Evaluation of Tourism Infrastructure Around the Ancient Marvels of Mahabalipuram and Pattadakal

Abstract

India is rich in culture and well-known for its mythological knowledge. It has plenty of architectural marvels recognized by UNESCO and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). For this chapter, two of the cultural UNESCO sites, Mahabalipuram and Pattadakal, have been taken as the scope of the chapter. The introduction section talks about the history of the monuments and provides a brief overview of the tourism infrastructure. The following section, evaluation of tourism infrastructure, aims to analyze Mahabalipuram and Pattadakal's tourism infrastructure using four parameters: transportation and connectivity, accommodation, gastronomical facilities, and tourist amenities. An observational study of the sites was conducted between December 2023 and January 2024. This is followed by the recommendations provided by the authors to improve the tourism infrastructure in these sites and, finally, the chapter's conclusion and future scope for researchers.