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Home , Kallakkurichi taluk, Kallakurichi, Kallakurichi district, Namakkal district, Tourism in Tamil Nadu

International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanities

ISSN 2277 – 9809 (online) ISSN 2348 - 9359 (Print)

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Shri Param Hans Education & Research Foundation Trust

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IRJMSH Vol 6 Issue 7 [Year 2015] ISSN 2277 – 9809 (0nline) 2348–9359 (Print)

The Study of Hill Tourism in : A Geographical Perspective

K. Selvam*, P. Gangai** and A. Ganesh*** *Senior Geographer, Directorate of Census Operations, , Trivandrum, Kerala

**Assistant Professor,, Dept. of Geography, Govt. College for Women, , Tamil Nadu

***Professor, Department of Geography, Bharathidasan University, , Tamil Nadu

ABSTRACT

Tamil Nadu is situated in the southern part of the Indian Peninsula has over 20 centuries of cultural heritage and historic significance. The foremost of attractions in the state are its impressive temples, which are true edifices of a great and ancient culture vibrant and lively even today. Subsequently only to the pilgrimage and heritage locations in Tamil Nadu comes the scenic beauty of nature in and around the state in the form of forests, wildlife sanctuaries, hill stations and the long bio-diverse coastline. These locations provide immense opportunities for sightseeing, pleasure and leisure, to the visitors of various categories including adventure tourists. Tamil Nadu is a multi destination State with multifarious tourist attractions. In the present study an attempt is made to describe the .

KEYWORDS: Tourism, Tamil Nadu, Hill, Mountain, Domestic Tourist and Foreign Tourist

1. Introduction Tourism is one of the sectors supporting to national economy e.g. Switzerland and Southeast Asian Countries like , Hong-Kong have tourism-based economy. International tourist arrivals worldwide registered a growth of 5 % during the year 2011, as compared to a growth of 6.6% during 2010 over 2009. The international tourist arrivals during 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were 990 million, 943 million, 885 million and 917 million, respectively. France maintained the top position in terms of arrivals in 2011, followed by United States of America (USA), China, Spain, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom (UK), Germany, Malaysia and Mexico. These top 10 countries accounted for 44.4 % share of international tourist arrivals in 2011. ‘s rank in international tourist arrivals was 47th in 1998 and declined to 54th in 2002, however, since then, it has gradually improved to 38th in 2011. India‘s share in international tourist arrivals, increased from 0.40% in 1997 to 0.64% in 2011. During last 3 years there has been slight improvement in percentage share of India in World (Annual Report, 2011- 2012. Ministry of Tourism, Govt.of India).

Tamil Nadu, the gateway of , has emerged as the hub for West Asia and South East Asia. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared 788 places in the world as heritage sites of which 611 are of cultural importance, 154 International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanity ( IRJMSH ) Page 54 www.irjmsh.com IRJMSH Vol 6 Issue 7 [Year 2015] ISSN 2277 – 9809 (0nline) 2348–9359 (Print)

Natural and 23 a mixture of both. Out of 788 world heritage sites, 26 are in India, of which Tamil Nadu has been bestowed with 5 world heritage sites (i.e.) 1. Rock Cut monuments, , 2. Brihadisvara temple, , 3. Iravadisvara temple, , 4. Brihadisvara temple, Gangaikondacholapuram and 5. Nilgiris Mountain Railway. Tamil Nadu is a multi destination State with multifarious tourist attractions.

2. Tourists Arrival and Revenue in Tamil Nadu The total tourist arrivals and revenue of Tamil Nadu state have been worked out from 2001 to 2011and analyzed in the Table 1 and Fig 1& 2. The number of tourist arrivals in Tamil Nadu during 2001 was 245.9 lakhs which is increased to 1,400.6 lakhs in 2011. As a result foreign exchange earnings for Tamil Nadu was Rs.1913 crores in the year 2001, Rs. 2,556 crores in 2005, Rs. 8,246 crores in 2010 and it increased up to Rs. 10,160 crores in 2011. It is clear from the table that since 2001 the number of tourist arrivals in Tamil Nadu is constantly on a rise. As shown in Table 1.1, the number of domestic tourist arrivals in Tamil Nadu during 2001 was 238.12 lakhs which is increased to 1367.51 lakhs in the year 2011. In case of foreign tourist arrivals in Tamil Nadu is increased from 7.73 lakhs in 2001 to 33.08 lakhs in 2011. There has been a steady increase in both the domestic and foreign tourist arrivals to Tamil Nadu. After the implementation of the new economic policy in India, the arrivals of foreign tourists have increased considerably, because the travel in India became cheaper due to devaluation of rupee. Table 1: Tourist Arrivals and Revenue of Tamil Nadu, 2001-2011

Tourist Arrivals and Revenue, 2001-2011

Year Domestic Arrivals Foreign Arrivals Total Tourists Arrivals Revenue

(in Number) (in Lakhs (in Number) (in Lakhs) (in Number) (in Lakhs) ( in Crore)

2001 238,12,043 238.1 7,73,073 7.7 245,85,116 245.9 1,913

2002 246,61,754 246.6 8,04,641 8.0 254,66,395 254.7 1,966

2003 270,59,002 270.6 9,01,504 9.0 279,60,506 279.6 2,066

2004 300,76,832 300.8 10,58,012 10.6 311,34,844 311.3 2,266

2005 323,39,478 323.4 11,79,319 11.8 335,18,787 335.2 2,556

2006 392,14,721 392.1 13,35,661 13.4 405,50,382 405.5 3,020

2007 506,47,188 506.5 17,53,103 17.5 524,00,291 524.0 5,430

2008 626,18,252 626.2 20,40,419 20.4 646,58,671 646.6 6,236

2009 780,37,607 780.4 23,69,050 23.7 804,06,657 804.1 7,171

2010 1030,10,435 1030.1 28,04,504 28.0 1058,14,939 1,058.1 8,246

2011 1367,51,000 1367.5 33,08,000 33.1 1400,59,000 1,400.6 10,160

Source: Compiled by Author based on Policy Reports, (2001-2011) Commissioner of Tourism, Tamil Nadu International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanity ( IRJMSH ) Page 55 www.irjmsh.com IRJMSH Vol 6 Issue 7 [Year 2015] ISSN 2277 – 9809 (0nline) 2348–9359 (Print)

3. Need of the Study Tourism is considered as one of the world‘s largest industry. The tourism sector is a huge employer, creator of economic security and contributor to society. Tamil Nadu State is a popular hill station in southern India and tourist make regular visits to Hill Stations. In Tamil Nadu State tourism being the main source of revenue, after industry and agriculture. In this backdrop, the present study is to appraise the hill tourist attractions and to identify the location of hill stations in the State.

4. Review of Literature Kayastha (1956) in his paper on "Tourism Industry of Kangra, Kulu and Manali in Himalayan Beas Basin" has made an attempt to study the major tourist places in Himalayan Beas Basin. He has analyzed the problems of tourists visiting these places and given suggestion for further development. Robinson (1976) in his book ‗Geography of Tourism‘ has discussed the importance of Geographical components. Besides, the general descriptive aspects of tourism he gives an account of regional tourism for several countries. This book also has a good coverage of theoretical aspects of tourism and no analytical work has been done. Vinay Kumar Roy (1999) in his paper on "Geographical distribution of tourist places in Chhattisgarh region" has tried to give the geographical distribution pattern of tourist places in Chhattisgarh region. Babu (2010) has studied eco-tourism in the Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. He has suggest that there is need for further improvement of basic infrastructure and also proving detailed information about the tourist spot on the internet as most tourists seem to access the web to indentify the ideal destinations for their visits. Chauhan (2010) in his paper has analyzed the tourism potential of Tamil Nadu state and to highlight the significance of various tourist places especially Kannyakumari. This paper also encompasses people's perception regarding the tourism and to assess the impact of tourism on various developmental activities. He has suggests important measures to promote the tourism in the state of Tamil Nadu and to tap its potential properly. Jayakumar (2010) has studied eco-tourism in , Tamil Nadu. He is suggested that local authority should form a Management Board and involve all the stakeholders in watershed-house owners, Non Government Organizations (NGOs) and others to plan and oversee the implementation of a well conceived lake master plan.

5. The Study Area Travel to the fascinating hill stations of Tamil Nadu, offering its tourists some very refreshing and relaxing surroundings for a rewarding getaway. Tamil Nadu State is situated at the south eastern extremity of the Indian Peninsula bounded on the north by and Andhra Pradesh on the east by Bay of Bengal, on the south by the and on the west by Kerala state. The state of Tamil Nadu is geographically located between 8° 05' and 13° 35' North Latitude and between 76° 14' and 80° 21' East Longitude. Currently, Tamil Nadu has recorded 32 districts, 215 taluks, 385 blocks, 15,979 villages and 721 statutory towns and 376 census towns (2011 Census). Tamil Nadu shows rich variety and diversity in its geography and

International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanity ( IRJMSH ) Page 56 www.irjmsh.com IRJMSH Vol 6 Issue 7 [Year 2015] ISSN 2277 – 9809 (0nline) 2348–9359 (Print) climate with coastal plains co-existing with tropical rainforests, rivers valleys and hills stations. (Fig.3).

6. Aim And Objectives The present study to identify some Hill or Mountain Tourism potential areas of Tamil Nadu, with this aim, the following objectives of the study is outlined.

 To find out the hill tourist attractions of Tamil Nadu,  To understand the flow of tourists arrivals to Tamil Nadu,  To offer suitable suggestions for the planning and development of hill tourism in Tamil Nadu.

7. Methodology In the present study fully based on secondary sources of data are used. Source of data include existing maps, books, internet, policy notes, journals, and travel guides. The information related to tourist spots, arrivals of domestic tourists and foreign tourists‘ data and tourist guide map have been collected from Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), . The base map of the study area has been prepared based on Survey of India topographical sheet on 1: 1,00,000 scale. Data are analyzed in simple statistical and cartographic methods for representing the tourist arrivals and location of hiil stations. The Study area map, location of hill station map and bar chart are prepared by used in ArcGIS/M.S Office software.

8. Hill or Mountain Tourism The hill resorts consist of mountain ranges, pastoral landscape, exotic plants and shrubs and grassy hillocks. Mountain areas are second only to coasts and islands as popular tourism destinations, generating 15-20 percent of annual global tourism, or US$70-90 billion per year. Tourists are attracted to mountain destinations for many reasons, including the climate, clean air, unique landscapes and wildlife, scenic beauty, local culture, history and heritage, and the opportunity to experience snow and participate in snow-based or nature-related activities and sports. About 12 percent of the world‘s human population live in the mountains, with another 14 percent living next to or very near mountain areas and dependent on their resources. Of these people, about half are concentrated in the Andes, the Hengduan-Himalaya-Hindu Kush system and a variety of different African mountains. While mountains in the northern hemisphere are often sparsely populated, some tropical mountain areas have population densities of more than 400 people per square kilometer (United Nations Environment Programme, 2007).

While modern forms of transportation have made even remote mountain areas accessible to increasing numbers of visitors, mountain tourism tends to be very unevenly distributed, with a small proportion of locations having significant tourism infrastructure. For example, in the European Alps, where tourism now exceeds 100 million visitor-days per year, 40 percent of communities have no tourism at all, while 10 percent have extensive and specialized tourism infrastructure (United Nations Environment Programme, 2007).

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9. Hill Stations in Tamil Nadu The hill stations of Tamil Nadu promises to be an ideal getaway, for those craving for a refreshing yet calming holiday, away from the busy life of the city. With endless patches of tea gardens, lush surroundings and peaceful atmosphere, Tamil Nadu hill stations are every traveller's delight. The researcher has identified about 13 major hill stations in the state. The Nilgiri Hills, , Coonor, , Kodaikanal, , and are the major hill stations of Tamil Nadu. Table 2 and Fig.4 are indicating location of major hill stations in Tamil Nadu, which is shown in colour symbols.

There are only few Hill stations in Tamil Nadu when compared to other northern states of India. These hill stations in Tamil Nadu mainly served as tourist spot during summer times or forest area to enhance and wild life protection. There are only 11 major hill stations which are popular in Tamil Nadu. All hill station has their own benefits. Every hill station has waterfalls, rivers, gardens, wild life and many attractions with it. Hill stations in Tamil Nadu belong to both and . The hills in Tamil Nadu are as follows:

Table 2: Location of Hill Stations in Tamil Nadu, 2012

Sl. District Hill Stations Location of Place / Town No.

1 Elagiri Hills Vellore

2 Thiruvannamalai Jawadhu Hills

3

4 Salem Yercaud Hills Salem

5 Kolli Hills Namakkal

Udagamandalam or Udagamandalam

6 The Nilgiris Kotagiri Kotagiri

Coonoor

Top Slip 7 Valparai Hills Pollachi

8 Kodaikanal Hills Dindigul

9 Tiruchirappalli Pachamalai Tiruchirappalli

10. Theni Megamalai Kambam

Source: Compiled by Author based on Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), 2012.

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Fig.1 Fig.2

Fig.3 Fig.4

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9.1. Elagiri Hills

Elagiri Hills is located in Tirupathur Taluk, . Located about 75 kms from Vellore considered as the Ooty of Vellore District. This hills stands eloquent amidst four mountains, at a height of 3500 feet above sea level is gifted with natural scenic beauty (lakes, lush green forest) cool & pleasant climate and convenient location. The Tribal people are living in the villages in the hills. Elagiri hill top can be reaches by a winding ghat road, which has 14 hairpin bends. The hair pin bends offer panoramic, breathtaking views. Elagiri comprises 14 small villages, where the tribal‘s are engaged in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, etc. Their customs, habits, and the structure of their houses are very unique and that could attract the tourists. Places of interest include Punganur Lake, Fountain, Childrens Park, Mini zoo, Velavan temple, Government Fruit farm, Government Herbal farm, Telescope house, Jalagampurai waterfalls and Vainu Pappu solar observatory. The two towns in Elagiri Hills are Athnavur and Nilavur. Athnavur is the best place to stay and the last place with traces of modernization. In Nilavur, the place is full of agricultural land, vegetable and rose farms. It is an idyllic place for a short holiday (P1).

9.2 Jawadhu Hills

Jawadhu Hills is situated 75 kms from Thiruvannamalai. It is situated in the north- western part of Thiruvannamalai, and a part of the Eastern Ghats. The beautiful mountain lies at about 2350 feet to 3500 feet above sea level. Jawadhu hills have many scenic spots. The cliffs and precipices of hills allure and excite tourists. Places of interest in the Jawadhu hills are Beema falls, Komutteri lake, Kavalur Observatory, Amirthi forest, and the Glass house. Beema falls is situated 5 kms away from Jamunamarathur. Water flows approximately for 8 months of the year. The reflection of sun on the water falls glow like a silver sheet that is a beautiful and magnificent sight. This falls is one of the main attractions of tourists. People enjoy bathing at the bottom of this falls. The falls are silent, except for the pleasant-sounding gurgling of the flowing and falling waters and the occasional singing of the birds (P2). 9.3. Kalvarayan Hills

The Kalvarayan hills are situated on the western side of Kallakurichi Taluk, . Spread over an area of 600 sq. kms and elevation ranging from 315mts to 1,190mts, they offer a temperate climate and quite solitude. It is an ideal place of retreat and peace. A well laid botanical garden pleases the eye. There are two waterfalls for taking a refreshing bath. It is an ideal location for trekking too. Every year in May, a summer festival is held. The nearest convenient railway station is Vridhachalam and the regular buses are available from Viluppuram and (P3).

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9.4 Yercaud

Yercaud is situated in the Servaroyan Hills of in Tamil Nadu. It is located at an altitude of 1,500 mts (4,920 feet) above sea level. Yercaud is also referred as the poor man's Ooty. It is a good place for trekking and boating. Most of the people in Yercaud are tribal. Yercaud is famous for coffee and pepper plantations. The temperature never rises beyond 29°C and never falls below 13°C. The various tourist attraction in Yercaud are Yercaud Lake, Anna Park, Lady's Seat, Killiyur Falls, Pagoda Point, Bear's Cave, Servarayan temple and Grange. The Pagoda Point is known so because of various pyramids like structures. The Anjaneya temple is believed by the locals as very powerful. One can get a full view of Salem from here. The Yercaud Lake is the beautiful lake, surrounded by trees. The Servarayan temple is situated right on the top of the hill. In this temple, the Lord Servarayan resides with his consort . The people believe that this deity is the guardian angel for the 67 villages in and around Yercaud. This temple is inside a cave and one has to bend and go in. October and November are the best month to visit this place (P4).

9.5. Kolli Hills

It is located at 40 kms from Namakkal. Kolli Hills is a major mountain range and is an outliner of Eastern Ghtas at an altitude of 1190 mts in . Kolli hills known for Medical herbs and plants. Kolli Hills could be reached through a ghat road which has 70 hairpin bends. Major tree species are Neem, Veepaloai, Usil, Velvel, Neermathi, Tamarind, Seetha Odai, Naval, Illupai and Silver Oak etc. Wild animals like Rabbit, Wild boar, Bear, Hare, Peacock, Jackal, Jungle cat, Monkeys and variety of birds are seen in this hill. The main tourist attractions of the hills are Arappaleeswarar temple, Government Herbal farm, Aiyaru (River), Akasagangai waterfalls, Botanical Garden and Telescope house. For the convenience of the tourists the Panchayat Union has constructed six cottages at Semmedu. Youth Hostel is also available which could accommodate up to 30 persons. An excellent lawn and a rose garden greet the visitors. The inmates can avail the tasty Kolli Hills food supplied from the canteen run by the Women Self Help Group. All these accommodations are available for rent from the Commissioner, Kollimalai Panchayat Union, Semmedu (P5).

9.6. Udagamandalam

Udagamandalam or Ooty the headquarters of Nilgiri district is popularly known as the ‗Queen of Hill Stations‟ on account of its unrivalled beauty and everlasting charm. It is in the Nilgiris where the Western and Eastern Ghats meet. This is situated at a distance of 105 kms away from Coimbatore City. The Nilgiris or Blue Mountains rise to an altitude of 2,280 mts to 2,290 mts above the sea level. The beautiful scenery of Nilgiris with steep hills, narrow valleys, rivers and rivulets rushing downhills, fine waterfalls, lush green forests and the pleasant temperate climate make it one of the most desirable hill-tour destination. It has been declared as one of the 14 „hotspots‟ of the world because of its unique bio-diversity. The main tourist

International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanity ( IRJMSH ) Page 61 www.irjmsh.com IRJMSH Vol 6 Issue 7 [Year 2015] ISSN 2277 – 9809 (0nline) 2348–9359 (Print) attraction of the hills is the Botanical Garden. Besides the Botanical Garden there are several other places. The important among them are the boat house near bus-stand, the Rose Garden, the Deer Park, Mudumalai wild life sanctuary, Laws falls, Pakara dam and the peak in Udagamandalam (P6). 9.7 Kotagiri

It is located at 31 kms from Ooty. Kotagiri literally means the lines of the house of the Kotas. Kotagiri is quietly tucked away in the Nilgiris and used to be the summer resort of the British. Till date the beauty of hill resort of Kotagiri attracts tourists and the sun scorched souls from far and wide. Unlike Ooty and Coonoor, Kotagiri is situated in an ‗open-terrace‘ massif. At an elevation of 1985 mts above sea level, the town has developed around numerous knolls and valleys. The Kotagiri weather is more bracing than that of Coonoor and balmier than that of Ooty. One can enjoy a pleasure ride on roads flanked by green tea beds on their side. Kodanadu view point and St. Catherine‘s falls are the two main tourist attractions in Kotagiri. In Gudalur block the main tourist attraction in Mudumalai wild Life Sanctuary (P7). 9.8 Coonoor

It is surrounded by tea plantations, and at an altitude of 1,850 mts (6,096 feet) above sea level. It is located at 17 kms from Ooty. It lies on the eastern side of the Dodabetta Range at the head of the Hulikal Racine. It is a small town with an equable climate that has made it popular. Sim‘s park, Pasture Institute, Kateri falls, Lamb‘s rock and Dolphin‘s nose are the important tourist sports in Coonoor. Among them the Sim‘s park is the major attraction, through small it is well maintained and contains verities of plants not to be found in other hill stations (P8).

9.9. Top Slip

Top Slip is a most popular place located in the Anamalai mountain range in the Western Ghats about 37 kms from Pollachi town in . The spot perched at a height of 240 metres above sea level is famous for its wildlife sanctuary and national park that are in proximity. Top Slip can be reached by the only in road travels. It is very good tourist place near Pollachi. In Top Slip the vacation can be enjoyed by staying at Tree Hut, raid, Forest tracking and enjoy in watching all kind of wild animals and beauty full birds (P9).

9.10. Valparai Hills

It is located at Valparai taluk, Coimbatore District and 102 kms from Coimbatore in the Western Ghats of the Anaimalai mountain range. It is situated at an elevation of 3,500 feet from the sea level. A ride in ghat road that passes through the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is fantastic. The flora of this place is quite interesting and a paradise for botanists. All along the road mountain one can see innumerable tea plantations and workers busily picking tea leaves. There is a huge population of , panthers, , lion tailed black monkeys, sambars, brown flying squirrels, bison‘s, bears, wild boars, wild dogs, wild ghost and porcupines. On the

International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanity ( IRJMSH ) Page 62 www.irjmsh.com IRJMSH Vol 6 Issue 7 [Year 2015] ISSN 2277 – 9809 (0nline) 2348–9359 (Print) top is a Balaji temple built by the Birla group of India. This temple is a beautiful and neatly kept with an enchanting idol. It is a nice place and a developing hill station. The scenery and the murky sky with intermittent drizzle are quite enjoyable. Valparai is really the Princess of Hills as it is called (P10).

9.11. Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal is one of India‘s most beautiful hill stations and is located in the of Tamil Nadu. This is centered in a portion of the Western Ghats known as the Hills. At an elevation of around 7,200 feet above sea level (2,300mts) Kodaikanal offers a unique environment and ecosystem which is quiet distinguishable from other regions of southern India which are typically more tropical and geographically flat. In the summer time, when Kodaikanal is most populated, the average temperature in Kodaikanal is around 19oC or 67o F. By the winter time the temperature drops hitting an average temperature of around 8oC or 46oF. With cascading waterfalls, beckoning rivers, thick forests, and gaping valleys Kodaikanal is a pearl for explore the natural wonders of southern India. The nearest major city is which is approximately 135 km from the Kodaikanal city (P11a,b).

9.12. Pachamalai

Pachamalai is a green hill range. It is located about 80 kms form north of Tiruchirapalli via . Pachai means Green and malai means mountain in vernacular. Pachamalai which spread with a few ranges a heaven of the tribal of this region, with unique culture and way of life. The people live in this hill are called Malaiyalis and there are scheduled as the tribal people. The Pachamalai hills are inhabited only the Malaiyalis and other are not allowed to migrate to this place. Its altitude is 500 mts to 1000 mts above mean sea level. This mountain range has in itself different small regions like then Paranadu, Kombainadu, Athinadu and Vannadu. It is a good hill range for trekking to enjoy nature and the animal life. Small streams and falls add colour to these hills (P12).

9.13. Megamalai

Megamalai is located on the slopes of the Western Ghats, amidst the lush green Tea plantations and estates. It is popularly called ‗Highway Mountains‟. It is a cool and misty mountain range and lies at a distance of 130 km from Madurai. This a perfect place for nature lovers, its altitude is 1,500 m above sea level. The vegetation of the Meghamalai hills includes scrub forests at the foothills, stretches of tea and coffee estates, spice plantations of pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and the dense evergreen forest cover. Megamalai is also host to a wide variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies. The most commonly seen animals are , , , , spotted deer, barking deer, sambar, wild boar, porcupine, nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaque, common langur, bonnet macaque, sloth bear, grey jungle fowl,

International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanity ( IRJMSH ) Page 63 www.irjmsh.com IRJMSH Vol 6 Issue 7 [Year 2015] ISSN 2277 – 9809 (0nline) 2348–9359 (Print) smooth-coated otter and flying squirrel. Resident and migratory elephants can also be seen wandering in groups here. It is also an ideal place for bird watching (P13).

10. Planning and Development of Tourism in Tamil Nadu  It is better to create much awareness about the promotion of eco-tourism and adventure tourism.  Good hotels, restaurants and guest houses should also be constructed at all such potential hill stations by providing all sort of facilities like electricity, drinking water, air conditioners, fridge, television, internet/Wi-Fi, computers and other important items and equipments to update the tourist with all the latest information‘s regarding the tourist places.  Tourism facilitations at every point such as airport, railway stations and bus stands would be overhauled. For this private sector involvement would have to be encouraged.  A permanent fair or exhibition can be conducted at important hill stations of Tamil Nadu.  Provide the basic infrastructure like public convenience, rest sheds, drinking water, road improvement, creation of parks, boat house developments, illumination, etc. for the benefit of tourists.  A good and clear guide map with detailed and up-to-date information about the various tourist facilities should be extensively provided at railway stations, airports, bus terminals, hotels and various places of interest. 11. Conclusion The data presented in this paper indicate the potential for hill tourism development. Eco- tourism is considered one of the most viable tools to enable economic growth and ecological security. The state of Tamil Nadu has a great potential for the development of eco-tourism. Based on the analysis of the tourism potential of Tamil Nadu it could be concluded that the state has a rich natural tourism resources for the promotion of hill tourism.

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12. References

1. Administrative Atlas of India, (2011). Office of the Registrar General, India, New Delhi. 2. Annual Report, (2011-2012). Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Transport Bhawan, New Delhi.

3. Babu. S, (2010). Tourism in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary: A Study, Southern Economist, Vol.49 No.6, Pp.52-54 4. Chauhan (2010). Analyzing Tourism Potential of Tamil Nadu State of India: A People – Tourist‟s Perception Approach, Journal of Environmental Research and Development Vol. 5 No. 2, Pp 461-482.

5. Jayakumar, N. (2010). Eco-Tourism in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, Kisan World, Vol.37, No.3, Pp.45- 67. 6. Kayastha, S.L., (1956). Tourist Industry of Kangra, Kulu and Mandi in Himalayan Beas Basin, National Geographical Journal, Vol.II, The National Society of India 7. Rajavel, N. (1998), “Tourism in Andaman and Nicobar Islands”, Manas Publications, Daryanganj, New Delhi 8. Robinson, H., (1976). “Geography of Tourism”, Macdonald and Evans Limited, London. 9. Selvam, K., Ganesh, A., Gangai, P and Mangaiyarthilagam, P (2012). Geographical Distribution of Tourist Places in District, Tamil Nadu, Using GIS, The Transactions of the Institute of Geographers, India, Vol.2 (1&2), Pp.74-82. 10. Selvam, K. and Ganesh, A (2013). An Appraisal of Natural Tourist Attractions in Tamil Nadu, India, International Journal of Scientific Research (ISSN No 2277 – 8179), Volume 2, Issue 9, Pp.186-189, www.theglobaljournals.com, Sara Publishing Academy, Ahmadabad, Gujarat, India 11. Suras Tourist Guide, (2006). “Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu”, Sura Books Pvt. Ltd, Chennai. 12. Tourism Policy Note, (2011-2012). Demand No.29, Tourism and Culture Department, Tamil Nadu, Chennai. 13. United Nations Environment Programme, (2007). Tourism and Mountains, A Practical Guide to Managing the Environmental and Social Impacts of Mountain Tours, Tour Operators‘ Initiative Secretariat/o World Tourism Organization, Capitan Haya 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain. 14. Vinay Kumar Rai, (1999). Geographical Distribution of Tourist Places in Chattisgarh Region, Institute of Indian Geographical Meet (1999), Dept. of Geography, University of Poona, Maharashtra. 15. http://www.tn.gov.in/policynotes/pdf/tourism.pdf (accessed on 30-8-2012).

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