Our regular feature celebrates memorable scenes, moments, launches and campaigns related to the global aviation and travel retail sphere.
INDIA. A replica of a key religious tourist attraction, the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, is being prominently displayed in Chennai International Airport’s domestic departures zone. The image was captured by our Regional Editor India S. Shriram this week.
The Shore Temple (built circa 725 A.D.), situated 60 kilometres south of Chennai, is a complex of temples and shrines overlooking the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
The Shore Temple has been brought to life in this Plaster of Paris-made display. It has been fashioned by local artisans who have produced the work to honour a key element of the city’s cultural heritage.
The display also features models of a farmer with his bull, representing India’s largely agrarian economy.
As such, the annual rains (or drought) have a significant impact on the country’s economic situation, a key influence on consumer spending.
The Shore Temple is where visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping was hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019.
Chennai International Airport featured prominently in the news recently, when the Prime Minister inaugurated the airport’s New Integrated Terminal Building on 8 April. The structure has been built at a cost of Rs.1,250 Crores (US$152 million). Read our story here. 
