An All-In-One Post-Covid Travel Guide To Tamil Nadu: Sojourning The Tropical Paradise Of Southwest Shores

Watching the sunset from literally the tip of India’s southernmost point of peninsular in Kanyakumari is a way to see Tamil Nadu as it ever was – and to think about the role this state played in the conservation of national history. With the age-old temples, pilgrimage boasting the impeccable architecture and natural landscapes that can leave you stunned, Tamil Nadu is an all-inclusive holiday destination. There’s Chennai, a big city with a big heart that welcomes visitors and shows them a good time, sprawling cityscapes, and unforgettable nightlife. A little getaway from the city takes you to the Nilgiri mountains, waiting for adventure lovers to explore. If you’re looking for a hill-station escape, Kodaikanal is close enough for a spontaneous trip. Yes, this state does have it all. Quarantine rules in Tamil Nadu impose a mandatory 14 days quarantine for tourists planning to travel to Chennai in which they will be monitored.

Read below for a detailed post-covid travel guide to Tamil Nadu for your post-pandemic travel planning.

Tamil Nadu Travel Advisory During Covid-19

Tamil Nadu travel rules are issued in the best interests of the travellers who are willing to travel with their family considering their safety. According to the Unlock 6.0 guidelines issued by the state department, the continued effort to resume tourist operations is ongoing while prioritizing the health of travellers and residents. From cinemas to amusement parks, most attractions in the state are operating limited capacity and hours to make sure that the visitors can enjoy their excursions safely. Find all the latest travel advisory issued by the state government in this post-covid travel guide to Tamil Nadu under the new stage of reopening:

• Passengers entering the border from any other state/UT must undergo 14-days of home quarantine.
• If the individual develops fever, cough, breathlessness, they must visit the nearest health facility to report their condition and seek treatment.
• Passengers undertaking business trips and returning within 72 hours are exempted from quarantine. In such cases, the individual must have a valid return document.
• All passengers travelling to Tamil Nadu shall be required to register on the state website and obtain an auto-generated TN e-pass.
• All the negative Covid-19 reports presented on arrival will be verified by health authorities.
• Kodaikanal and Nilgiri hills are the latest hotspots to reopen after eight months of lockdown.
• Wearing a mask and using sanitiser in public places, shops, restaurants, and public transport is advised to every traveller and local in the state.
• Public worship has already been allowed in all places of worship by adhering to SOPs.
• Restaurants, cinemas, swimming pools, and metro rail services are open with strict SOPs in place.
• All passengers are required to fill up the ICMR Health form on arrival at the airport.
• All passengers are required to undergo the COVID-19 Test at the Airport.
• The tourists of Nilgiris will not be allowed to enter the state till the 30th of April. Though the district borders of Tamil Nadu will not be closed, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Botanical and Rose Gardens, Ooty Lake and Sim’s Park at Conoor will remain closed till further notice.
• The state undergoes lockdown till 06th September, with few relaxations.
• E-registration has been made mandatory for intra-state and inter-state travel.
• Excluding the passengers coming from states Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh & Puducherry, all passengers are required to arrive in CJB to have Auto E-Pass and also carry a negative RT-PCR report not earlier than 72 hours. RT-PCR timeline starts from the swab collection time.

Must Read: Monsoon In Tamil Nadu: See The 8 Most Wonderful Places To Explore

Best Time To Visit

Travel guidelines Tamil Nadu is necessary to prevent the spread of the deadly virus which will enhance the safety of the passengers travelling to Chennai. The best time to visit Tamil Nadu is from September to March when the hot summer season is edging towards comfortably warm autumn months which is the perfect time for sightseeing. If you are planning to do hiking or camping, November is the best time to plan your trip.

How To Reach

The state of Tamil Nadu has removed all major travel restrictions for domestic travelers. Please note that international travel is also operational given the condition that foreign travelers must carry a negative PCR test report taken within 72 hours of their arrival and undertake mandatory quarantine for 14-days on arrival. The authorities have also introduced a fine for those who are not wearing their mask during commute/entering the border.

• Travelers can take a flight to any of the seven airports in the state of Tamil Nadu out of which four are international. If possible carry a negative Covid-19 test report for hassle-free boarding or else undergo the mandatory temperature check at the airport.
• Tamil Nadu guidelines for air travel makes thermal screening mandatory for every passenger travelling to Chennai.
• There are also a limited number of trains operating to major stations in Tamil Nadu and you must check the availability on the IRCTC website before booking.
• If you are planning to travel by road, you can hire a car or drive yourself from the state border to your accommodation. There will be temperature screenings at certain checkpoints and you must wear your mask at all times until you reach your destination.

Getting Around

There are multiple modes of transportation available for travelers who want to go around Tamil Nadu. You can rent a car from travel dealers for an affordable price, hire auto-rickshaws, take private cabs for a more comfortable journey and if traveling from the neighboring state of Karnataka, you may avail of the KSRTC bus service that has announced limited operations to Tamil Nadu. Train lines are partially open and you must check on the IRCTC website before booking. Local buses are also available for selected routes.

Suggested Read: 14 Things To Do In Madurai For An Interesting Experience During Tamil Nadu 2020 Vacation!

Places To Visit In Tamil Nadu During Covid

Tamil Nadu tourism restrictions impose strong protocols in which they need to abide by the necessary precautions for all those who are planning to travel. Being in the heart of Southern-India, you have the shimmery coastal water and forest zones to hike around outside, then the sound of ritualistic prayers in temples and the serenity of performance art galleries inside. These moments are otherworldly and the balance between modernity coexisting with tradition is something travellers will surely cherish. There are many places to visit in Tamil Nadu that bring you such experience and must not be missed. As the state is reopening, the way we approach travel might have changed but the beauty of the places remains the same. If you are planning to make a trip to this state anytime soon, make sure you keep this post-covid travel guide to Tamil Nadu handy, and travel to Puducherry, Mahabalipuram, Madurai, Kodaikanal, and Betaab Kanyakumari. Tamil Nadu tourism guidelines make the use of masks, masks gloves and regular use of sanitisers mandatory for the tourists who want to explore tourist spots in Tamil Nadu.

Things To Do In Tamil Nadu During Covid

We can’t whittle this down to just a few activities because Tamil Nadu is exceptional and boundless when it comes to touristic opportunities. There is so much to do, so many places to be and so many feelings to experience, we for sure understand why this place is frequented by travelers and recommended by experts around the world. Every traveler is unique and this post-covid travel guide to Tamil Nadu has something to offer for everyone, whether it’s a trek on one of the most stunning mountain ranges or a seaside chillout vacation for the busy heads who just need a nice relaxing few days by the shore.

If you are planning a trip in the upcoming months or maybe in the next year, here’s a list of some of the best things to do in Tamil Nadu:

• Visit the Marina beach
• Trek on the Nilgiri Mountain
• Enjoy the architecture and religious influences of temples
• Indulge in spiced-right food in Chennai
• Lose yourself in the rolling mountains of Ooty

Accommodation

If you are looking to book a hotel or Airbnb during your travels in the state of Tamil Nadu, make sure you get your room in advance and fill out the mandatory documentation like any contact tracing forms or checks you may require. All hotels are now following the government advisory for reopening which includes a deep sanitization process during and after every guest, limited capacity of beds, closure of community areas like pools and gyms, and contact tracing.

Here is a list of measures that the state of Tamil Nadu has implemented on the hotel industry for safe and secure travel:

• Temperature screening at the time of check-in and sometimes also during check-out
• Sanitizer availability at the hotel and inside all the rooms
• Disposable gloves mandatory for hotel staff at bar and restaurant
• Contact tracing forms at every hotel

Suggested Read: 11 Exciting Things To Do In Yercaud For A Mesmerising Holiday In Tamil Nadu

Restaurants

The hospitality industry in Tamil Nadu is reopening but the safety of the travelers and staff remains a key priority. While some of the big-league restaurants are back to normal functioning with a limited capacity, many of the food outlets have moved to delivery-only or takeaway facilities. Food franchises are also operational and open for customers with social distance seating and disposable cutlery to avoid any transmission. Here are some of the guidelines issued for the restaurants in Tamil Nadu:

• Dine-in services can resume given the restaurant follows the 50% capacity limit
• Restaurants and shops can remain open till 10:00 p.m.
• Chairs and tables will be arranged in a manner that will allow social-distancing while dining
• Customers will be allowed inside the restaurant after thermal screening and sanitizing hands

What To Pack

If you are planning a trip to Tamil Nadu soon, you will need to pack a few extra items in your backpack considering the ongoing pandemic. The most important thing during your travel is to minimize the risk of becoming unwell as well as keeping others around you safe. Here’s Tour TravelH otels’s comprehensive list of things to pack:

• Comfortable cotton clothing for the humid air and dry season
• A pack of disposable face masks or 2-3 reusable face masks
• Sanitizer for personal use
• Sanitizing solution for outdoor/surface use
• A personal PPE kit that will include a face shield, sanitizer sachets, and a pair of disposable glove for flight, train, or any kind of commute

Suggested Read: 7 Airports In Tamil Nadu

Travel Checklist

• Book your travel and accommodation in advance.
• Talk with your hotel/Airbnb about their sanitizing facilities and the Covid-19 related precautions they are taking.
• Download the Arogya Setu app on your mobile phone.
• Try to get tested before your travel and keep the Covid-19 negative certificate handy during your commute.
• Find the latest information about containment zones in Tamil Nadu as non-essential travel is not allowed in any of the zones.

Covid-19 Prerequisites And Consequences In Tamil Nadu

• All passengers traveling domestically in Tamil Nadu must undergo thermal screening before they can enter the border.
• If the temperature recorded is higher than the required number, you will be asked to take a Covid-19 RT-PCR test for which you will bear the cost of the test and any commute you may have to undertake. If negative, you will be allowed to travel to your destination. If the result shows positive, the state protocol for Covid-19 will be followed.
• It is mandatory for everyone to wear a mask in public and you may incur a fine or penalty.

Suggested Read: 11 Mystical Temples In Coimbatore

Further Travel Tips

• If you are planning to take a road trip within the state of Tamil Nadu, make sure you have a negative test report handy if possible to avoid inquiry during Covid-19 checkpoints.
• No e-pass is required if you are a temporary resident or local and want to travel domestically within the state.
• People over the age of 65 or children under the age of 10 are advised not to undertake non-essential travel.

Further Read: 18 Pristine Beaches Near Coimbatore Which One Must Definitely Visit When They Are In Tamil Nadu In 2020!

India’s cultural identity and heritage are reflected in many cities, big and small. But if you want to travel to a place that reflects it all at once and in the best way possible, Tamil Nadu is where you will find it. There is a reason why this southern state gloriously dominated its place on the NYT 52 Places Traveler list and remains a favorite holiday spot for both domestic and international travelers in India. There are no simple words to describe the experiences and sights this land behold. From Chennai to the Nilgiri Hills, the state of Tamil Nadu is an undeniable bucket list winner. Looking for something more? Let us help you explore more with our customized itineraries for a trip to Tamil Nadu.

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