The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Tranquebar to be developed as a tourist destination

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Friday, Sep 26, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Tranquebar to be developed as a tourist destination

T.S. Shankar.

CHENNAI: The Union Tourism Ministry has sanctioned Rs.373.08 lakh in assistance for developing Tranquebar (Tarangambadi) in Nagapattinam district as a major tourist destination.

As a follow-up to this special sanction, the Tourism Ministry has directed the State government to set up a monitoring committee, roping in a member from the Union Tourism Ministry, to oversee the progress of the sanctioned projects and report to the Centre from time to time. The first instalment of Rs.298.47 lakh has been released for landscaping, lighting, signage, planting of saplings, including ornamental plants, and development of the Parade Ground opposite the Governor’s Bungalow.

M. Rajaram, Commissioner of Tourism and Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), said it would boost tourist traffic to the town, which attracts a large number of visitors from the Scandinavian countries, besides Italy, England, France, and the United States.

The other tourist spots in Tranquebar include the Dansburg, a fort built in 1620 A.D.; the Zion Church built in 1701 A.D.; the memorial of Bartholomew’s Ziegenbalg, the German missionary who landed at Tranquebar in 1706 and rendered yeoman service to the development of Tamil; the Governor’s Bungalow; and the new Jerusalem’s Church built in 1718 A.D.

Mr. Rajaram said the INTACH had prepared an estimate of Rs.87,12,450 for renovating the Governor’s Bungalow, which was constructed in 1784. It was under the control of the Salt Department of the Government of India till 1988, and was handed over to the Tourism Department free of cost.

The Danish National Museum, Denmark, has agreed to meet the expenditure through the INTACH. The Government has accepted the proposal for renovation to be executed through the INTACH.

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