Ethnic Tourism of Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

Tamil Nadu is the gateway of the south India. It is a land of beauty.  A plethora of panoramic sites makes tourism in, Tamilnadu it has abundant tourist attractions. There are kinds of tourism in this wildlife tourism, eco-tourism, that is, hill tourism and adventure tourism. The latest type of tourism which has evolved in this region i.e. medical tourism. Tamilnadu hills station have been favoured destinations for travelers for centuries, they have attracted human beings since the period of modernization because of their natural beauty, exclusive flora and fauna, fresh and unpolluted air, the expanse of greenery and virgin landscape.

In the ancient period mountains and the valley were associated with religion rather than as a place for recreation of tourism. The natural ranges were known as abodes of Gods. The original beauty was maintained by the tribal people. It was by forest migrated people. The department was started breaking in the medieval period with the onset of a new thinking viz., “the usability of the hills.” The development which followed started to change the ecology of the area.[1] The initiation of human interference which began in the medieval period took its concrete shape in the British period. It was the British who were responsible for introducing technology and scientific marvel in the Eastern ghats with the purpose of modernizing the region.[2]

[1] Prashant, et.al,. Tourism and Environment, Dhanabad, 2000, p.22.

[2] V.P. Sati,  Tourism Development In India, Jaipur, 2001, p.233.