Vol. 2, Issue 4, Part B (2016)

Abstract
In the rapidly changing global economic scenario, tourism is considered to be one of the largest and fast growing industries. Thanjavur is the headquarters of Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu state. There are numerous ancient temples in the district and also the famous Mahamaham Tank in Kumbakonam. Tourism provides very useful and fruitful avenues especially to those people who are engaged in tourism activities because through this smokeless industry, they are not only enhancing their standard of living but also generating income and employment opportunities. In the contemporary era of globalization and industrialization, the whole world has shrunk into a global village. Tourism has played a very decisive role to transform the world into a globalized economy where all nations can exchange free trade and culture and share their interest of mutual benefits based on tourism industry. India is one of the major destinations of the foreign tourists particularly as it is a country that has a rich cultural heritage. Tourists visit Thanjavur for its scenic beauty, navagraha temples and ecological resources. The major centers of tourist attractions in the district are Kumbeshwara Temble, Mahamaham sacred tank, the temple of Lord Sarangapani, Darasuram Tample, Thiuvalanchuzhi, Swamimalai Patteswaram and Uppiliappan koil. This research paper deals with Pilgrimage Tourism and importance of tourism in Tanjore District.