Thrissur: The Muziris project with archaeological monuments, museums and places of worship of different cultural traditions celebrates India’s magnificent heritage and demonstrates Kerala’s remarkable ability to adapt to new traditions and values in the sphere of human thought and endeavour, President Pranab Mukherjee has said.
He was speaking at the inaugural function of the first phase of the Muziris Heritage Project held at the International Research and Convention Centre at Kodungallur near here on Saturday.
Emphasizing on the heritage of the project site having places of worship for Jews, Christian, Muslims and Hindus that showcased the life and history of Kerala nearly six centuries ago, the President said: “If Kerala is God’s own country, Kodungallur is the town where the Gods gather in unity and harmony.”
In the first phase of the project, as many as seven museums and two heritage markets, bicycle pathways and two boat circuits, reception and interpretation centre, eight boat jetties, visitors’ activity centre and other facilities have been completed at Kodungallur and North Paravur situated on the banks of Periyar River.
The President said that the project holds immense potential as a global tourist location, and the old Muziris port which was the hub of trading in spices would spread the culture of Indian cosmopolitanism worldwide.
Governor P. Sathasivam, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, tourism minister AP Anil Kumar, KV Thomas MP, legislators T. N. Prathapan and V. D. Satheesan were present at the event.
