Miniature Tamil Nadu is a new village to be developed at East Coast Road in 50 acres of land in Chennai by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development corporation (TTDC Ltd). It is a concept to integrate Tamil culture, nativity, heritage and resort facilities under one roof.

TNUIFSL on behalf of TTDC invited tenders for consultancy appointment for developing a concept document for “Miniature Tamil Nadu”, develop feasibility studies, preparation of bid documents and assisting the client in the process of identifying a BOT operator.

Tender Doc (http://www.tnudf.com/index.asp)

This thread can be used to discuss details pertaining to this project :)

Fantastic idea. Hope some quality developer gets this project.

It would be good if the location is before Mamallapuram.

What wud be the tamil name for "miniature tamil nadu"

^^குட்டி தமிழ்நாடு

Fantastic idea. Hope some quality developer gets this project.

It would be good if the location is before Mamallapuram.

What wud be the tamil name for "miniature tamil nadu"

They've particularly mentioned chennai. So it must be on ECR somewhere before Mamallapuram. Lets see

Nice idea! I hope they make everything as authentic as possible.

would be nice if it is right next to dakshin chitra.

yes they should integrate this with dakshina chitra. How about Tamilnadu Nano :P ?

Isn't Dakshin Chitra similar in concept?

Isn't Dakshin Chitra similar in concept?

About...

DakshinaChitra is a center for the living traditions of art, folk performing arts, craft and architecture of India with an emphasis on the traditions of South India. A project of the Madras Craft Foundation (MCF), a non-profit organisation. DakshinaChitra opened to the public in December 1996. The center occupies ten undulating acres overlooking the Bay of Bengal, at Muttukadu, twenty five kilometers south of Chennai, on the East Coast Road to Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, India...

http://www.dakshinachitra.net/

Isn't Dakshin Chitra similar in concept?

That has Sanskrit name and the proposed one has English name. Thats the difference!

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/9185/32778938.jpg

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/6203/11967888.jpg

Keep it up
so much of valuable threads by u:cheers:

^^ Thanks dude :cheers1: (With support from all of you guys :D)

Thanks Kewl for posting a copy of the document by the tourism secretary! It is extremely ambitious. I hope it is not over ambitious and then fails to live up to expectations.

For it to attract international tourists like the document states, it should be truly world class in quality and execution. I do not think 50 acres of land will be sufficient for such a project. It should be atleast double that and possibly more if you also want to include a convention centre and so on.

The analogy I can think of is a theme park in the UK or anywhere else for that matter, which is what it essentially is, albeit showcasing different things rather than rides and amusement arcades but the underlying principle is the same. Building a hotel within the complex and a convention centre are all good proposals. However, the final delivery of the whole place will have to be world class and not half baked and shoddy. I hope and pray that it is well conceptualised and executed. It will then be a true testimony and tribute to Tamil Nadu.

I think Dakshinachitra is very interesting and well managed and is a success. So possibly this might work well too.. fingers crossed.

Its kaiyalavu thamizhagam... given in the report

thats a handful !! :D

Its kaiyalavu thamizhagam... given in the report

It is Kaialavil Thamizagham.

For tourists, a mini Tamil Nadu on ECR

Concept Involves Depicting 5 Types Of Lands Mentioned In Tamil Literature
B Aravind Kumar TNN

Chennai: Integrating Tamil culture, nativity and heritage with resort facilities, the state tourism department is in the process of setting up a ‘Miniature Tamil Nadu’ along the East Coast Road. “Marketing nativity, heritage and unique features has become a runaway success in the tourism scenario. Tourism, per se, is nothing but marketing experience,’’ says V Irai Anbu, tourism secretary, in his concept paper.

Many states have started capitalising on this principle by promoting such ventures. For instance, Choki Dhani in Rajasthan has a rural setting with native art, culture and cuisine. Foreigners throng such places and enjoy the novel atmosphere by staying there for a few days. Similarly, states like Haryana, Gujarat and Maharashtra have started rural tourism projects but no such experience is available for tourists in Tamil Nadu, which has not exploited its rich culture, continuing heritage and variegated cuisine. The miniature concept would have to take shape on an extent of 50 acres along the East Coast Road in Thirukazhukundram taluk of Kancheepuram district, depicting the five types of land forms mentioned in Tamil literature (Kurinji, Mullai, Marudham, Neithal and Paalai) and highlighting the details of flora and fauna found in these five natural backdrops.

“Not many know that Sathanur in Perambalur district has got a fossil tree and dinosaur eggs. We can present rock paintings, urns, rock cave temples in a visual fashion to stress our importance in evolutionary history,” says the tourism secretary.

Miniature versions of mangrove eco-systems will be created artificially on the premises. Models of Mamallapuram architecture, music pillars and Kallanai, the ancient grand dam built by Karikala Chola, will also find a place.

In the miniature version of the state, there will be a live presentation on the state’s handicrafts and aspects of tribal life and farm. There will be snake charmers and practitioners of traditional martial arts. Traditional food will be available to the tourists. An amphitheatre with sound and light shows highlighting the monuments, temples and other proud possessions will be further attractions.

“It is important to make this venture commercially viable. Therefore, accommodation facilities with native architecture and world class comfort will be part of the premises,” says the official. Such a miniature facility where people can travel in bullock carts, sail in coracles and pluck coconuts is expected bring more international tourists.

The Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructural Financial Services (TNUIFSL), the nodal agency, has held a pre-bid meeting with consultants in executing similar tourism projects to convert this vision into reality in about six months’ time. The bid is open till July 20.

TOI

Kewl batty,

Your thread might have given some info for TOI.

We can see other papers and tamil media covering this in coming days!

Lol, yea.... we have lot of newspaper editors, NGOs, govt people, etc watching this forum!!

"It is important to make this venture commercially viable. Therefore, accommodation facilities with native architecture and world class comfort will be part of the premises,” says the official. Such a miniature facility where people can travel in bullock carts, sail in coracles and pluck coconuts is expected bring more international tourists"

Cool... 100 acres would have been better especially since they are talking about travelling in bullock carts, sail in coracles, world class accomadation etc...

^^ I would tend to agree. the idea seems great on paper but they certainly need more space to make it look authentic and genuine. If it is too small it might all look cramped and like a tinsel town. I hope this ends up as a genuine mini-TN for local and international tourists rather than a TN schemed kids playground.

Ideally I would have wished something that is big enough to spend a day. Park at the gate, and spend a day in or camp overnight, so that people can really soak in the atmosphere. Something on the size of Auroville maybe ? Or possibly 2 or 3 sq.km area.. !

Imagine getting to the venue by morning, trekking or taking bullock cart rides, camping by the waterside, crossing the river by native wooden boat, all the while enjoying the carefully designed Tamil Nadu landscapes, climbing miniature hills to find hidden rock carvings, do freshwater fishing from a model village, view local art and craft and taking part in craft workshops, learn traditional Tamil martial arts and yoga fro ma guru under a tree etc in a natural environment.. and then returning to the entrance by nightfall, or camping inside a camping site and enjoying folk dances till late night by a huge lit campfire, camp for the night and make it a two day trip !

or if you are in a hurry or too lazy to walk, cover the entire journey in a 2 hour guided package tour in a trolley car ! a aaarg.. I am dreaming too much :(

^^ you're right fusi, something more on such lines is needed.

self deleted

Can we create a new thread with the name 'Chennai Tourism and hospitality' and club threads like '5 star hotels of chennai ,Miniature tamil nadu,ECR entertainment corridor' into one?

We can also have news about beach beutification project,Adyar eco park,Proposed botanical garden, Painting city roads etc. under that thread.

As many of the above threads are active only sporadically,it will be wiser if all are under one thread

^^+1

^^Seconded :)

Please do it!! It should be a great idea!!!

What happened? is the project still alive?? post the recent updates..if any?

Is this dead thread now, shall we create 'Chennai Tourism and hospitality' thread?