Tamil Nadu is a sensory treat for travellers exploring the southern part of the country. With about 18% of its total area covered by dry and wet deciduous forests, and wet evergreen forests, the state features a delightful blend of fertile low-lying plains, grasslands and mangroves inhabited by over 2,000 species of fauna. Elephants, tigers, leopards, monkeys, bison, tree snakes and deer inhabit its jungle-clad hills, while smooth-coated otters, crocodiles, rodents, squirrels and lion-tailed macaques are also spotted here. Tamil Nadu is a breeding ground for different species of resident as well as migratory birds. Lying along the Bay of Bengal, the state offers a mind-boggling mix of the ancient and the modern with its architectural marvels, modern cities, culinary delights, magnificent temples, and fabulous music and dance forms.