ID :
33025
Sat, 11/29/2008 - 23:02
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http://m.oananews.org//node/33025
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Bullock cart rides for French in Karaikudi
Chettinad (Tamil Nadu), Nov 29 (PTI) Embarking on an innovative approach for creating employment opportunities, especially for women and disadvantaged groups, a tourism project has been launched to revive art, culture and craft of this region in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Termed as "tourism of a different kind", villagers offer
bullock cart rides to visitors, including foreigners, while
playing hosts.
Besides the bullock cart ride, visitors are also treated
to the rich culture of Chettinad, including its unique
architecture, cuisine and folk dances.
A total number of 24,640 foreigners had visited Chettinad
till October this year while last year their number was
22,200, Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Tourism Development
Corporation, M Rajaram said, adding that majority of them
were French.
The number of foreign tourists is increasing since the
launch of the project two years back, claimed Rajaram.
Chettinad is a cluster of villages including Karaikudi,
Pallathur and Kanadukuthan on the map of economically backward
tourist destinations but is culturally rich district of
Sivaganga in the state.
Launched by the Tourism Ministry in partnership with
UNDP, Chettinad is one of 36 sites selected by the government
for launching the income-generating project at grassroot
level.
The decade-old palatial Chettinad buildings famous for
its architecture are now being converted into heritage hotels
for tourists.
These hotels are now attracting a lot of visitors from
France, Germany, England and other western countries.
Apart from accommodation in Chettinad houses which
provide a timeless ambiance and comfort to guests, they are
offered Chettinad cuisine served with care in traditional
banana leaves.
Apart from the accommodation in these palatial houses,
tourists are taken to visit artisans involved in wood
carvings, saree weaving, brass metal work, handmade tiles and
also offered bullock cart rides in and around the area, said
Rajaram.
The project is operational in 10 villages in Chettinad
which has a rich tradition of handicrafts, including wood
carvings, saree weaving, handmade tiles, brass metal work.
"Our aim is to create employment opportunities for
villagers through this tourism project. We are trying to
provide market linkages for artisans of the region so that
local people benefit marketing these products," said Sivaganga
District Collector P K Bansal.
The project is being implemented with the involvement of
voluntary organisations, self-help groups and village
panchayats.
The initiatives undertaken by the government have
resulted in providing employment opportunities to people
involved in hospitality sector and also women involved in
activities such as production of snacks, authentic Chettinad
cuisine, craft demonstration, said KP Bharati, Programme
Leader of the DHAN Foundation, an NGO involved in the project.
There are also village youths who are being trained to
act as guides to villagers,
The UNESCO has also taken certain initiatives to
safeguard Chettinad's cultural heritage and make it useful for
socio-economic development of the region. PTI
Termed as "tourism of a different kind", villagers offer
bullock cart rides to visitors, including foreigners, while
playing hosts.
Besides the bullock cart ride, visitors are also treated
to the rich culture of Chettinad, including its unique
architecture, cuisine and folk dances.
A total number of 24,640 foreigners had visited Chettinad
till October this year while last year their number was
22,200, Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Tourism Development
Corporation, M Rajaram said, adding that majority of them
were French.
The number of foreign tourists is increasing since the
launch of the project two years back, claimed Rajaram.
Chettinad is a cluster of villages including Karaikudi,
Pallathur and Kanadukuthan on the map of economically backward
tourist destinations but is culturally rich district of
Sivaganga in the state.
Launched by the Tourism Ministry in partnership with
UNDP, Chettinad is one of 36 sites selected by the government
for launching the income-generating project at grassroot
level.
The decade-old palatial Chettinad buildings famous for
its architecture are now being converted into heritage hotels
for tourists.
These hotels are now attracting a lot of visitors from
France, Germany, England and other western countries.
Apart from accommodation in Chettinad houses which
provide a timeless ambiance and comfort to guests, they are
offered Chettinad cuisine served with care in traditional
banana leaves.
Apart from the accommodation in these palatial houses,
tourists are taken to visit artisans involved in wood
carvings, saree weaving, brass metal work, handmade tiles and
also offered bullock cart rides in and around the area, said
Rajaram.
The project is operational in 10 villages in Chettinad
which has a rich tradition of handicrafts, including wood
carvings, saree weaving, handmade tiles, brass metal work.
"Our aim is to create employment opportunities for
villagers through this tourism project. We are trying to
provide market linkages for artisans of the region so that
local people benefit marketing these products," said Sivaganga
District Collector P K Bansal.
The project is being implemented with the involvement of
voluntary organisations, self-help groups and village
panchayats.
The initiatives undertaken by the government have
resulted in providing employment opportunities to people
involved in hospitality sector and also women involved in
activities such as production of snacks, authentic Chettinad
cuisine, craft demonstration, said KP Bharati, Programme
Leader of the DHAN Foundation, an NGO involved in the project.
There are also village youths who are being trained to
act as guides to villagers,
The UNESCO has also taken certain initiatives to
safeguard Chettinad's cultural heritage and make it useful for
socio-economic development of the region. PTI
