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Places to see in Tamil Nadu
Tourism &
Places to see in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu's tourism industry is the second largest in India, with
an annual growth rate of 16%.[99] Tourism in Tamil Nadu is promoted
by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), a Government
of Tamil Nadu undertaking. TTDC was incorporated in July, 1971, with
the objective of promoting tourism in Tamil Nadu by providing
infrastructure facilities in transport and accommodation. To fulfil
this objective, TTDC has expanded its activities into 3 main
operations, namely, hotels, transport and fairs. At present, TTDC
operates 54 hotels, 11 boat houses, 3 restaurants, 3 snack bars, 4
telescope houses, 2 landscaping & gardening and 1 tourist service
center. TTDC offers wide range of package tours and operates a fleet
of 22 coaches.[100] The tagline adopted for promoting tourism in
Tamil Nadu is Enchanting Tamil Nadu. In 2004, Tamil Nadu had earned
Rs. 20 million ($457,000) from tourism. Approximately 1,219,000
foreign and 29,305,000 domestic tourists visited the state in 2005.
Tamil Nadu is a land of varied beauty. It boasts some of the
grandest Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture in the World. The
temples are of a distinct style which are famous for their towering
Gopurams. The Brihadishwara Temple in Thanjavur, built by the
Cholas, and the Shore Temple, along with the collection of other
monuments in Mahabalipuram have been declared as UNESCO World
Heritage Sites. The Rajagopuram of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in
Srirangam — the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world — is
the tallest temple gopuram in the world Madurai is home to one of
the grandest Hindu temples in the World — Madurai Meenakshi Amman
temple. Rameshwaram, Kanchipuram and Palani are important pilgrimage
sites for Hindus. Other popular temples in Tamil Nadu include those
in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Chidambaram, Thiruvannaamalai, Tiruttani,
Swamithoppe, Tiruchendur and Tiruvallur.
St. Thomas Mount in Chennai, the place where St. Thomas, one of the
disciples of Jesus Christ, was believed to have been martyred, is an
important pilgrimage site for Indian Christians. The Santhome
Basilica, supposedly built atop the tomb of St. Thomas, and the
Vailankanni Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health — revered churches
by the Catholics in India — are good examples of majestic church
architectures in Tamil Nadu. Nagore, in Nagapattinam district, is an
important pilgrimage site for Muslims.
Tamil Nadu is also home to many beautiful hill stations. Popular
among them are Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Kodaikanal, Yercaud, Coonoor,
Top Slip and Yelagiri. The Nilgiri hills, Palani hills, Shevaroy
hills and Cardamom hills are all abodes of thick forests and
wildlife. Mukurthi National Park & Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger
Reserve are the two tiger reserves in the state. Tamil Nadu has many
National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Elephant
and Bird Sanctuaries, Reserved Forests, Zoos and Crocodile farms.
Prominent among them are Mudumalai National Park, The Gulf of Mannar
Biosphere Reserve, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Vedanthangal
Bird Sanctuary and Arignar Anna Zoological Park. The mangrove
forests in Pichavaram are also eco-tourism spots of importance.
Kanyakumari, the southern most tip of peninsular India, is famous
for its distinct and beautiful sunrise, Vivekananda Rock Memorial
and Thiruvalluvar's statue built off the coastline. Marina Beach in
Chennai is one of the longest beaches in the world. The stretch of
beaches from Chennai to Mahabalipuram are home to many resorts,
theme parks and eateries. The Waterfalls in the state include
Courtallam, Hogenakal, Papanasam and Manimuthar. The Chettinad
region of the state is renowned for its Palatial houses and cuisine.
In recent years, Tamil Nadu is also witnessing a growth in Medical
tourism, as are many other states in India. |
