The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Sivaganga to showcase heritage houses

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 24, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Sivaganga to showcase heritage houses

By Divya Ramamurthi

CHENNAI, APRIL 23. After `Enchanting Tamil Nadu', there is soon going to be `Explore the Unexplored Marvels in Chettinad.'

The Sivaganga district administration is remodelling old and dilapidated heritage houses in Karaikudi district. It plans to open them up to tourists. The district administration has already received a sanction of Rs.60 lakhs from the State Government and Rs. 50 lakhs from the Government of India for betterment of infrastructure.

"We want to make Sivaganga part of the tourism circuit just like Kerala and Haridwar are at the moment," says the Collector, J. Radhakrishnan.

The project is part of the State Tourism department and the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation's plan to promote tourism, showcasing the hidden treasures of the area. There is also a proposal to cover Pulicat and Tarangambadi in this circuit.

After conducting a survey of the heritage houses, the district administration, with the permission of owners, plans to convert the houses into `bed and breakfast' boarding. "Foreigners can stay with the family, eat traditional breakfast and get first-hand experience of the culture there. It will be exotic but authentic," says the Collector. A traveller's bungalow is also being mooted as part of this public-private partnership.

Apart from improving tourism, this project will help to preserve traditions of the area, preventing the breakdown of heritage homes. "Almost 40 per cent of old houses are being torn down because the families are unable to maintain them and their valuable furniture is being exported piecemeal. We want to put a stop to this."

The administration plans to bring into vogue handmade Chettinad tiles and the use of Chettinad-egg plaster for homes. Artisans will also be trained in developing replicas of architectural antiques and a retail store will be set up to exhibit them.

Package tours for international and domestic travellers to coincide with Pongal, Jallikattu, and Karthigai are also being planned. "Jallikattu is always a good tourist attraction. No other bullfight is like this one. Not even the one in Spain," he adds.

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