Chamarajanagara to be another tourist hub

Mysore, Aug 19 (UNI) Karnataka Culture Minister H S Mahdeva Prasad today said the government has prepared a blue print for developing the most backward district 'Chamarajanagara' into another tourist hub in the state.

Talking to UNI here, the Minister said the government had prepared a plan to invest Rs 60 crore in the district to change it into a tourist destination.

According to the plan, the government would provide Rs 20 crore and remaining Rs 40 crore would be raised from the private enterprenuers, he said.

With the great success of the two day 'Bharachukki festival of falls' near Shivanasamdram in the district attracted more than 50,000 tourists, the district administration has decided to prepare a master plan for boosting tourism in the district.

The Minister said the government had sanctioned Rs 2.5 crore for the first phase works, in and around the Barachukki Falls to improve the basic infrastructure.

The existence of several places of historical interest, the Bandipur National Park, the Biligirirangana Temple and Cauvery wildlife sanctuaries, Male Mahadeshwara Hills, Himavad Gopalaswamy Hills and B R Hills, Hogenakal Falls and Bharachukki Falls, within a radius of 100 kms from the district centre, offers immense potential to tourism industry and it needs tourism related facilities.

The District Tourism Department Deputy Director Ramaeswarappa said the Himvad Gopalswamy Hills near Gundlupet town, which were covered in mist throughout the year and nestled in the midst of the Bandipur Tiger Project, could emerge as a popular haunt for wildlife enthusiasts. The place was abode of wild elephants, which sometimes entered the temple premises as well.

Similarly, Karivardarajaswamy Temple atop a small hill, also known as Hulugina Maradi Venkateshwaraswamy Betta, Madhyaranga temple in Shivanasamudram, could also be made a tourist destination, he added.

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