All tourist spots closed, visitors disappointed

With the state government issuing a series of restrictions to counter and contain the entry of Covid-19 in the state, entry was banned in most tourist spots and there was also drastic fall in turn out in many places.

Enforcing the measures listed out by the government, The Nilgiris Collector Innocent Divya ordered the closure of all tourist spots, including Ooty Government Botanical Garden, Rose Park, Boat House, Sims Park in Coonoor, Nehru Park in Kotagiri, Doddabetta Peak and Pykkara Boat House, in district from Tuesday till March 31.

Since, the elephant safari at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) was also suspended, tourists returned disappointed.  

The famed NMR train service has also been cancelled till March 31. More significantly, tourists staying in hotels and resorts were asked to leave immediately.

The resorts were issued a stern warning that they would be sealed, if they continue to allow tourists.

A total of eight persons, including two from Italy, three from Dubai and three from Kerala, were quarantined for corona symptoms.

21 foreigners in Kodai told to return

The hill station of Kodaikanal came to a standstill on Tuesday after all tourist spots were shut.

With only a few hotels and cottages remaining open, tourist sites became empty, sources said. A total of 21 foreigners from Israel, Germany and Canada, who were accommodated in some 10 cottages, were told to leave the town.

However, one visitor from England assured to leave the hill station in a couple of days.

Sources added that two patients, including one from Kodaikanal and the other from Batlagundu, had admitted themselves to Government Hospital with complaints of cold, cough and fever. They have been kept under observation, sources said.

According to S. Abdul Kani Raja, secretary, Kodaikanal Hotel and Resort Owners Association, a total of 315 hotels remained closed as per instructions.

Vellore Fort closed

The historic Vellore Fort was closed from Tuesday on the orders of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).

Officials said that devotees would not be allowed to visit the Jalakanteswarar temple, mosque and the St John’s Church till the end of this month. As far as the temple is concerned, priests would be allowed to conduct only the daily pooja, they said.

At Tiruvannamalai, Collector KS Kandasamy held a meeting on preventive measures.

Priests at the Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar temple were barred from placing kumkum and holy ash on devotees’ foreheads. However, devotees undertook the 14-km girivalam, wearing masks.

Tirupattur District Collector MP Sivan Arul, who distributed pamphlets on the coronavirus to passengers at the Ambur bus stand, also visited the district border check post at Natrampalli.

Devotees screened in Central region

Tourist spots across the region were closed owing to COVID-19 scare and religious places witnessed very low number of devotees on Tuesday.

After the state government declared holiday on precaution in view of COVID-19 outbreak, the tourist spots in the region too were closed.

PWD officials on Tuesday banned entry of visitors at the Mukkombu Park in Tiruchy. The Mukkombu Park is one of the prominent destinations for the families in Tiruchy and it used to attract a big crowdduring weekends.

Officials have also closed the Tropical Butterfly Conservatory, located in Srirangam area of Tiruchy till March 31. The only exclusive butterfly park is established in the Upper Anaicut reserve forests in Srirangam with an extent of 25 acres. It is estimated that at least 10,000 tourists used to visit the park in the weekends. This is the first time, the butterfly park is being closed for such a long period sinceits establishment.

Similarly, in Thanajvur, famous tourist locations like Manora, Grand Anicut, Thanjavur Tholkappiyar Square, Manimandapam, Saraswathi Mahal Library on the Thanjavur palace premises and the museum and the ASI-controlled Bell Tower and Maratta Dharbar hall were shut for the public and tourists returned disappointed.

The number of footfall fell drastically at the Big Temple on Tuesday and Thanjavur Collector Govindar Rao and Medical College Dean Dr Kumutha monitored the screening of devotees at the shrine.

The world famous pilgrim place of Velankanni Basilica, which used to attract heavy footfall during the Lent season, looked almost deserted on Tuesday and the devotees were allowed inside the church only after screening. Awareness pamphlets were also distributed among the devotees.