than resorts. Puducherry’s French quarter and the Chettinad mansions are the romantic stops; the hill stations offer cool, quiet nights. It is not a conventional honeymoon destination and does not pretend to be — temple circuits are demanding days.