Places to Visit around Madurai

Places to Visit around Madurai, TamilNadu , India

The oldest existing city in the Indian peninsula is Madurai which is steeped in cultural and literature. Madurai earlier known as Madhurapuri was built perhaps 2500 years back by Pandiyan King Kulasekhara. He also built a huge temple around which the city took its shape.

The name madurapuri was conferred on the city founded by Shri Kulasekhara Pandiyan as Lord Shiva the Lord of destruction as per Hindu Mythology personally blessed the city and its people. Showering nectar (Madu) from his matted locks.

Madurai became famous during Sangam period through the third and last conglomeration of Tamil Scholars which was existent at this city for more than 100 years.

Madurai was a magnificent capital of Pandia King and that too an elegant capital visited by foreign travelers like Megasthenes (B.C 302)Pliny (AD 77) and Ptolemy (AD 140) Marco Polo an itinerant traveler also visited this historical city AD 1203 and lbn Batuta in 1333AD. This famous city also has been mentioned in the popular Epic Ramayana.

Hence its existence as one of the oldest cities in the world is in league with Jerusalem and Varanasi and was well known in far eastern countries like Java, Sumatra and Srilanka for its wealth and trade. The Pandiyan Empire was famous for pearl fishing and the city abounded in Pearl Traders.

Places of interest

• Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple
• Thirumalai Nayak Palace
• Koodal Alagar Temple
• Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakkulam
• Gandhi Museum
• Government Museum
• Kochadai Village Deity Temple
• Viraganur Dam
• Thirupparankundram Temple
• Pazhamuthir Solai
• Athisayam Theme park
• Rajaji Park
• Corporation Eco Park
• Rama Krishna Math
• Sri Aravindar Annai Trust meditation Centre
• Thirumohur
• Thiruvathavur
• Kutladampatti water Falls
• Other Places Around Madurai
• Vaigai Dam
• Kodaikonal
• Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Munnar
• Megamalai
• Suruli falls
• Coutrallam
• Palani
• Kumbakkarai

Coonoor

• Coonoor
  Coonor is located 19 kms away from Udhagamandalam and is on the way to coimbatore. It stands on a lower ridge of the plateau at an altitude of 1858 m (6100 feet) and is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiris.
  Places of Interest in Coonor
  Sim’s Park
  Law’s Falls
  St. Catherine Falls
  Kodanad
  Dolphin’s Nose
  Lamb’s Rock
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Nilgiris OOty

• Nilgiris OOty
  The Nilgiri hills in Tamilnadu are an integral part of the great plateau occupying the junction of the Eastern and Western ghats. It derives its name from “Nilgiri” of the “Blue Mountain” a name given to the hills by the inhabitants more than 850 years ago because of the blue haze of the clouds which envelope the hill slopes. Ooty or Udhagamandalam as it is founded by the British in the mid of 19th Century. Located at an altitude of 2240 m above sea level, Udhagamandalam has salubrious weather all around the year.It is the “:Queen of Hill station” Its no wonder then that thousands of tourist flock here ever year. This place is offered by natural charms. Lushy laid out garderns , natural waterfalls , mountain and valley views.This Place can be reached Through Air(Till Coimbatore), Rail (till Udhagamandalam), Road.
  
  Places of Interest in Ooty
  The Govt. Botanical Garden
  Rose Garden
  Government Museum
  Ooty Lake
  Glenmorgan
  Western Catchment
  Wenlock Dawns
  Elk Hills
  Snowden Penk
  Kalhatty Falls
  Mukurthi National park&Peak(40 km)
  Mudumalai Wild life Sanctuary
  Upper Bhavani
  Avalanche
  Doddabetta peak
  Ketti Valley view
  Katery Falls
  Pykara Lake
  Pykara Falls
  Needle Rock
  Longwood Shola
  Kotagiri
  Westerncatchemnt (20 kms)
  

Kancheepuram

Kancheepuram

Kancheepuram the “Golden city of Temples” is just 76 Kms from Chennai. Kancheepuram was the historic capital of the Pallavas from 6th to 8th century A.D and later became the capital of the Cholas, and the under the rule of the Vijayanagar kings the Muslims and the British. It has been a centre of Tamil learning and culture of centuries. Adi Sankaracharya established his Episcopal seat (Kamakotipeetam) here. Thus Kancheepuram was a meeting place of different cultures.

Places of Interest in Kancheepuram
Vaikunta Perumal Temple
Kailasanathar Temple
Ekambareswarar Temple
Devarajaswamy Temple
Kamakshi Amman Temple
Anna Memorial
Handloom Industry
Tiruthani
Vellore
Sriperumbudur

Mamallapuram

• Mamallapuram
  
  Mamallapuram is 58 Kms south of Chennai situated on the shore of Bay of Bengal it was once a port of the Pallavas. The Pallavas have created many marvelous monuments at this places which attract tourists from all over the world. The monuments are unique in many respects. They include sculptural panels, caves, monolithic Rathans and Temples. Once a thriving port trading with many distant nations, Pallavas chisels have breathed life into stone. The Pallavas art at this place emphasizes robust earthly beauty imbibed with life. Here the world of Gods meets the world of men. Mythological episodes epic battles, demons, men and animals all combine to create an arresting, pleasing harmony. This place can be reached in these following ways Air (Till Chennai), Rail (till Chengalpattu, Road.
  
  Places of Interest in Mamallapuram
  Caves
  Krishna Mandapam
  Bas – Relief
  Five Rathas
  The Shore Temple
  The Govt. College of Architecture & Sculpture
  Tiger’s Cave
  Nanaperan Temple
  Thala sayana Perumal Temple
  Sadras (16 kms)
  Tirukkazhukundram
  Uthiramerur (60 Kms)
  Thiruporur (16 Kms)
  

Chennai

• Chennai
  Chennai capital of Tamilnadu is the fourth largest city in India. It is the gateway to south India. Chennai is a modern metropolis which retains its old world charm. The city which was founded in 1639 A.D by Francis Day of the East India Company offers a rich variety of south Indian art, architecture, music, dance, age old cultural traditions , customs and habits. This place can be reached from any part of the world through any means Rail, Roadways, Airways, and Shipping.
  Places of Interest in Chennai
  
  Sri Parthasarathy Temple
  Snake park
  Freemasons Hall
  Kapaleswarar Temple
  Childrens park
  Kiskintha
  San Thome Cathedral Basilica
  Crocodile Bank (44 kms.)
  MGM
  St. Mary’s Chruch
  Vedanthangal (85 kms.)
  Kamaraj Memorial House
  Theosophical Society
  Pulicat
  Senate House
  Parangimalai
  Aquarium
  War Memorials
  Chinnamalai
  Light House
  Fort Museum
  Thousand Lights Mosque
  Gandhi, Rajaji and Kamaraj Memorials
  Anna Square
  Muttukadu (36 kms)
  Guindy National Park
  Valluvar Kottam
  Marina Beach
  MGR Film City
  The Govt Museum
  Elliot's Beach
  Birla Planetarium
  V.G.P GoldenBeach
  Covelong Beach
  The High Court
  Vandalur
  Fort St. George
  Kalakshetra
  

Tourism

Tourism

Tourism is nothing but a travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. People define tourists as who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than twenty-four (24) hours and not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited". Tourism become a popular global leisure activity.

Despite the uncertainties in the global economy, international tourist arrivals during the first four months of 2008 followed a similar growth trend than the same period in 2007. However, as a result of the economic crisis of 2008, international travel demand suffered a strong slowdown beginning in June 2008, with growth in international tourism arrivals worldwide falling to 2% during the boreal summer months, while growth from January to April 2008 had reached an average 5.7% compared to its 2007 level. Growth from 2006 to 2007 was only 3.7%, as total international tourism arrivals from January to August were 641 million tourists, up from 618 million in the same period in 2007.

Tourism is vital for many countries, such as the U.A.E, Egypt, Greece and Thailand, and many island nations, such as The Bahamas, Fiji, Maldives and the Seychelles, due to the large intake of money for businesses with their goods and services and the opportunity for employment in the service industries associated with tourism. These service industries include transportation services, such as airlines, cruise ships and taxis, hospitality services, such as accommodations, including hotels and resorts, and entertainment venues, such as amusement parks, casinos, shopping malls, various music venues and the theatre.

Some of the possible Tourism around the world are
· Pilgrimage Tourism
· Health Tourism
· Winter Tourism
· Niche Tourism
· Mass tourism
· The Dark tourism
· The Free Independent Tourism
· The Pop-culture tourism
· Perpetual tourism
· The Sacred travel or metaphysical tourism
· Shopping tourism
· The Space tourism
· The Visiting Family and Relatives (VFR) Tourism
· The Distinct form ancestry tourism
· The Armchair tourism and virtual tourism

Sub-types
1. Nature and environment oriented tourisms
· Coastal tourism
· The Eco tourism
· The Garden tourism
· The Rural tourism or the Agritourism.

2. The Lifestyle-oriented niche tourism types include
· the Gay tourism
· the Gourmet tourism
· the Wine tourism
· the Health tourism
· the Medical tourism
· the Inclusive tourism or the Accessible Tourism for people with disabilities
· the Mystical tourism involving Meditation
· yoga
· rituals.

Popular Types of Tourism found in India
· Adventure tourism
· Wildlife tourism
· Medical tourism
· Pilgrimage tourism
· Eco tourism
· Cultural tourism
· Heritage Tourism India