An unprecedented increase in the number of visitors to the sea shore town of Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram in Tamil) has been the balance sheet of the summit level informal talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held here on Friday and Saturday.
The media build up to the event and the discussions held by the leaders of Asia’s two military powers and that too in front of the global media has increased the stature of this ancient town as well as Tamil Nadu, according to Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami.
“The informal summit between leaders of India and China held at Mahabalipuram has made Tamil Nadu a centre of attention among global powers. This has increased the stature of the State,” said Palaniswami in a statement released on Monday.
Sunday and Monday saw unprecedented crowd making it to the sea shore town and watching with amazement the sculptures carved out during the Pallava and Chola periods of rule. Mahabalipuram has been described by archaeologists and historians as Tamil Nadu’s ‘Gateway to China’.
K Pandiarajan, Tamil Nadu Minister for official language said that the descision to establish a connect between Tamil Nadu and the Fujian province of China was a recognition for Tamil and Tamil Nadu’s rich cultural heritage. This is the first official reaction from the Tamil Nadu Government about the establishment of Tamil Nadu-Fujian link by the two heads of States. The increase in number of tourists to Mahabalipuram during the last two days prove that the summit talks have helped the heritage town to boost its main economy –tourism. “People in Tamil Nadu itself were not aware of the significance of Mahabalipuram and the patronage of the seaside resort was limited to business barons and industrialists who have built farm houses and villas along the sea shore town. Hereafter the town would see many tourists from India and abroad flocking to Mahabalipuram,” said T Ramakrishnan, author and columnist.