A Project Report on Scope and Awareness about Tourism In Chennai

India will sideswipe you with its size, glamour and diversity - but if you enjoy delving into convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual overload, then it is one of the most intricate and rewarding dramas unfolding on earth, and you'll quickly develop an abiding passion for it. India is a litmus test for many travellers - some are only too happy to leave, while others stay for a lifetime. India is a land of virtuous wisdom, a land where the soul sought the spiritual dimensions of mankind and perpetuated aspirations to decipher a world beyond this world. India is a vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes, magnificent historical sites and royal cities, golden beaches, sightseeing places, misty mountain retreats, colorful people, rich cultures and festivities. Tours to India is itself a wonderful experience if blended with experienced people to guide the excursion. India is an exceptional Destination for tourists because it is a wonderland which has always been a prime travel destination for those who are charmed by its exotic south India tours & India travel, spell-binding, ancient civilization representing a geographical amalgamation of various features with its North India lofty mountain ranges, lush greenery, beaches, valleys, beautiful lakes, royal rajasthan tour, forts, mahal, desert regions, south india travel, temples, tropical rain forests, fertile plains, dry plateaus, coastal areas etc during India tours. That is why it is said that if you have visited the world then you have seen the half world and if you have visited only the Indian subcontinent on India tour, you have seen the whole world! tourist places:

Some of the famous Tour packages include Golden Triangle Tours Wildlife tours Beach tours Backwater Tours Cultural Heritage Tour Enchanting Kerala Tours Royal Rajasthan Tours South India Tours Himalaya Tours Hill Station Tours Luxury Train Tours Pilgrimage Tours Ayurveda Tours

Tourism: An Indian overview Tourism is the largest service industry in India, with a contribution of 6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India. India witnesses more than 5 million annual foreign tourist arrivals and 562 million domestic tourism visits. The tourism industry in India generated about US$100 billion in 2008 and that is expected to increase to US$275.5 billion by 2018 at a 9.4% annual growth rate. The Ministry of Tourism is the nodal agency for

the development and promotion of tourism in India and maintains the "Incredible India" campaign.

Tourism will expand greatly in future mainly due to the revolution that is taking place on both the demand and supply side. The changing population structure, improvement in living standard, more disposable income, fewer working hours and long leisure time, better educated people, ageing population and more curious youth in the developed as well as developing countries, all will fuel the tourism industry growth. The arrival of a large number of customers, better educated and more sophisticated, will compel the tourist industry to launch new products and brands and re-invents traditional markets. The established traditional destinations founded on sun-sea-sand products will have to re-engineer their products. They must diversify and improve the criteria for destinations and qualities of their traditional offers. Alongside beach tourism, the tourism sector will register a steady development of new products based on natural rural business, leisure and art and culture. Thus the study of new markets and emerging markets and necessity of diversified products are the basis of our strategy, which can enhance and sustain, existing and capture new markets. It is Indias vastness that challenges the imagination: the sub-continent, 3200km (2000 miles) from the mountainous vastness of the Himalayas in the north to the tropical lushness of Kerala in the south, is home to one sixth of the worlds population, a diverse culture and an intoxicatingly rich history. Desert in Rajasthan, tropical forests in the north eastern states, arid mountains in the delta region of Maharashtra and Karnataka and vast fertile planes in northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana etc are just some of the geographical diversity that can be observed. We have a wealth of archeological sites and historical monuments. Manpower costs in the Indian hotel industry are one of the lowest in the world. This provides better margins for any industry which relies on man power. One of the fascinations of India is the juxtaposition of old and new; centuries of history from the pre-historic Indus civilization to the British Raj rub shoulders with the computer age; and Bangalore's Silicon Valley is as much a part of the world's largest democracy as the remotest village is.

Tourism in Chennai With its historic landmarks and buildings, long sandy beaches, cultural and art centers and parks, Chennai's tourism offers many interesting locations to visitors. One of the most important tourist attraction of Chennai is actually in the neighbouring town of Mahabalipuram with its ancient temples and rock carvings of the 7th century Pallava kingdom.

Tourists' arrival[edit source | edit] Chennai has been the most visited city in India by foreign tourists (since 2008)[1], overtaking New Delhi and Mumbai with visitors to heritage sites in Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram and medical tourists making up the largest numbers. In 2011, Chennai was ranked 41st in global top 100 city destination ranking, with 3,174,500 tourists, a 14 percent increase from 2010,[2] This is up from 650,000 tourists in 2007, when Chennai was the third most visited city in India by foreigners ranked after Delhi and Mumbai. Tourists from USA, UK, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore had visited the city in 2007.[3] About 8,30,620 domestic tourists arrived in Chennai in March 2011, in addition to 29,558 tourists who visited Mamallapuram. Arrival Percentage From Different Countries to Chennai[4] Country Sri Lanka Malaysia Singapore France South Korea Australia Germany Italy Netherlands United States Japan Canada United Kingdom 61.3 56 39.6 24.3 18.2 15.2 11.2 9.5 9.1 8.7 8.3 6.6 4.8 Arrival percentage

Attractions[ Beaches[edit source | edit]

Marina Beach The 15 km long and 400 to 500 meter wide Marina Beach features the Light House, memorials, statues, walkways, gardens and drives alongside the beach front. Towards the south of the city of Chennai, Elliot's Beach in Besant Nagar is preferred by younger Chennaiites with its promenade, restaurants and coffee shops.[5] There are a quite a number of beaches and resorts between Elliots Beach and Mahabalipuram, along East Coast Road. The most notable of these is Covelong Beach which has a cove and a fort built by the Nawab of the Carnatic.[6] Government Museum Complex[edit source | edit] The Government Museum Complex in Egmore houses the Government Museum, Connemara Public Library and the National Art Gallery. Established in 1851, the museum consisting of six buildings and 46 galleries covers an area of around 16.25 acres (66,000 m) of land. The objects displayed in the museum cover a variety of artifacts and objects covering diverse fields including archeology, numismatics, zoology, natural history, sculptures, palm-leaf manuscripts and Amravati paintings. Connemara Public Library is one of the four National Depository libraries which receive a copy of all books, newspapers and periodicals published in India. Established in 1890 the library is a repository of centuries-old publications, wherein lie some of the most respected works and collections in the country. It also serves as a depository library for the UN. The National Art Gallery building is one of the finest Indo-sarcenic type of architectures in the country.

Fort St. George[edit source | edit]

St.Mary's Church inside Fort St.George Fort St George (or historically, White Town) is the name of the first British fortress in India, founded in 1639[7] at the coastal city of Madras (modern city of Chennai). This fort was completed on April 23, coinciding with St. George's Day, celebrated in honour of St. George, the patron saint of England. The fort, christened Fort St. George faced the sea and a few fishing villages, and soon became the hub of merchant activity. It gave birth to a new settlement area called George Town (historically referred to as Black Town), which grew to envelop the villages and led to the formation of the city of Madras. The fort is a stronghold with 6 meter high walls that withstood a number of assaults in the 18th century. Today, the Fort serves as the administrative headquarters for the legislative assembly of Tamil Nadu state, and still houses a garrison for troops in transit to various locations at South India and the Andamans. The Fort Museum contains many relics of the Raj, including portraits of many of the Governors. Other monuments present inside the fort are St. Mary's Church, the oldest Anglican church in India, and Wellesley House, which holds the paintings of the Governor of the Fort and other high officials of the Regime. Art and Crafts[edit source | edit] Tamil and Indian culture and tradition is on display in several art galleries and cultural centers. Valluvar Kottam is an auditorium in memory of the poet-saint Thiruvalluvar. It also has a 101feet high temple chariot structure. Kalakshetra, a centre for the revival of Indian art and crafts especially the dance form of Bharatnatyam is located in Besant Nagar.[8] The National Art Gallery, built in 1907, houses 11th and 12th century Indian handicrafts, 17th century Deccan paintings, 16th to 18th century Mughal and Rajasthan paintings and 10th and 13th century bronzes and is part of the Government Museum. The world headquarters of the Theosophical Society was established in 1886 on the banks of the Adyar River. The shrines of all major faiths stand in its sprawling estate gardens. Cholamandalam Artists' Village, on the East Coast Road offers a view of artists and sculptors at work in their own studios and permanent gallery. DakshinaChitra, run by the Chennai Craft Foundation, is a depiction of the way of life prevalent in South India with exhibitions and workshops of the arts and crafts and performing artists of South India.

Places of Worship[edit source | edit]

Kapaleeshwarar temple in Mylapore Right from the early ages, Chennai had a cosmopolitan society with people belonging to different religious groups living together. As a consequence places of worship, both historical and modern, belonging to various religions are present in the city. The most famous temples in Chennai are the Kapaleeshwarar temple in Mylapore and Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane. The Vadapalani temple is also an important place of worship for the Hindus. St. Thomas Mount, the site where St. Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ, was believed to have been martyred,[9] is an important pilgrimage site for Indian Christians. The Santhome Basilica, supposedly built atop the tomb of St. Thomas, is a revered church by the Roman Catholics. The St. George's Cathedral, Chennai is an important place of worship for the Protestant Christians. The Wallajah Masjid in Triplicane is one of the largest mosques and is a revered place of worship for Muslims. The city has 39 sacred tanks abutting temples, which are primarily meant to recharge groundwater and celebrate float festivals.[10] Parks[edit source | edit] The Guindy National Park, the country's smallest National Park with an area of 2.76 km, is located completely inside the city. It hosts a variety of endangered deer, foxes, monkeys and snakes. The Guindy Snake Park situated in the National Park has a large collection of snakes and is an important source of antivenom serum. The Arignar Anna Zoological Park (better known as Vandalur Zoo) is located southwest of the city and covers an area of 5.1 km. It has about eighty species on display, and includes a lion safari, an elephant safari, a nocturnal animal house and an aquarium. South of the city, along the East Coast Road, is an important centre for herpetological research called the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, which houses several fresh-water and saltwater crocodiles, alligators, gharials, and also turtles and snakes. The Botanical Garden of the Horticulture Department has a very wide variety of plants and even a fossilised tree trunk 20 million years old. A Summer Festival is held here annually during the month of May.

Shopping[edit source | edit]

Spencer Plaza is one of the oldest and largest shopping malls in Chennai Chennai has some unique places to offer for shopping. Art and crafts, contemporary and traditional artwork, antiques, jewellery etc. are available in the city. Traditional items like leaf and palmyra-fiber handicrafts from Tirunelveli, bronze and brass castings and traditional jewelry from Kumbakonam, metal works from Thanjavur, stone carvings from Mahabalipuram, silks from Kanchipuram are for sale in shops and boutiques. George Town and Parrys Corner are wholesale markets of Chennai where one can purchase almost anything. Nearby Mint Street plays host to communities from Rajasthan and Gujarat and is where north Indian snacks can be sampled along with textiles, kitchenware and jewellery. Many streets are entirely devoted to selling one particular type of merchandise. The nearby Burma Bazaar is famous for its counterfeit electronic goods and media, Moore Market for its large number of bookstores. Pondy Bazaar located in T. Nagar, is home to huge multi-storey stores, unique to Chennai, which deal mainly in textiles and silks or gold, silver and diamond jewellery. Shopping Malls in Chennai: Spencer's Plaza - Chennai City Centre - Ampa Sky Walk Mall - Express Avenue - Phoenix Market City - Abirami Mega Mall - Mayajaal Entertainment[edit source | edit] There are four large amusement parks, MGM Dizzee World, VGP Universal Kingdom, Queen's Land and Kishkinta and a water sports center, Dash N Splash located in the outskirts of Chennai. The city also houses a paintball centre [11] and water sports club on the east coast road. There are also a large number of beach resorts all along the East Coast Road highway to Mahabalipuram. The city being home to the Tamil movie industry, has over 100+ large cinema theatres including a few multiplexes which screen Tamil, English, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films.[12] The city has a large number of restaurants offering a variety of Tamil, Indian and international cuisines.[13] The nightlife in Chennai is vibrant and growing ranging from bars to pool parlours to lounges and clubs.

Medical tourism (also called medical travel, health tourism or global healthcare) is a term initially coined by travel agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidly-growing

practice of travelling across international borders to obtain health care. It also refers pejoratively to the practice of healthcare providers travelling internationally to deliver healthcare Medical tourism the process of leaving home for treatments and care abroad or elsewhere domestically is an emerging phenomenon in the health. AN INTRODUCTION History:The concept of medical tourism is not a new one. The first recorded instance of medical tourism dates back thousands of years to when Greek pilgrims traveled from all over the Mediterranean to the small territory in the Saronic Gulf called Epidauria. This territory was the sanctuary of the healing god Asklepios. Epidauria became the original travel destination for medical tourism. Spa towns and sanitariums may be considered an early form of medical tourism. In eighteenth century England, for example, medtrotters visited spas because they were places with supposedly health-giving mineral waters, treating diseases from gout to liver disorders and bronchitis. Description Factors that have led to the increasing popularity of medical travel include the high cost of health care, long wait times for certain procedures, the ease and affordability of international travel, and improvements in both technology and standards of care in many countries. Medical tourists can come from anywhere in the First World, including Europe, the Middle East, Japan, the United States, and Canada. This is because of their large populations, comparatively high wealth, the high expense of health care or lack of health care options locally, and increasingly high expectations of their populations with respect to health care. The cost of surgery in India, Thailand or South Africa can be one-tenth of what it is in the United States or Western Europe, and sometimes even less. A heart-valve replacement that would cost $200,000 or more in the US, for example, goes for $10,000 in India--and that includes round-trip airfare and a brief vacation package. Similarly, a metal-free dental bridge worth $5,500 in the US costs $500 in India, a knee replacement in Thailand with six days of physical therapy costs about one-fifth of what it would in the States, and Lasik eye surgery worth $3,700 in the US is available in many other countries for only $730. Cosmetic surgery savings are even greater: A full facelift that would cost $20,000 in the US runs about $1,250 in South Africa.

Process The typical process is as follows: the person seeking medical treatment abroad contacts a medical tourism provider.

 The provider usually requires the patient to provide a medical report, including the nature of ailment, local doctors opinion, medical history, and diagnosis, and may request additional information. Certified medical doctors or consultants then advise on the medical treatment. The approximate expenditure, choice of hospitals and tourist destinations, and duration of stay, etc., is discussed. After signing consent bonds and agreements, the patient is given recommendation letters for a medical visa, to be procured from the concerned embassy. The patient travels to the destination country, where the medical tourism provider assigns a case executive, who takes care of the patient's accommodation, treatment and any other form of care. Once the treatment is done, the patient can remain in the tourist destination or return home. International healthcare accreditation Because standards are important when it comes to health care, there are parallel issues around medical tourism, international healthcare accreditation, evidence-based medicine and quality assurance. In the United States, the best known accreditation group is the Joint Commission International (JCI). They have been inspecting and accrediting health care facilities and hospitals outside of the United States since 1999 and are a trusted source for American medical tourists. Many international hospitals today see obtaining JCI accreditation as a way to attract American patients. In the UK and Hong Kong, the Trent International Accreditation Scheme is a key player. The different international healthcare accreditation schemes vary in quality, size, cost, intent and the skill and intensity of their marketing. They also vary in terms of cost to hospitals and healthcare institutions making use of them. A forecast by Deloitte Consulting regarding medical tourism published in August 2008 noted the value of accreditation in ensuring quality of healthcare and specifically mentioned JCI, ISQUA and Trent. Increasingly, some hospitals are looking towards dual international accreditation, perhaps having both JCI to cover potential US clientele and Trent for potential British and European clientele. As a result of competition between clinics for American medical tourists, there have been initiatives to rank hospitals based on patient-reported metrics. Other relevant organizations include:

The Society for International Healthcare Accreditation (SOFIHA), a free-to-join group providing a forum for discussion and for the sharing of ideas and good practice by providers of international healthcare accreditation and users of the same. The primary role of this organisation is to promote a safe hospital environment for patients.

HealthCare Tourism International, the first US-based non-profit to accredit the nonclinical aspects of health tourism, such as language issues, business practices, and false or misleading advertising prevention. The group provides accreditation for all major groups involved in the health tourism industry including hotels, recovery facilities, and medical tourism booking agencies. The United Kingdom Accreditation Forum (UKAF) is an established network of accreditation organisations with the intention of sharing experience good practice and new ideas around the methodology for accreditation programmes, covering issues such as developing healthcare quality standards, implementation of standards within healthcare organisations, assessment by peer review and exploration of the peer review techniques to include the recruitment, training, monitoring and evaluation of peer reviewers and the mechanisms for awards of accredited status to organisations. The International Medical Travel Association, (IMTA, based in Singapore), is a nonprofit association formed to help address quality standards, liability issues, continuity of care, and other issues. Medical Tourism Association, is a nonprofit association focusing on transparency in quality and pricing.

Chennai Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu a beautiful state in south India- is one of the fast growing big metropolitan cities of India. The city is now becoming Indias health capital by attracting 45% of health tourists from abroad. It can be stated that with large number of multi- and superspecialty hospitals equipped with the latest medical equipments and facilities, dedicated doctors and treatment expertise of international standards, all at a relatively low cost, Chennai is a real gateway to health. Chennai is the largest city of south India and has become the technological and scientific center of India. The city hosts a large number of multi-specialty hospitals equipped with the latest medical technology and facilities, employing world class doctors and other dedicated medical professionals. The real gift is that all these top quality facilities are available at a very low cost. It should be noted that all these hospitals are so keen in keeping global standards in all their activities and services and many of them are giving special attention to foreign patients. These hospitals accept international credit cards and global health insurance. Apollo Hospital is the largest healthcare group in Asia and its flag ship hospital Apollo Hospitals Chennai, was established in 1983 and was the First Indian hospital to be awarded the 1S0 9002 and ISO 14001 Certifications. It was the first hospital in South India to get accreditation from the Joint Commission International USA. Today it is one of the most respected hospitals in the world and has become the most preferred health destinations for both patients from India and abroad.

The hospital provides world class treatments in over 60 departments spearheaded by internationally trained doctors. The hospital which is rated as the "Best Private Sector Hospital in India" by The Week magazine gives special attention to the patients from abroad by providing excellent services by its dedicated patient-care personnel MIOT Hospital is another leading hospital in Chennai which is a huge Multi-Speciality Hospital in India which is well known for its global Professional standards. The hospital provides excellent services in Orthopedics, Joint Replacement Surgeries, Trauma Care. Nephrology, Thoracic & Cardio Vascular Care, Neurology, Cardio Surgery and many other specialties. Many patients from foreign countries are coming to this hospital in search of world class, cost-effective healthcare. They have set up an department providing personalized attention to international patients and their families. The hospital is situated at Manapakkam, Chennai. Global Hospitals is another trusted hospital in Chennai has got branches in all the main cities of India. The firm is providing excellent services in cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, nephrology and trauma care. They are well known for their expertise in organ transplantation. The city now has the unique distinction of successfully treating patients from other country for heart surgeries. Medical tourism[edit source | edit] With people from across the country and abroad preferring to get treated in the hospitals in Chennai, the city is increasingly becoming a hub of medical tourism. According to a study by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Chennai attracts about 40 percent of the country's medical tourists. As of 2013, the city receives up to 200 foreign patients every day.[19] The Coromandel Express, which plies between Kolkata and Chennai, is nicknamed 'Ambulance Express' in Howrah since it regularly ferries a chunk of patients from the eastern region for medical treatment at hospitals in Chennai.[20] Foreigners, especially those from developing and underdeveloped countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Burundi, Congo, Bangladesh, Oman and Iraq, come to the city for advanced medical care.[21] About 150 Maldivian patients arrive at the city every day for medical treatment, which resulted in Maldivian Airlines launching a thrice-a-week direct flight from Male to Chennai.[22] However, there are no consolidated statistics about the number of foreign patients that the city receives. Most leading hospitals, which receive a steady stream of patients from other states of India and abroad every day, have separate wings for international patients. Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre receives up to 100 overseas patients a month. Fortis Malar Hospital receives 15 to 20 foreign patients a month. Madras Medical Mission receives 14 foreign medical tourists every month, mainly from East African nations. Sankara Nethralaya receives nearly 500 overseas patients a month.[21] MIOT Hospitals receives nearly 300 foreign patients every month.[ List of major hospitals in Chennai Institute Government Hospital type Locality Establishe d 1664 Chief specialty General Numbe r of Notes beds 2,029[18] The first

Governmen Park Town

List of major hospitals in Chennai Institute General Hospital t Government Royapettah Hospital Government Stanley Hospital Kilpauk Medical College Hospital Institute of Obstertrics & Gynaecology Hospital for Women & Children Institute of Child Health & Hospital for Children Government Institute of Mental Health Governmment Peripheral Hospital, K. K. Nagar Government Peripheral Hospital, Tondiarpet Government Peripheral Hospital, Anna Nagar Regional Institute of Ophthalmology Governmen Royapettah t Governmen Vallalar t Nagar Governmen Kilpauk t Hospital type Locality Establishe d Chief specialty medicine General medicine General medicine General medicine Numbe r of beds Notes hospital in India 712[18] 1,271[18] 515[18]

Governmen Egmore t

Obstetrics & Gynaecology 752[18] and Paediatrics

Governmen Egmore t

1948

Paediatrics

537[18] Second largest mental health institute in India

Governmen Kilpauk t

1794

Neurology

1,800[18]

Governmen K. K. Nagar t

1977

General medicine

100[18]

Governmen Tondiarpet t

1979

General medicine

100[18]

Governmen Anna Nagar t Governmen Egmore t

1979

General medicine

100[18]

Ophthalmolog 478[18] y

List of major hospitals in Chennai Institute and Government Ophthalmic Hospital Government Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine Raja Sir Ramasamy Mudaliar LyingIn Hospital Government Kasthuribai Gandhi Hospital Institute of Thoracic Medicine, Chetput Thiruvetreeswara r Hospital for Thoracic Medicine, Otteri Tamil Nadu Government Dental College and Hospital Hospital type Locality Establishe d Chief specialty Numbe r of beds Notes

Governmen K. K. Nagar t

1979

60[18]

Governmen Tambaram t Sanatorium

1920

Thoracic medicine

776[18]

Governmen Royapuram t Governmen Chepauk t Governmen Chetput t

1880

510[18]

695[18]

1916

Governmen Otteri t

Governmen George Town 1953 t Rated by the World Health Organisatio n as the topranking centre in the country First corporate

Adyar Cancer Institute

Adyar

1954

Oncology

423

Apollo Hospitals

Greams Road, Teynampet

List of major hospitals in Chennai Institute Hospital type Locality Establishe d Chief specialty Numbe r of beds Notes hospital in the country Chettinad Health City Fortis Malar Hospital Hindu Mission Hospital Madras Medical Mission National Institute of Siddha Sankara Nethralaya Sir Ivan Stedeford Hospital Sri Ramachandra Medical College Sundaram Medical Foundation MIOT Hospital Corporate Corporate NGO Kelambakka 2007 m Adyar Tambaram Mugappair Tambaram 1982 1987 2005 1978 Ambattur Porur Anna Nagar Corporate 1966 1985 1990 500 >1,500 600 161 220 207 120

Manapakkam 1999

Services
Assistance in Choosing Best Treatment Option Care Medical Tourism will help you in choosing the best possible treatment for you. Leveraging on its extensive network of empanelled hospitals and hotels, we can provide you with treatment options and accommodation in major cities of India. The Care Medical Tourism will also provide you the facility to conduct teleconference or e-mail discussion between your local treating doctor and doctor in India so as to clarify any ambiguity related to treatment. A Dedicated Programme Manager As soon as you confirm to avail our services, we would assign a dedicated programme manager, who will be responsible for making your travel and stay in India as comfortable as possible. Fixation of appointment with Chief Doctors on top priority prior to arrival and assisting in planning treatment/check up with appointment fixing and travel scheduling will be takecare by your programme manager. Programme manager also will arrange consultations with doctors. He will Coordinate all pre procedural and post procedural appointments.

VISA Assistance/Medical Visa We have partnered with Passport/Visa Service that will expedite the processing time. Kindly ask your Case Manager for more information. Airport Pick up Once you land in India, your programme manager will greet you on airport and will ensure your safe and comfortable journey to desired destination. Care Medical Tourism strives to provide comfortable and prompt travel services to its esteemed medical travelers. Private Transportation

We will provide an A/C Car with experienced driver for your local transfers Extra Assistance for Disabled Patients

Care Medical Tourism will provide any necessary assistance for those who are disabled Interpreters We understand the language barrier in a foreign country, therefore to break this barrier we can provide you with interpreters to ease your stay in India. Communication Aids Care Medical Tourism will provide you with a SIM card and phone so that you can stay in contact with your near and dear ones. Along with phone, we will regularly update about you to your relatives in home country through e-mails or teleconference. You may also avail the facility of video conferencing. Assistance in communicating family back home Accommodation Care Medical Tourism presents to you the widest range of hotels to choose from. The hotels on board range from three star hotels to seven star hotels. The Care Medical Tourism will take care that the distance between your accommodation and hospital is kept to minimum possible. Private Nursing Care In case you require private nursing attendant post discharge, Care Medical Tourism is there for you. We can arrange nursing attendants for your care. Special Medical Services As the trend of international travel picks up, there has been increase in demand for infertility centres, cosmetic surgeries and dental surgeries. Care Medical Tourism realizing this trend can arrange for these therapies through its empanelled centres of excellence. Currency Exchange/ Insurance Cover The Care Medical Tourism will help you in case of getting your currency converted to Indian Rupee and in case you dont have insurance cover, we can help to obtain one that is suited to your requirements. Tour Packages Package Tours can be organized at very reasonable cost to various places of interest in places like, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Agra, etc. Can fix-up guides / escorts to accompany if willing. Return to your country Post-Therapy Care

After your return to your country, your programme manager stays in contact with you. We can facilitate two way communications between you/ your doctor with Indian hospital so as to take care of your post treatment follow-up

Mahabalipuram

(58

kms.):

Just out of Chennai, roughly 55 km away, is the world-famous town of Mahabalipuram. The Pallava dynasty of Southern India, one of the major lines of kings to rule in India after the Gupta period, made this lovely seaside village their second capital. The place blossomed under the creative forces of that time between the fifth and eighth centuries. Today, the shore temple, the largest bas-relief in the world called Arjuna's Penance and the famous and beautiful mandapams has made this town world famous. Almost 5km north of Mamallapuram in the village of Salavankuppam, the tiger cave is a rock cut shrine dating from 7th century. Dedicated to Durga, it has a small mandapam featuring a crown of carved yali heads. Another 14 km from here lays Tirukkalikundram a pilgrim centre with a hilltop temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Covelong (48kms): Replete with historical monuments such as forts, churches, mosques, and a lovely beach, Covelong is a place where you can experience the history of Tamil Nadu as a whole. If you are in Chennai, do not miss a visit to this place. The remains of the Fort have now been converted into a luxury beach resort that offers facilities for windsurfing and swimming. Kanchipuram (75 kms.): Along with Chennai and Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram forms the famous Golden Triangle of the Coromandel Coast. Almost all tourists visit Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram finds place on the global map because of the wonderful craftsmanship of the Kanchi weavers, the makers of what is perhaps the finest silk fabric in the world. This spectacular temple city is one of the seven sacred cities of India. It was, successively, capital of the kingdoms of the Pallavas, Cholas and rajas of Vijayanagar. The temples and gopurams are exquisite reminders of the beauty of Dravidian architecture, from the freshness and simplicity of the Pallavas' 7th-century Kailasanatha Temple through to the Vijayanagar Empire's 16th-century Ekambareshwara Temple. The latter covers nine hectares, has a 59-metre-high gopuram, a 1000-pillared hall and a sacred mango tree said to be 3500 years old. Kanchipuram is also famous for its hand-woven silk fabrics. Tirupati (152km):

Situated in the Chittoor district in southern Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati is the

abode of the legendary Lord of the Seven Hills. Tirupati is one of the most famous shrines in the country where worship of the Lord has been carried out for over thirteen centuries. Even today, Tirupati draws enormous crowds throughout the year. The main attractions are the Pratima Mandapam, with the statue of Sri Krishnadevaraya; Tulabharam, the scales upon which materials for offerings are weighed; the Tirumalanayaka Mandapam, replete with beautiful carvings; and Dhwajastambham, and others. Tirupati is situated at a distance of around 152 km from Chennai and well connected. Muttukadu (16 kms): The backwaters of Muttukadu have been developed by the Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation to serve as a scenic picnic spot and a water sports centre. In February every year, a windsurfing regatta is organized in Muttukadu.Competitions in windsurfing and other water sports are held. Training and demonstration programmes are organized for youth. Crocodile Bank (44 kms.): Not far from Mamallapuram, Romulus Whittaker runs this crocodile breeding and research centre. Here several species of Indian and African crocodiles and alligators are bred in captivity. The reptiles are kept in their natural habitat in open pools and can be viewed from safe proximity. This farm breeds crocodile to augment the crocodile population of the wildlife sanctuaries. Vedanthangal (85 kms.): Vedanthangal is one of the largest bird sanctuaries in India. It is a marshy, 30 hectare park with lake visited by over 1,00,000 migratory birds every year. The majority of these birds can be seen between November and February. The 4variety of birds include Herons, Darters, Spoonbills, Pelicans, Sandpipers, White Ibis and Cormorants, Blue winged teals and Swans. V.G.P Golden Beach Resort (30km): This beach resort is popular not just with the people of the city, but also with tourists. There is an entertainment arcade for children and for adults. There are folk dance performances apart from an Art Center that sells handicrafts and articles made out of seashells. The beach is clean and ideal for sunbathing. This is a cleverly planned beach resort geared to entertain the visitor with sculptured vignettes from the past, folk dances and ethnic seafood cuisine. The V.G.P. Art Center, a part of the resort complex, sells merchandise ranging, from seashells to rural handicrafts. Vandalur:

Spread over an area of 1,265 acres, the Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur is the largest in South Asia with a rich variety of different species of mammals, reptiles and birds. The animals roam in natural surroundings with a special enclosure for nocturnal creatures. The coast road from Chennai to Mamallapuram is dotted with beach resorts, recreational areas and artist's communities.

Cholamandal Artist's Village: Located 18 km south of Chennai. Contemporary art, sculpture, batik and craft flourish in this little palm-studded sea-rimmed artists' commune started in 1966. Artists and sculptors live and work here and also exhibit and sell their work. Its open-air auditorium is also the venue of avantgarde theatre, poetry-reading and dance recitals. It has a gallery with fine contemporary paintings and sculptures. Dakshinachitra: Located 12 km south of Cholamandal, a reasonably new place presented by the Chennai Crafts Foundation as a showpiece of different living styles in the South. You can admire traditional arts from Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka and AndhraPradesh. Contains recreations of Brahmin, Chettinad, potters, a basket weaver's, a silk weaver's houses along with live representations of their craft. Similarly the Kerala section has a Syrian Christian house, a Menon house etc. Very authentic since the dwellings were actually bought from their places of origin and replanted here. There is an accompanying audio-visual presentation and a little gift shop. Very well done and definitely worth a visit. Pulicat (54 km): Site of an Old Dutch settlement dating back to 1609, today, Pulicat is a picnic spot famed for its lake. There are amenities for swimming, fishing, and windsurfing. History-buffs can wander around the ancient Dutch cemetery with its well-preserved tombstones. MGM Dizee World (20 km): An amusement park complete with Roller Coasters and Water Slides and Giant Catherine Wheels fun place for kids. Madurai: One of the oldest towns in South India is the abode of goddess Meenakshi, the consort of Lord Sundereswarar (Shiva). Legend has it, that when a Pandya king founded the town of Madurai some thousands of years ago, Lord Shiva was present. Moreover, the nectar falling off his hair gave the town its name of Madurai or city of nectar Tiruchirapalli: The famous Rock Fort is precariously perched atop a massive outcrop of rock that rises abruptly out of the flat surrounding plain. Set in the middle of the town on the bank of the river Cauvery, it is visible for miles around and it. A citadel of the Chola kings in the Sangam period (2 BC to 2 AD) the Rock Fort has had a long and chequered history. Thanjavur:

Just 58 km away lays Thanjavur, once the capital of the Chola Empire referred to as the "Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu". Nearly a thousand years ago around the 11th

century, Thanjavur was the capital of a powerful dynasty, the imperial Cholas whose empire extended beyond South India and Sri Lanka to the kingdoms of South-East Asia.The Chola kings used their wealth to encourage arts and craft and built innumerable temples and shrines to ornament their land. Palani: Palani, a pilgrim spot atop a hill dedicated to Lord Subramanium, is easily accessible. Pondicherry (157km): Lying 162 km south of Chennai, this town has an imminent French influence. It is here the famous philosopher Sri Aurobindo once lived. For sight seeing, interesting places include churches, museum, beach, the Aurobindo ashram, and Auroville. Close by lies Chidambaram, an ancient Chola temple with a gilded roof, tall gopurams and a thousand pillared halls. This is the most venerated shrine of Lord Shiva represented here as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer. Point Calimere wildlife sanctuary lies close by.

The mangrove forests of Pichavaram, an ideal spot for boating, fishing and water sports is also nearby. Rameswaram: Rameswaram lies 176 km from Madurai. This conch shaped island in the Gulf of Mannar is a holy spot for Hindus. The magnificent Ramanathaswamy temple is well known for its longest corridors in the country, extending over a length of 1220 m long with its marvelous carved pillars. Those who visit here bathe in the sacred waters of Agaitheertam, a stretch of Clam Sea near the temple. Kanyakumari:

Proceed to Kanyakumari, the land's end of India to view the spectacular sunrise and sunset at the beach. The temple, Vivekananda Rock and Gandhi Mandap are among the places of interest. Vellore (145km): Famous for Fort and Vijaynagar temple. It is also world renowned for CMC hospital-a leader in research and health care recognised as one of the finest hospitals in South India.Vellore Fort was built in 16th century but occupied by British in 1760.The small government museum inside the fort complex contains sculptures dating back to Pallava and Chola times. The Jalakanteshwara Temple is a gem of Vijaynagar architecture built about 1566.Within the temple; the pillared mandapam is famous for yali and other mythical creatures. Large statues of Ganesh grace the entrance and mandapam.