Tamil Nadu is one of the 29 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai (formerly known as Madras). It lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Puducherry and the South Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. It is the eleventh-largest state in India by area and the sixth-most populous. The state has also the highest number of business enterprises and stands second in total employment in India. Its official language is Tamil, which is one of the longest-surviving classical languages in the world.

Tamil Nadu is home to many natural resources. In addition, its people have developed and continue classical arts, classical music, and classical literature. Historic buildings and religious sites include Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture, hill stations, beach resorts, multi-religious pilgrimage sites, and eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.