Date:26/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/26/stories/2007092651310200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

‘Madurai Heritage Walk’ tomorrow

Staff Reporter

CII initiative to create awareness of tourist places off the beaten track

MADURAI: With the objective of spreading an awareness of the inherent beauty of historical monuments in Madurai to the residents of the Temple City and to project the southern districts as a tourism destination, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Madurai Zone, and Travel Club are organising ‘Madurai Heritage Walk’ on Thursday.

It will be taken out at Keezhakuyilkudi village in the outskirts of the city.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, V. Krishnamurthy, chairman, CII Madurai Zone, said that developing these lesser-known areas would also boost the local economy.

Chairman of CII Madurai Zone task force on tourism and a past president of Travel Club, G. Vasudevan, said that school and college students would participate in the walk that would be flagged off by the District Collector, S.S. Jawahar.

Madurai being one of the most important places in the Jain religion, many members of the community come on pilgrimage to places such as Keezhakuyilkudi where ancient Jain vestiges were found, said R. Venkatraman, former Professor of Art History, Madurai Kamaraj University.