The 25-year-old Tuticorin district has got several hundred-year old places that are culturally rich. Unfortunately, no serious effort has been taken so far to popularise these places with potential for tourism. Despite the State government not doing much to ensure cleanliness in Tiruchendur, the holy coastal town attracts a few thousands of devotees everyday from various parts of the country. The cleanliness that can be seen on the temple premises during VIPs visit to the shrine cannot be seen throughout the year.
Another beachside spot that attracts huge crowd is the Hare Island, which can be improved with a few more attractions, either by the government or through public-private partnership to ensure sizable revenue to the government exchequer throughout the year. The island that is connected to the Tuticorin Port’s Green Gate by road on the southern side can be converted into a much sought-after picnic spot considering the serene beaches on three sides and a 45-metre-tall light house there.
If it can be studded with a few amusement features, including water sports, to lure children, it will be one of the prime picnic spots in Tamil Nadu. Moreover, this island can also be used for creating awareness among the visitors of the significance and uniqueness of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere and the need for conserving it by establishing a museum or creating sound-and-light show.
Apart from the devotees visiting Subramaniyaswamy Temple at Tiruchendur, tourists from various parts of southern Tamil Nadu never miss the chance of having a darshan at Arunjunai Kaaththa Ayyanar Temple and taking breather for a while at the beautiful spring in front of the temple. Surrounded by screw-pine bushes, the spring situated in the wilderness in a sandy region is a treat for the eyes.
For those who enjoyed locations of Tamil movie ‘Iyarkkai’ and a few other films, the word Manapaad, a coastal village near Tiruchendur, should certainly be close to their heart, thanks to its striking natural beauty. St. Francis Xavier, who came to Manapaad in 1542 to begin his missionary activities on the fishery coast, lived in a grotto cavern on the seaward face of a cliff and celebrated Holy Mass at a chapel of the Captain’s Cross, built from a ship’s mast after a storm in 1540. Holy Cross Church, built close to the sea in 1581, has a relic fragment believed to be from the true cross of Jerusalem. The holy relic is displayed between September 1 and 14 every year during the festival.
Right from ‘Manal Matha’ Church near Chokkankudiyiruppu to Veerpandianpattinam, a village known for its ancientness and modernity near Tiruchendur, the entire stretch houses a good number of churches, all having the ancient gothic architecture.
The mosques of Kayalpattinam and Aaththangarai Pallivaasal, situated on the Tirunelveli-Tuticorin border, that regularly attracts huge crowds even from Kerala is another place with immense tourism potential.
To sensitise the younger generation on its contribution to freedom struggle, a lot has to be said as great leaders and freedom fighters from V.O. Chidambaram Pillai and national poet Subramaniya Bharathi to Veerpandia Kattabomman were born in Tuticorin district.
Though this district encompasses a lot to say to the world proudly, a lot more has to be done to showcase all these to the next generation. The district administration may consider operating packaged tours to these spots after creating adequate infrastructure in these places so as to make the trip memorable to the visitor.
