5 Leisurely And Immersive Tourism Activities For Travellers To Enjoy In Tamil Nadu

Apart from the wide spectrum of adventure sports activities in the state, Tamil Nadu also offers other experiential and niche tourism activities. These activities offer a far more tranquil and laid-back experience that you can engage in at your own speed.

The following are some of the most popular experiential and niche tourism activities in the state

Cruise Tourism

Rail and road tourism may be the critical components of Tamil Nadu&rsquos travel sector, but lately, cruise tourism has taken off in a big way as well. Tamil Nadu&rsquos long coastline, dotted with forests, tranquil islands and rich cultural and historical heritage, provides attractions galore for cruise tourists. Important stops on Tamil Nadu&rsquos cruise circuit include Chennai, Thoothukudi, Madurai and Mamallapuram. Most recently, in early June 2022, Tamil Nadu&rsquos chief minister, M. K. Stalin inaugurated and paved the way forward for the development of cruise tourism in Chennai in a big way. Coinciding with this, a cruise ship, called The Empress, operated by Cordelia Cruises, started its operations between Chennai and Puducherry. Cruise routes between Chennai and Visakhapatnam and Chennai and Colombo were also opened up. These progressive plans have been touted to financially benefit the state&rsquos travel-and-tourism sector big time.

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Food Tourism

For food lovers and aficionados, many cities and towns of Tamil Nadu are worth a visit because of the unique and delicious cuisines they offer. Not surprisingly, food walks and tours are a familiar sight in many of these places. In Chennai alone, food trails take one past vibrant neighbourhoods such as the vast Georgetown Bazaar area with its clusters of specialised markets selling fruits and vegetables, arts and crafts, street food and more, the delightful Sowcarpet Market which sells arguably some of the best sweets, drinks, namkeens, snacks and chaats in the city, and Koyambedu Market, the largest fruit and vegetable market in Asia where you will find fresh produce from India and abroad. Madurai, better known for its temples, also boasts of prominent food trails that lead one to explore the bylanes and streets of this ancient town and other notable landmarks such as the Puthu Mandapam (supposedly the oldest shopping complex in Madurai). While in the city, you will be able to enjoy the company of comfort food and dishes such as idiyappam, dosas, appams, and more, at every corner. Ooty, too, has much to offer by way of food and dishes. Apart from your usual South Indian meals, there&rsquos good avial (a dish made of seven or eight vegetables) and chicken chettinad to be had here. It goes without saying that Ooty is a beverage lover&rsquos paradise with plenty of tea and coffee plantations. And, if you are looking for fresh fruits, keep an eye out for strawberries, peaches and pears, which are available at strikingly cheaper rates here without compromising on the quality.

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Wildlife Tourism

Tamil Nadu is accredited for its incredibly rich biodiversity. The state accounts for nearly one-third of the country&rsquos count of floral species. Equally impressive is the number of faunal species here &ndash well over 2,000 species spread over terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The reason why Tamil Nadu has been able to promote itself as a prime wildlife tourism destination is directly linked to how it has been able to conserve species and spread awareness on the same. There are three large biosphere reserves in the state, which have proved to be models worth emulating &ndash The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve. In addition to these, there are five national parks, 15 wildlife sanctuaries, 15 bird sanctuaries, five elephant reserves, four tiger reserves, five crocodile farms, two zoos and one conservation reserve spread across different geographical terrains. It is the sheer plenitude of conservation spaces that has allowed a wide range of animals (from panthers and tigers to elephants, different species of squirrels, black bucks, crocodiles, Nilgiri tahrs and more) and avians (such as egrets, herons, storks, peacocks, hornbills, pelicans, ibises, eagles and others) to thrive. Popular sanctuaries and reserves in the state include the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, the Anamalai Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary, and the Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary, among others. Then, there are other efforts that seek to impart educational values and awareness among the public &ndash a case in point being the unique biodiversity park in Dindigul district which seeks to highlight the ecological importance of the Sirumalai Hills and is reportedly being developed by the Tamil Nadu government.

Also Read Tiger Reserves of Tamil Nadu 

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Plantation Tourism

A visit to the several plantations in Tamil Nadu can make for the most blissful experiences. The Nilgiris, in particular, are home to several massive tea and coffee plantations spread over acres. In Ooty alone, one can spend many peaceful hours exploring the premises of plantations in places such as the Doddabetta Tea Factory and Tea Museum, the Government Botanical Garden (with a diverse range of flowers and plants spreading out over 55 acres), and the Government Tea Garden. In another impressive hill station, Valparai, one finds the Tea Estate, while the village of Burliyar is home to the Singara Tea Estate. However, one of the most impressive estates can be found in Kolukkumalai, around 35 kilometres from Munnar. Found at a dizzying altitude of nearly 8,000 feet above sea level, the Kolukkumalai Tea Estate is the world&rsquos highest tea estate.

Tea and coffee are not all that Tamil Nadu has to offer by way of plantations. If you are looking to explore places that offer much more than only tea and coffee, Kurangani is worth considering. This lush, green hill station abounds in plantations and estates of coconut, mango and numerous spices. Another must-visit destination is the Pichavaram Mangrove Forest in Cuddalore district, which is often said to be the world&rsquos second-largest mangrove forest.

Also Read The Call Of Adventure Sports In Tamil Nadu

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VR Tourism

It&rsquos a move that was necessitated by the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic, but virtual reality (VR) has come to the aid of Tamil Nadu&rsquos travel-and-tourism sector. It&rsquos a vital intervention, especially in these times, due to the stop-start nature of travelling activities currently. VR tools enable those who cannot travel to see and gather the essence of places and landmarks from the comfort of their homes. As of the time of this writing, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department offers VR tours of certain UNESCO World Heritage sites in the state &ndash the Big Temple in Thanjavur, the Airavateswara Temple in Kumbakonam, Mamallapuram, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.

Head over&nbsphere&nbspto take part in the tours. To know more about Tamil Nadu Tourism's efforts, visit this website.