The state is an important exporter of tanned skin and leather goods, yarn, tea, coffee, spices, engineering goods, tobacco, handicrafts and black granite. Main mineral wealth of the state is granite, lignite and limestone. Ashok Leyland and TAFE have set up expansion plants in Chennai. Global auto majors Hyundai Motors, Ford, Hindustan Motors and Mitsubishi have commenced production plants. and Telecom companies such as Nokia, Motorola, Foxcon, Flextronic and Dell have commenced production. 20,700 crores in 2006-07 is expected to cross Rs.
The Software export from the State which was Rs. TIDEL, a software technology park, has been established in Tharamani, Chennai. and Biotechnology have become the thrust area in the industrial scene in Tamilnadu. Major Industries in the State are cotton, heavy commercial vehicles, auto components, railway coaches, power pumps, leather tanning industries, cement, sugar, paper, automobiles and safety matches. Tamil Nadu is bounded on north by Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, on the west by Kerala, on the east by the Bay of Bengal, and on the south by the Indian Ocean. The composite Madras State was later reorganised, and the present Tamil Nadu was formed. The State is the successor to the old Madras Presidency, which covered the bulk of the southern peninsula in 1901. Tamil Nadu was one of the first of British settlements in India. East India Company, which had established its factory at Masulipatnam (now in Andhra Pradesh) in 1611, gradually annexed territories by encouraging enmity among the native rulers. The Portuguese, the Dutch, the French and the English came in quick succession and established trading centres known as 'Factories'. However, it crumbled at the battle of Talikota in 1564 to the confederate forces of the Deccan Sultans.Įven during the period of the tumultuous confusion that followed the battle of Talikota, European commercial interest had appeared as rivals in the area of South India. At the same time, the Vijayanagar Kingdom quickly consolidated itself and extended its sway over the whole of South India, and at the close of the century, Vijayanagar became the supreme power in South. Muslims gradually strengthened their position, which led to the establishment of the Bahamani Sultanate, by the middle of the 14 th century. In the two centuries that followed, the imperial Cholas gained paramountcy over South India. At the end of the 11 th century, Tamil Nadu was ruled by several dynasties like the Chalukyas, Cholas and Pandyas.
The last Pallava ruler was Aparajita, in whose reign the later Cholas under Vijayalaya and Aditya asserted themselves by about the 10 th century. They were the originators of the famous Dravidian style of temple architecture. The Pallavas held supremacy from about the second quarter of the fourth century A.D. The southern states of India were under the hegemony of the Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas for centuries. Though early sangam classics throw historical references, we pass to recorded history only from the Pallavas. Peacock sanctuary at Viralimalai, cave temples, temples built on the mountains are major tourism destination.The State of Tamil Nadu has a hoary antiquity. Muslim’s sacred place viz Kattubhava pallivasal, christian monument at Avur and jains temples at Annavasal proclaims the religious harmony of the district. Besides, Temple in Avudayarkovil, Kudumiyanmalai, Chitthannavasal are very much prominent. The Palaces, Fortress, Canals and Tanks built during the reign of ancient Tamil Kings are the place of interest. Pudukkottai district is well endowed with natural resources of land and sea bounded by the marine hedge of Bay of Bengal in the east conjoined by the southern districts viz, Trichy, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram and Thanjavur. Many of the villages are of ancient foundation and also referenced often in Tamil Sangam Literature. The district was one of the homes of pre-historic man. Pudukkottai district as one of the princely states of Tamilnadu holds rich cultural heritage with Fortresses, Palaces, Temples, Cave Paintings and many other historical monuments.