Nepal looks to boost Pilgrimage Tourism through road shows in Madurai and Kochi

In an effort to attract pilgrimage tourists from South India, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) recently organised road shows in Madurai and Kochi. Dhruba Rai, Senior Manager - Corporate Services, NTB, said that the objective of the road shows was to facilitate mutual growth in the tourism sector. He pointed out that South Indians, especially those from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, preferred to visit religious places and NTB is keen to promote Mount Kailash-Manasarovar, in the region, he said.

He added that Nepal had a variety of tourist spots to attract tourists across age groups and has established itself as the gateway to Mount Kailash-Manasarovar. In the preceding year, 2011, celebrated as Nepal Tourism Year, the country attracted 5.44 lakh visitors and of them, 1.45 lakh tourists were from India, particularly, 50 per cent were from South India, according to a report by The Hindu Business Line.

Plans for Bullet train to operate via Madurai - Chennai To Thiruvananthapuram

Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has requested the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms.Jayalalitha to insist the Central Government to have the Bullet train from Chennai to Thiruvanthapuram to pass through Madurai.

This is a traffic route, where more than 1 lakh passenger go from Chennai to Madurai. This will be very good in terms of Technical and also in terms of tourism perspective.

This will also increase industrial upgrade in this area like Southern Districts of Tamil Nadu.

TNCCI has requested for this train to operate via Madurai, having various advantageous things in Mind!!

Night time visit to Madurai?

Have you ever visited Madurai in Night?

Let me give some tips via Road transport!

If you are coming from North of Madurai, you will reach Mattuthavani Integrated bus stand in Madurai. If so, you won't have buses to Periyar Bus stand (near to Madurai Railway station) directly in the night time before 4:45 AM.

If you want to reach Madurai Railway station (this is in night before 4:45 AM), you take buses to Aarappalayam Bus stand Madurai. Once you reach Aarappalayam, you will have frequent buses to Periyar Bus stand, Thirumangalam, Palanganatham and Thirunagar. You can take these buses and go to southern parts of Madurai and via Madurai Railway station.

Do not take Autos at this time and there will be lot of people keep on offering for Auto rides. I don't really trust these people at this time! It is up to you and your risk. Day time Auto is fine, but not at the night times.

If you want to wait till 5 AM in the morning in Maattuthavani bus stand, then fine - you will have buses to all southern parts of Madurai.

By the way, there is a new bus stop made inside Railway station campus for all the bus riders.

If you are a tourist and you need a friendly question to be answered, please feel free to send us your questions if any. We will be glad to assist you via email as well-wishers of Madurai!

Madurai Tourism Statistics

Tourist flow to the Tamil Nadu State had been increasing by 21 per cent every year.

Tamil Nadu has various tourist attractions, ranging from hill stations to historic monuments. Providing the statistics of the tourist inflow, another interesting information is - 6.5 crores local tourists and 17 lakhs foreigners had visited the State and 62 lakh local tourists and 2.56 lakh foreigners had visited Madurai in 2008. The Tirumalai Naicker Mahal was visited by 3.74 lakh local tourists and 30,000 foreigners last year.

This is a good tourist traffic for last year. However, I think for the potential of Madurai - much more can be achieved!

Samanar Hill in Madurai - Vadivelkarai

Madurai is surrounded by eight hillocks that once served to guard the city from invading forces. Of these hills, three small but prominent hills (Yanaimalai, Pasumalai and Nagamalai -- Elephant, Cow, and Snake Hill respectively) have several interesting legends associated with them.

Samanar Hill which is present opposite to Nagamalai is of historical importance. Samanars (a sects of Jains) were said to have stayed in the hill fearing persecution from the then rules of Madurai. Many stone statues and other artifacts are present in Nagamalai.

I used to enjoy my childhood days in this Nagamalai. There is a lotus pond also near this hill. This place has a temple too - Karuppana samy temple. This is my kula deivam in fact.

I have written more about Vadivelkarai in a previous articles one, two and three.

Madurai Tourism: Golf Carts around Madurai Meenakshi Temple

In a few months, battery-powered ‘golf carts,’ in which VIPs and foreign dignitaries are often seen, can be spotted on the four Chithirai Streets that surround the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple here.

Madurai Collector S.S.Jawahar told The Hindu that golf carts would be around soon. This project was delayed, due to Chithirai Festival.

Please read more at the hindu

What is the outlook of foreigners about Madurai? - Madurai Tourism

What is the outlook of foreigners about Madurai?

Madurai is usually not known by anybody outside India.
If you ask anyone in India (say north indians), about Madurai - they would coin Madurai Meenakshi Temple.
Good enough...atleast they have heard and known about Madurai.

Few months back, Shilpa Shetty was popular due to Madurai's lawsuit. That is not Madurai is popular for!:(

Anyway, if you ask a foreigner, they would not have heard about Madurai - may be Madras they might know.
If the foreigner is kind of keen on international happennings and interested in tourism, then Madurai might make sense to him!

However, Madurai is seen as a tourist destination for international and national tourists.
The international tourists usually plan to drop by Madurai, on the way to Kanyakumari or in their South India tour.

Overall, Madurai is seen as an ancient historical place and good for tourism.

OK, if it is a tourism destination, how much is government allotting for tourism development in Madurai?
Is Madurai Corporation and Madurai Government concentrating on tourism development in Madurai?

OK, these days there are too much talk about Madurai IT Park?
There are small businesses in and around Madurai.

OK, let us wait and see if the outlook of Madurai changes to a commercial, IT second tier Hub or and as a international trade location.

Will Madurai ever be seen in the Business Map of the World?
Will ever Foreigners outlook of Madurai expand and extend from Toursim to other industries as well?