The temple state of India is the cultural heartland of the South. Here, on the East coast of India, ancient traditions of classical dance, music, arts, handicrafts, literature, philosophy and religion have taken root and spread all over India and to many parts of the world. Even today, the most famous temple towns of Mamallapuram, Kanchipuram, Madurai and Thanjavur are known for their classical traditions of arts and crafts. Other important places are of course Chennai, the capital, the hill stations of Ooty and Kodaikanal, the former French colony of Pondicherry and the Southernmost tip of India, the confluence of the 3 oceans, Kanyakumari.