DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY VOCC-THE PEARL CITY TOURISM

  Kalugumalai Jain beds in  Kalugumalai , a panchayat town in  Thoothukudi district  in the South Indian state of  Tamil Nadu , are dedicated to the Jain religious figures. Constructed in rock cut architecture, the unfinished temple is believed to have been built during the reign of  Pandyan  king  Parantaka Nedunjadaiya  (768-800 CE). The rock-cut architecture at  Kalugumalai  is an exemplary specimen of Pandyan art. The other portions of Kalugumalai houses the 8th century unfinished Shiva temple,  Vettuvan Koil  and  Kalugasalamoorthy Temple , a  Murugan  temple at the foothills. There are approximately 150 niches in the bed, that includes images of  Gomateshwara ,  Parshvanatha  and other  Tirthankaras  of the  Jainism . The Jain beds are maintained and administered by Department of Archaeology of the  Government of Tamil Nadu  as a protected monument. The earl...

  Basilica is a Greek term signifying a Royal Hall, which in time has come to mean a large and beautiful hall. It is the greatest honour for a church to be raised to the status of a Basilica. The 400th Anniversary of the Our Lady Of Snows Basilica, Tuticorin was marked by Paul John Paul Il raising it to the status of Basilica through his apostolic letter dated 30th July 1982. Paniya Matha Church, also known as the Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Snow is no doubt the most famous tourist attraction of Thoothukudi. Its popularity among the tourists can be understood from the fact that it is believed to be visited by the great St. Francis in 1542. The church is located in Thoothukudi and is visited by many all around the year. The church is located at a mere distance of about 7 Km from Thoothukudi and takes around 10 minutes to reach the place. The history of Our Lady Of Snows Basilica, Tuticorin is closely connected with the history of the conversion of the PARAVARS (Tuticorin), the in...

  Hare Island is an island which lies adjoining the  V. O. Chidambaranar Port Trust  in  Thoothukudi , India . Hare Island forms a part of the  Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park . With an area of 1.29 square kilometres, Hare Island is the largest island in the  Gulf of Mannar . Muyal Theevu is better known as Raja Theevu or Pandian Theevu. It was referred by the Portuguese as Isle Des Reis. History has it that as the indigenous people of this coast, famous for pearl fishing, the  Paravars , resorted to mass conversion, they were persecuted by the  Nayaks  of Madurai. So they fled from Tuticorin to Muyal Theevu, from where they migrated again in course of time. Muyal Theevu is known for its healthy ecosystem of coral and sea grass. Many tourists visit here during the  Pongal  holidays when special buses are operated for the benefit of the tourists.                    ...