TTDC launches pilgrimage tour to 108 Amman Temples

Chennai, July 17 (UNI) Giving a major fillip to pilgrimage tourism, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) today launched a five-day pilgrimage tour covering 108 temples of Goddess Amman, coinciding with the beginning of the Tamil month of 'Aadi'.

Traditionally 'Aadi' marked the beginning of the month-long festival season for Goddess 'Mariamman' across the State.

Cashing in on this pilgrimage season, the TTDC today flagged off the bus carrying pilgrims to 108 Amman temples across Tamil Nadu.

The fare for the twice-a-week tour starting on Tuesday and Friday was fixed at Rs 2,300, which included transport and lodging.

TTDC Managing Director and Director of Tourism M Rajaram, who flagged off the vehicle in front of the famous Goddess Kalikaambal temple in North Chennai, told UNI that TTDC was the first to introduce this unique tour, a concept no other state had launched so far. Journalist and philanthropist Mrs Revathy Sankaran was the guest of honour.

During the five-day tour, pilgrims would be taken to 108 important and ancient temples and darshan would be arranged by the TTDC.

They would be covering more than 2,500 km in five days. From Chennai the pilgrims would be taken to temples in various districts including Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Sirkazhi, Mayiladuthurai, Karaikal, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Madurai, Dindugul, Trichy, Srirangam, Samayapuram, Villuppuram and Melmaruvathur.

'As of now one bus each will leave on Tuesday and Friday mornings and return on Saturday and Tuesday nights. Depending upon the response from the pilgrims, the TTDC will operate more buses.'' ''We will not restrict this to the months of 'Aadi' and 'Aavani'.

It will be on throughout the year'', Mr Rajaram said.

UNI