Hotels in Tamil Nadu, India

Tamil Nadu hugs India's southeastern coast, with a tropical climate that swaps between dry winters (75°F/24°C) good for temple-hopping in Madurai's Meenakshi Amman complex, and humid summers (95°F/35°C) perfect for escaping to the hill station of Kodaikanal. Winter is the best time to watch a live Carnatic music performance at Chennai's December Margazhi festival, while summer lets you cool off with a houseboat ride on the backwaters of Poombuhar. If you want fewer crowds and cheaper stays, visit during the monsoon months from October to December, when you can still explore Mahabalipuram's 7th-century rock-cut temples without the sun beating down.