TOURISM OF TAMIL NADU
(For TNPSC and Other Exams)
INTRODUCTION
Tamil Nadu is a State in the Southeastern Part of the Indian Peninsula. One of the states of India, it has had more than 4,000 years of continuous Cultural History. Tamil Nadu has some of the most remarkable Temple Architecture in the Country, and a living tradition of music, dance, folk arts and fine arts. Tamil Nadu is well renowned for its Temple Towns and Heritage Sites, Hill Stations, Waterfalls, National Parks, Local Cuisine and the Fabulous Wildlife and Scenic Beauty. The state boasts the largest tourism industry in India with an Annual Growth rRte of 16%.
TOURISM PROFILE OF TAMIL NADU
- As a variable treasure trove of art and culture, Tamil Nadu has always been a great attraction to offer to the tourists. Tamil Nadu is the Consummate Expression of Art and Culture of Past Period than Elsewhere in the Country.
- Tamil Nadu possess proudly the Glorious Sculptures, Frescoes and Murals adoring walls and Pillars, Giant Temple Towers (Gopurams) due to the competitive spirit of the Ancient Tamil Kings in preserving the arts and culture.
- Tamil Nadu has multifarious tourist attractions, which include 1076 kms of pristine coastline, more than 30,000 temples and places of worship date back beyond the beginning of the Christian era, waterfalls, wildlife sanctuaries, hill stations, dam sites, arts, exotic culture, beautifully made handicrafts and handlooms, heritage, cuisine, business opportunities etc.
- To facilitate the visiting the basic infrastructure and services in a big way in all important tourist centers. Tamil Nadu sustained its increasing growth rate in the tourist arrivals even in redundant of times.
- Alternate demand through promotion of Medical Tourism, Educational Tourism, Adventure Tourism, Rural Tourism and Business Tourism in Tamil Nadu also enabled quantum leap in tourist arrivals.
- The inflow of tourists is increasing year by year as statistics shows, in the year 2014, 46.57 Lakh tourists, 2013, 39.90 lakh, and 2012, 35.61 lakh. Tamil Nadu has emerged as a top ranking State and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has announced this proud destination of the State Ranked First in both Domestic and Foreign Tourist Arrivals for the year 2014 at the National Level.
ECONOMY OF TOURISM IN TAMIL NADU
- Tamil Nadu with a GDP of $98 million is the fourth largest economy of the country and Tourism is one of the main sources of its revenue.
- Tourism promoted by in the state, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, headquarters in the capital city of Chennai. Tamil Nadu is a Year-Round Tourist Destination, and the industry is the largest in the country
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES
The state houses a number of heritage sites mainly composed of the ancient temples and deities of the Pallava and Chola empire scattered along various parts of Northern and Central-Eastern parts of Tamil Nadu. The following are the list of the Heritage sites in the state.
The Chola Temples
- The Great Living Chola Temples constructed by the king Raja Raja Chola and his son Rajendra are sites of glorious heritage and architectural achievements.
- The Cultural heritage site includes the three great temples of 11th and 12th century namely, the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram.
- The temples testify to the brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting.
GROUP OF MONUMENTS IN MAHABALIBURAM
- The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram declared as a World Heritage Sites in 1998, in Tamil Nadu, about 58 km from Chennai, were built by the Pallava kings in the 7th and 8th centuries. The town is said to have gained prominence under the rule of Mamalla.
- These monuments have been carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast. The following are the sites related. These monuments surprisingly survived the 2004 Tsunami that devastated the other coastal towns nearby.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway
- Part of the Mountain Railways of India, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway(NMR) was stated to be an "outstanding examples of bold, ingenious engineering solutions for the problem of establishing an effective rail link through a rugged, mountainous terrain." The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was added to the list in 2005 preceding the Kalka-Shimla Railway which was granted the status in 2008.
MAJOR CITIES OF TAMIL NADU
Chennai: Chennai formerly known as Madras, is the capital city of the state, The city is currently India's 4th largest metropolis and one of the world's fifty most largest ones. This city houses Asia's largest hospitals which has recently spurred a new wave of medical tourism
Coimbatore: Coimbatore is the second largest city in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is referred to as the Manchester of South India due to its growing commercial importance; Coimbatore situated in Western end of Tamil Nadu and is well connected by road, rail and air with major towns and cities in India. Coimbatore is called as textile city or cotton city.
Madurai: Madurai is the Tamil Nadu and the oldest city in Tamil Nadu, which is continuously inhabited for more than 2000 years. It is called Temple city, Athens of East, City of Junctions, City of Festival, Jasmine city, Sleepless city (Thoonga Nagaram). Madurai is the cultural headquarters of Tamil Nadu. Madurai continues to be a cultural hot spot in the state and is a major tourist destination for overseas visitors. The famous and fabulous Sri Meenakshi temple is located in Madurai.
Tiruchirappalli: Tiruchirappalli also called Tiruchi or Trichy, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli District. It is the fourth largest municipal corporation and the fourth largest urban agglomeration in the state.
Salem: Salem has a vibrant culture dating back to the ancient Kongu Nadu. As a district, Salem has its significance in various aspects; it is known for mango cultivation, silver ornaments, textile, sago industries and steel production. Famous tourist places are Yercaud, Mettur Dam, Kailasanathar Temple, Kottai Mariamman Temple.
Erode: Erode is located on the banks of River Kaveri. Hand loom, power loom textile products and readymade garments industries contribute to the economy of the city. The people in the city are employed in various textile, oil and turmeric manufacturing industries.
Vellore: Vellore is a city and the administrative headquarters of Vellore District in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is on the banks of Palar River. Vellore has historic Vellore Fort, Jalakandeswarar Temple, Srilakshmi Golden Temple, Big Mosque and St. Johns church, Amirthi Zoological Park and Yelagiri Hill station are the among top tourist attractions in and around Vellore City.
THE RELIGIOUS SITES OF TAMIL NADU
- Chidambaram, Ervadi, Kancheepuram, Kanyakumari, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Nagoor, Palani, Rameswaram, Sri Ranagam, Thiruvannamalai, THiruvarur, Thiruchendur, Thiruchirapalli, Valankanni.
THE HILL STATIONS
- Udagamandalam (Ooty), Kodaikanal, Yercaud, Kolli Hill, Coonoor
THE WATER FALLS
- Coutralam, Hogenakkal Falls, Catherine falls, Kiliyur falls, Suruli falls, Tirparappu waterfalls
THE BEACHES
- Marina Beach, Elliot Beach, Mahabalipuram, Poompuhar Beach, Kanniyakumari,
THE WILD LIFE SANCTUARIES
- Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park.
- Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park.
- Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Vallanadu Black Buck Sanctuary.
- Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary .
- Kalakad Sanctuary
- Mundanthurai Sanctuary
- Cauvery North Sanctuary
- Gangaikondan Sanctuary
- Kodaikanal Sanctuary
- Point Calimere Sanctuary
THE NATIONAL PARKS
- Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park.
- Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park.
- Mukurthi National Park.
- Guindy National Park.
- Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.
THE TIGERS RESERVES
- Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
- Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park
- Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park
- Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
THE BIRD SANCTUARIES
- Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary.
- Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.
- Karikili Bird Sanctuary.
- Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary.
- Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary.
- Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary.
- Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary.
- Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary.
- Vellode Bird Sanctuary.
- Melselvanur-Keelselvanur Bird Sanctuary.
- Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary.
- Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary.
THE CONSERVATION RESERVE
- Tiruppadaimarathur Conservation Reserve
THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK
- Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai
THE CROCODILE FARM
- Amaravathy Crocodile Farm,
- Sathanur Crocodile Farm,
- Hogenakkal Crocodile Farm
THE BIOSPHERE RESERVES
- Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
- Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve
- Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve
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