The Hindu : Front Page : Rise in flow of tourists to Karaikal

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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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Rise in flow of tourists to Karaikal

K. Subramanian

Amazing attraction: The floating restaurant on Arasalar river at Karaikal in Puducherry.

KARAIKAL: The Karaikal region is attracting tourists thanks to the efforts of Tourism Department to promote tourism taking advantage of visit of thousands of pilgrims from several parts of the country to offer prayers and worship Lord Saneeswara Bhagwan at Tirunallar temple, five km from here.

Floating restaurant

The ‘floating restaurant’ introduced by the Puducherry Tourism Development Corporation on the Arasalar in Karaikal last year has become a major attraction for tourists and pilgrims.

The 30-seat ‘floating restaurant,’ built on two fibreglass boats at a cost of about Rs.11 lakh , takes tourists on a 45-minute journey from Arasalar New Bridge to the estuary at sea on Saturdays and Sundays, mostly in the evening. An entry fee of Rs.30 per head is collected. Snacks, tea, coffee and light tiffin are supplied to tourists.

The Karaikal Beach has been equipped with play materials. There is a good turnout of children due to summer vacation.

The Puducherry Government has also chalked out a Rs.400-crore master plan to provide all infrastructure facilities in Tirunallar.

Special tour

Meanwhile, the Puducherry Tourism Development Corporation had recently introduced a tour from Tirunallar for pilgrims and tourists to visit the Navagraha shrines at Suriyanarkovil near Kumbakonam, Thingalur near Thanjavur, Vaitheeswarankovil, Tiruvengadu, Alangudi, Kanjanur near Mayiladuturai, Tirunageswaram and Keezhaperumpallam near Poompuhar.

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