Vellore

Dating back to the Vijayanagar Empire, the 16th century Vellore Fort is surrounded by a moat that once had 10,000 alligators to defend against raiders. It boasts of granite ramparts.

Spanning 100 acres, Sri Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple is dedicated to goddess Lakshmi and was built by Sri Narayani Peedam, headed by its spiritual leader Sri Sakthi Amma.

Jalakandeswarar Temple enshrines Lord Shiva as Jalakanteswara and goddess Parvati as Akhilandeswar. It stands out for its architecture that includes stone carvings, gopurams, wooden gates and monolith sculptures.

Dedicated to Lord Murugan, Ratnagiri Murugan Temple is situated on top of a hill and a grand entryway leads into the sanctum made of granite.

Vainu Bappu Observatory is at an altitude of 725 metres and is located in the Javadi Hills to be closer to the equator for covering both northern and southern hemispheres.

Located within the Vellore Fort, the Archaeology Survey of India Museum showcases the history and heritage of, North Arcot District which is modern day Vellore.

Spanning 25 hectares, Amirthi Zoological Park is a protected wildlife habitat that is home to animals like the spotted deer, fox, Rhesus monkey, wild cat, mongoose and hedgehog.