DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2015.v03i03.019

Pages: 717-727

Tamilnadu forms part of the oldest landmass in the world which comprises of varied indigenous cultural features. It civilization is one of the most ancient civilizations, and has a span of more than 5000 years of continous existence known from recent Adichanallur finds dated to 3000 B.C. The presence of different types of environment, ecological and other related features made the people to make their settlement in a place which they felt it would be comfortable. From prehistoric times till the 15th century A.D, in there was a continuous and seamless development in the socio -economic, cultural and political spheres of the Tamil people. There were continuous modifications in life style, civilized societal status, new techniques and ideas in manufacturing artifacts and in habitaions - cave shelters, pits, houses made out of thatched roof, bricks and stones, construction of palace etc. The invention of pottery enabled storage of water, grains and domestication of animals improved the economic level of the population. The presence of semiprecious stones (agate, carnelian, chert, beryl etc) and of iron, gold, silver, etc in various places facilitated extensive trade contacts. This works initially paves way in publishing the exclusive notes on the ancient history of Tamils. Tourism is travelling for recreational or leisure purposes. The world tourism organization defines tourists as people who “Travel to and stayin places outside their usual environment for not more than one year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited.” Tourism plays an important role in boasting employment and encouraging different sections of the economy. Tourism was seen earlier as a mere service sector, but now it is recognized as an export industry.