Vacationers from across the globe can now explore and visit several tourist spots and UNESCO monuments in Tamil Nadu through a virtual tour.

Initiated by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) recently, a click on the mouse gets one all tourist spots live on screen with very real effects.

"The aim of launching a virtual tour is an attempt to enable not only the local people, but also those abroad have a real kind of experience about various tourist spots of Tamil Nadu", TTDC IT in-charge Justin Jose told PTI.

TTDC plans include a virtual walk through 32 destinations, with another 24 famous spots to be added soon, he said.

Jose said those who have not visited Thanjavur to see the famous Brahadeeswarar temple could pay a virtual visit to the site, enabling them see it in all its glory, including all the beautiful sculptures.

He said these tours can be viewed on the website www.tamilnadutourism.org.

"This website will also provide life to popular as well as lesser known spots in the state. Most often, visitors do not get proper information or guidance and are not able to visit the spots in its entirety", he added. .

"The virtual tour will enable travellers have an enchanting experience and also tell them what to expect during their visit", Jose said, adding, TTDC expects their new initiative to be a hit and also bring in more tourists to the state.

TTDC officials said the website had captured and displayed the natural beauty of spectacular tourist hotspots, including Udhagamandalam, Kodaikannal, Valparai, Kolli hills, Yercaud and Yelagiri, among others.

The user friendly website, developed in just a month, also offers a 'walk' through the Vandalur zoo, world famous Iravadeeshwarar temple at Darasuram, Rameswaram temple, Courtallam falls, Tiruvalluvar statue, Bhagavathi Amman temple and Vivekananda rock memorial in Kanyakumari.

Several new features like medical tourism fairs, package tours, tourism policy announcements, medical tourism,honeymoon tour, online reservation system are available through this virtual tours for the benefit of domestic and foreign tourists.

Officials also claimed that Tamil Nadu would be the first state to create virtual tours for more tourist spots.

"More than two lakh people have already visited virtual tour portal within a span of three months", they said.