http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article966917.ece
Muziris project to be opened for tourists within three months
(The Hindu 21-12-2010 Thiruvananthapuram Edition)
Tourism in Kerala, which has so far targeted mainly beaches, forests and backwaters, will soon showcase the glory of the 3,000-year-old Muziris port.
The Muziris Heritage Project, claimed to be the first of its kind in the country, when completed is expected to turn Muziris into a major destination for cultural tourism, Chief Project Consultant Benny Kuriakose has said.
Muziris, 27 km from here, was a port city that was among the earliest of its kind in the world. It is also unique as home to India's first church (Mar Thoma church), first mosque (Cheraman Juma Masjid) and the oldest European monument (Portuguese fort).
Situated on India's south-western coast, Muziris was a spice city where the traders of the world – Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Chinese – thronged to buy and sell a variety of wares, mainly spices and clothes. “It's been two years since we started the project and in another two to three months, it would be opened for tourists,” Mr. Kuriakose said. Nineteen departments and agencies were working for the project and many more coordinating.
Major project
The project, which includes a Central aid of Rs.40 crore, “is a walk through 3,000 years of Kerala history. Buddhists, Arabs, Chinese, Jews, Romans, Portuguese, Dutch and British came here. Jews have left two synagogues. We are trying to link all these… the existing Muziris and the sites,” he said.
A series of 27 museums, spread over the heritage region displaying maritime trade, lifestyle, barter system and handicrafts, were being planned and five would be opened next year, Mr. Kuriakose said.
Interactive museums are a major component of the project. Life and works of contemporary men and women who made a difference to social life in what was once Muziris would be the subject of some museums.
Since Muziris is spread on the banks of the Periyar, efforts were on to deepen canals and construct jetties. People could come in cars, park it and would be taken around in boats.
“This was a place where not even 100 tourists would come. But once the project opens up, authorities are hopeful many visitors would not miss this trip to history,” Mr. Kuriakose said.
He said the State government was planning to collaborate with UNESCO on the project and a three-member delegation had visited Pattanam, the project site, last week. The team also met Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac and Culture Minister M.A. Baby in Thiruvananthapuram and held discussions.
“Since Muziris had links with many countries, we would like to seek the coordination of these countries with the help of UNESCO and also try to include Muziris as a World Heritage Site,” Mr. Kuriakose said.
Noting that there was already a long queue on the Indian list to be included as a World Heritage Site and only two were possible in a year, he said that was why the option of looking at an International Spice Route, with India taking the lead, could be proposed. – PTI
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