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Article that appeared in "THE HINDU"

A city couple looks to promote Manapad, a small town off Tuticorin, as a heritage as well as a water sports destination

City-based Arun Miranda, who is in the steel industry, and his wife Francina trace their paternal roots to the coastal town of Manapad (made famous in recent times by Mani Ratnam’s Kadal). “After we got married, back in 1995 on the insistence of our parents we decided to visit Manapad,” Arun begins. He hadn’t visited his ancestral town until then. “I instantly fell in love with the place, and we have been visiting it regularly since,” he says.

“Manapad’s a beautiful place with an interesting history. Did you know that Francis Xavier lived here in a cave?” he asks. “Everyone only knows of his work in Goa, but he lived in a cave in Manapad too. There’s even a 400-year-old Portuguese church on the hill. A lot of homes here remind me of Chettinad. Though not as opulent, they have a distinctive character,” he adds, “I think it can be attributed to the fact that a lot of locals used to work in Sri Lanka, and when they returned they built large homes.”

In 2007, several visits later, Arun and Francina decided to buy a property and let it out as a Bed and Breakfast for tourists. The property was built back in 1929. “We spent three years painstakingly restoring it. Now the B&B is open,” Arun says. Francina adds, “A lot of the beautiful homes in Manapad are great to look at from outside, but are withering away inside. So we decided to restore one of them.”

The duo has christened the B&B Villa de Joseph. “All our staff at the property is local. This way they can have some alternative to fishing, which is their only source of income now,” she explains. Visitors who stay at the Villa de Joseph are taken on a tour of the Manapad Palm Leaf Weavers’ Society to encourage local artisans. The couple is also considering introducing more water sports to the area. “We have decided to keep it all non-motorised though to ensure ecological balance.”

Go surfing

Francina says, “I came to know this was the best place for surfing.” So, Villa de Joseph also rents equipment and brings in trainers from Chennai for those who want to learn surfing. “Recently, a group of nine surfers from the U.S. stayed at our property and surfed for several days,” Arun informs. “I have heard from several surfers that these waters are most conducive for kite surfing too,” Francina adds.

“While we initially wanted people to come here and understand our heritage better, this news of surfing has opened up more options,” Arun says.

Manapad Tamil Nadu, India

Article that appeared in "the alternative website."

Manapad happens to be one of the best surfing spots in India. It has a unique coastline that was formed by multiple layers of lava accumulated over a vast period of time. This gives Manapad the rare distinction of witnessing the best wave formation all through the year.

Chennai-based couple Arun Miranda and his wife Francina have recently launched an initiative to promote tourism in Manapad. Since its launch, they have been hosting discerning tourists from across the globe at their boutique homestay in Manapad.

Article that appeared in "the alternative website."

There are two kinds of secrets – one that is not worth keeping and the other, which is too good to keep. Manapad, a fishing hamlet near Tuticorin, belongs to the latter.

Manapad is a place of unmatched natural beauty. You can take leisurely strolls down the pristine stretch of beach or bask in the bliss of solitude here. If you wish to add a dose of adventure to your otherwise serene experience at Manapad, you could go surfing for Manapad happens to be one of the best surfing spots in the country. It has a unique coastline that was formed by multiple layers of lava accumulated over a vast period of time. This gives Manapad the rare distinction of witnessing the best wave formations all through the year.

Chennai-based couple Arun Miranda and Francina, whose forefathers hailed from Manapad, have recently launched an initiative to promote tourism in the waters here.

Arun Miranda says "My wife and I decided that we have to embark on a mission to bring about social and economic change to this pristine coastal hamlet."

Arun Miranda and his wife have been training local boys from Manapad at a surfing club in Chennai with an endeavour to promote Manapad as a water sport destination.

Their strategy was two pronged. One, was to unlock the great natural beauty and tourism potential of Manapad, which they refer to as ‘Magnificent Manapad’. Secondly, they wanted to empower the uneducated and unemployed youth of Manapad to recognize their potential and provide them training in alternative skills which would in turn provide them better economic and social conditions. Towards this end, they have been training local boys from Manapad at a surfing club in Chennai with an endeavour to promote Manapad as a water sport destination.

Arun adds "We are very certain that we would not compromise on protecting the local environment, culture and traditions while we embark on our mission. Ever since our property has been functioing, all our guests are advised prior to their confirmationon all important aspects pertaining to these sensitive issues. Though we had suggestions from many quarters, we have ensured that we do not encourage any motorized water sport that would turn this place into a mass commercial tourist destination. Manapad has a rich cultural and historical significance and we want to always maintain it that way."

Since the launch of their tourism initiative in Manapad, Arun and Francina have hosted discerning tourists from across the globe at their boutique homestay in Manapad.

A stone’s throw from the homestay is the Manapad Palm Leaf Weavers Cooperative Society. Established in 1957 to promote the manufacture of products out of the leaves of the palmyra tree, the co-operative today has over 250 artisans from Manapad (all women), engaged in making a wide range of eco-friendly products like hats, bags, trays, baskets and bins.

The earliest documented visitor to Manapad perhaps was St. Francis Xavier who came here in 1542. He lived in a small cave near the seashore, which is still intact.

The feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, which is celebrated in Manapad every year in the month of September, attracts a large number of pilgrims from across the country. Incidentally, the 16th century Holy Cross Church houses a relic of the True Cross – the cross upon which Jesus was crucified, which gets displayed during the 10-day festival.

Surfing Resort Inaugurated

"Manapad Surf Resort" was inaugurated on (09.04.2013) by the District Collector Shri.Ashish Kumar IAS in Manapad, in Tuticorin District. The resort is an ideal location for surfing and other water sports like stand-up paddling, kite boarding etc. Surfing lessons are also being offered for beginners. While speaking at the event, the Collector Shri.Ashish Kumar IAS said that the popular water sports will give Manapad a pan India and global recognition.

Surfing is now a popular sport at any beach where there are plenty of waves, and surfers are now pushing the boundaries, being towed into huge waves. Manapad has an unique coastline that is formed by multiple layers of lava accumulated over hundreds of years. This gives Manapad the rare distinction of witnessing the best wave formation throughout the year. So, Manapad is one of the best natural surfing sites in India. The world's best surfing guide called "Magicseaweed.com" lists Manapad as one the best surfing sites globally. The unique point break at Manapad makes it an ideal location for Surfing and Stand Up Paddle(SUP).

This entire project of starting a Surf and Water sports Resort in Manapad is a Private Social Entrepreneurship initiative that aims at empowering the local community to be trained in activities that would provide them an alternative source of livelihood. The district administration under the collector Shri. Ashish Kumar has been providing all necessary support for the success of this project.

The promoters mentioned that "with the help of the local community, we aim to position Tamilnadu at the forefront of Adventure and Water sports activities in India".