Aadi Amman temple tour package covering eight prominent temples in Trichy and Perambalur districts was launched by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) jointly with the HR&CE department on July 25.
The tour will cover Woraiyur Vekkaliamman temple, Woraiyur Kamalavalli Nachiyar temple, Thiruvanaikoil Akilandeswari temple, Samayapuram Mariamman temple, Ponmalai Ponneswari Amman temple, Ujjayini Makali Amman temple near Samayapuram, Thennur Ukkirakaliamman temple (all in Trichy district) and Siruvachur Madura Kali Amman temple in Perambalur district.
As per the data, 64,041 individual foreign tourists visited these destinations between January and June 2023 compared to 23,904 during the same period last year, a 168% increase. In January and February this year, around 25,000 international tourists visited Trichy. Many of them were interested in the Pongal festival and its allied activities.
An airconditioned tourist van is taking the devotees to the temples. A fare of INR 1,100 per head is collected for the trip. Although the official website of the tourism department mentions that a maximum of 18 devotees could be accommodated in a trip, only eight tourists took part in the tour launch. “All the participants were given identification cards to ensure quick access to the temples. The next trip is on July 28 (Friday), interested devotees can book tickets by contacting TTDC by phone at 91769-95874 or 0431-2414346,” a tourism official said.
The official added that the tour package will be publicized in the temples to improve patronage. The temple tour would start from Tamil Nadu Hotel near Trichy central bus stand at 8.30am.
After visiting all the shrines as per the itinerary, the tourists will be dropped back at the hotel around 7.45pm on the same day.
The TTDC is conducting the temple tour in the Tamil month of Aadi.
