A state in southern India is called Tamil Nadu. By both size and population, it is the sixth-largest state in India. Chennai is the nation's capital and largest metropolis. The Tamil people call Tamil Nadu their home, and Tamil, one of the oldest classical languages still in use today, is both widely spoken there and the state's official tongue. The state, which is located in the southernmost portion of the Indian peninsula, shares maritime borders with Sri Lanka as well as the Indian union territory of Puducherry, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. It is bordered on the west by the Western Ghats, on the north by the Eastern Ghats, on the east by the Bay of Bengal, on the south-east by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and on the south by the Indian Ocean. The Pallava dynasty, the later Vijayanagara Empire, and the larger Tamilakam region's rulers during the Sangam era, including the Chera, Chola, and Pandya clans, all had an impact on the state's cuisine, culture, and architecture. Following the demise of the Kingdom of Mysore, the British colonized the area and governed it as a part of the Madras Presidency, which was based in Chennai (then known as Madras). The Madras State was created when India gained its independence in 1947, but its boundaries were modified by the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 based on linguistic differences, giving land to Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. In 1969, the state's name was changed to Tamil Nadu. It has several historic structures, pilgrimage sites for several religions, hill towns, and three World Heritage Sites. With a gross state product (GSDP) of 24.85 lakh crore (US$310 billion), Tamil Nadu has India's second-largest economy and the 11th-highest GSDP per capita at 225,106 (US$2,800). In terms of human development, it comes in at number 11 among all Indian states. The manufacturing sector contributes more than one-third of the state's GDP, making Tamil Nadu the most urbanized and industrialized state in India. Of all the Indian states, it has the greatest tourism industry. The state's popular culture is significantly influenced by the Tamil cinema industry.
