Karnataka Tourism & Hospitality : Photos & Updates

[engineer.akash]

Rs 60 lakh for development of Male Malleshwara Betta

Somwarpet:Tourism department has approved Rs 60 lakh development work in Male Malleshwara Betta near Somwarpet.

One can reach Male Malleshwara Betta en route to Shanivarasanthe from Somwarpet. If one goes by four to five kilometres inside the coffee estate, the road ends at a particular point. From there, one has to walk for one to two kilometres to reach the temple. The temple is situated 4,300 metres above the sea-level on the top of the hill. There is a belief that there will be rain if one offers pooja at the temple. As a result, it is known as Male Malleshwara temple.

There will be special pooja and fair on the day of Shivarathri at the temple.
The scenic beauty from the top of the hill has been attracting the tourists. Though it is a tourist spot, there is no basic facilities to climb the hillock. As a result, the devotees offer pooja only during Shivarathri. Now the government has come forward to undertake development works to reach the temple and enjoy the beauty of the nature.
PWD has undertaken the work on the construction of road, laying steps to climb, reelings, and constructing watch tower. One can also visit Male Malleshwara via Malambia in Aloor Siddapura.

The government is planning to provide road connectivity to climb the hillock to reach the temple from this part of the region.
There are coffee estates on the foothills of the hillock. The lans has to be acquired to lay steps.

DH News Service

[engineer.akash]

Gopalaswamy Betta

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[Krishnamoorthy K]

Karnataka Monday unveiled an ambitions master plan to attract Rs.200 billion (Rs.20,000 crore) investments in the tourism sector over the next five years to make the picturesque state a frontline destination for domestic and overseas tourists.

'We have drawn up a master plan based on the 2020 vision document for a comprehensive development of tourism across the state. The 10-year plan will be implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, with more investments from private capital,' Tourism and Infrastructure Development Minister G. Janardhana Reddy said at an event here.

The master plan attempts to identify the economic contribution of the traveller economy directly and indirectly through the value chain. It also highlights the socio-economic policy objectives such as regeneration, social and economic inclusion, enhancing skills and employment.

'One of the objectives is to generate about 200,000 jobs direct and indirect over the next five years through various initiatives in the tourism industry. Unlike in the IT sector, where jobs are largely concentrated in the urban areas, jobs in the tourism sector are inclusive, dispersed throughout the state and are entrepreneurial,' Reddy said.

The state government has allocated Rs.250 crore in the budget for ensuing fiscal (2010-11) towards development of tourism infrastructure in the state in collaboration with the private sector.

'The investments will be in integrated theme parks and theme cities that will be self contained, supporting planned communities with minimum carbon footprint for showcasing the state as Green Karnataka. We will also preserve and showcase the rich culture and heritage of the state,' Reddy said after launching 'Southern Splendour', a week-long luxury tourist train service that links Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala.

According to Haselfre Solutions Ltd chairman and managing director N. Janardhan, who drafted the master plan in association with the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corp (KSTDC), safe and hassle free travel for tourists is a critical influencer on the attractiveness of a destination.

'Different disaster scenarios have been identified in the master plan and a crisis management plan has been crafted to begin with for the Golden Chariot, the luxury train journey that takes travellers through Karnataka and Goa,' Janardhan noted.

The master plan also focuses on real time governance and coordinated action by institutions to meet the specific needs of the tourism sector to make Karnataka the 'numero uno' state in the country in tourism arrivals, capital inflows for infrastructure development and creation of tourist eco system.

'Tourism has the potential to be a key economic driver of the state. The five-fold path in the master plan will create thousands of jobs while attracting investments in the sector,' Reddy added.

The state tourism department plans to set up a special purpose vehicle for speedy processes of investment proposals.

sify

[Krishnamoorthy K]

detailed version:

* Plan aims to generate two lakh jobs
* Attracting visitors:It has been planned to set up adventure and eco-tourism parks in the Western Ghats.

BANGALORE: A Karnataka Tourism Master Plan 2010-2020, which envisages a private investment of over Rs. 20,000 crore in three to five years generating two lakh jobs, was unveiled here on Monday. The investment attracted will mainly be utilised in integrated theme parks and themed cities.

The plan outlines setting up a Heritage Centre at Hampi, Health and Wellness City bordering Andhra Pradesh, Maritime City near Bangalore, a Disney Theme Park near Kolar Gold Fields and MICE Conference Centre near Bengaluru International Airport in 2010 with a total investment of Rs. 14,800 crore.

The Disney Theme Park on 60,000 acres will receive an investment of Rs. 10,000 crore. In all, all these projects are expected to generate employment opportunities for 1.10 lakh to 1.16 lakh people.

In 2011, it has been planned to set up heritage centres in Pattadkal, Bijapur and Bidar, Beach Resort City on the Mangalore coast, adventure and eco-tourism parks in the Western Ghats in Shimoga, Kodagu, Chikmagalur, Hassan and Belgaum districts, Film and Media City in Mysore and the MICE Conference Centre, the location of which is yet to be decided.

The adventure and eco-tourism parks would be developed in 20 locations on an area of about 25,000 acres spread in small clusters. An investment of about Rs. 4,250 crore is expected for these cities, which would generate employment opportunities for 28,000 to 36,000 people.

The South Beach Resort City in Mangalore, Education City in Dharwad, Sports City in Gulbarga, Knowledge Park in Bellary and Energy Technology Park in Chitradurga are sought to be developed in 2012 at an approximate investment of Rs. 4,500 crore to Rs. 5,000 crore and generate employment for about 40,000 to 44,000.

The Hindu

[engineer.akash]

NISSAR JOGADA LYRICS

jOgada siri beLakinalli tungeya tene baLukinalli
sahyAdriya lOhadalira uttungada nilukinalli
nitya haridvarNa vanada tEga gandha tarugaLali
nityOtsava tAye nityOtsava ninage nityOtsava

itihAsada himadallina simhAsana mAleyalli
gata sAhasa sArutiruva shAsanagaLa sAlinalli
Olegariya sirigaLalli dEgulagaLa bhittigaLali
nityOtsava tAye nityOtsava ninage nityOtsava

olavemmaya sirimeyE kulavemmaya garimeyE
sadvikAla shIla nuDiya lOkAmruta sImeye
E varshada E harshada hala uDara mahimeye
nityOtsava tAye nityOtsava ninage nityOtsava
tAye nitOtsava



Jog Falls

Jog Falls ( ಜೋಗ ಜಲಪಾತ), created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of 829 ft is the highest plunge waterfall in India. Located in Shimoga District of Karnataka state, these segmented falls are a major tourist attraction. There are many waterfalls in Asia - and also in India - which drop from a higher altitude. But, unlike those falls, Jog Falls is untiered, it drops directly and does not stream on to rocks. Thus, it can be described as the highest untiered waterfalls in India

Description

River Sharavathi splits up into four different tracks which are named in accordance with their perceived trajectories[3]. Going from left to right respectively in the picture, the names and the reasons for naming are:

* Raja (King): Named so because of its apparently 'dignified' and 'serene' fall.
* Roarer: This stream appears out of a mass of rocks, making a tremendous amount of noise.
* Rocket: Consists of a large volume of water streaming out of a small opening at a very high speed.
* Rani (Queen), also called Lady: The stream has a winding, twisting trajectory, said to resemble the movements of a female dancer.


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[Krishnamoorthy K]

Beautiful Shivamogga with full of waterfalls!

[engineer.akash]

Originally Posted by Krishnamoorthy K

Beautiful Shivamogga with full of waterfalls!

I just love that song

Jogada siri.......................Nityotsava

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Tenders for the much awaited Helitourism Project of the State Tourism Department will be scrutinised on March 25 and contracts will be awarded on April 1, said Tourism Minister G Janardhan Reddy.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the new snake park, veterinary hospital, fish park and laying the foundation for the proposed cobra breeding centre at Pilikula Nisargadhama near here on Saturday, the minister said Mangalore, Mysore and Hampi will be the helitourism bases. On completion of the project work tourists can enjoy the travel in helicopter and visit tourist spots. In the first phase three helicopters will be introduced, he said.

Bannerghatta night safari

The minister said the Central Zoo Authority has given its clearance for the ambitious Bannerghatta night safari proposal. The State cabinet has given its nod for the project. The night safari will be organised in 180 acres of land in Bannerghatta. The project will be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 180 crore. The government has already released Rs 50 crore for the project, he said.

Talking about the Pilikula Nisargadhama, Janardhan Reddy said the government had already released more than Rs 3 crore for the development of biological park, sports activities and for heritage village.

He informed the media that construction work of the hanging bridge between Sultan Battery and Tannirbavi will be taken up soon. The government has released Rs 40 lakh of Rs 5 crore sanctioned for the project.

He said that out of 257 crore budget allotment, Rs 50 crore will be reserved for development of tourism in the Coastal Karnataka region. A huge Madhwacharya statue at a cost of Rs 6 crore will be installed at Malpe beach and a Srikrishna statue will be erected in Udupi beach. Resorts will be developed at St Mary’s island through KSIIDC, he explained.

Acquamarine

Minister Janardhan Reddy said the department is chalking out plans to introduce an aquamarine tourism project worth Rs 250 crore on a public-private partnership model. Tourists can experience underwater viewing similar to the Singapore model, he added.

He also said that a unit of the Indian Institute of Hotel Management, at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore, will be set up in Mangalore . The district administration should identify five acres of land for the project. Tenders will be invited within two months time, he said.

Kambala

Tourism Minister later witnessed the Nethravathi-Phalguni Jodukere Kambala, which was jointly organised by the Pilikula Nisargadhama Society and Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts Kambala Committee.

District In-charge Minister J Krishna Palemar, Coastal Karnataka Development Authority Chairman B Nagaraj Shetty, MLA N Yogish Bhat, Pilikula Nisargadhama Society Executive Director J R Lobo, Pilikula Biological Park Director H Jayaprakash Bhandary and District Kambla Committee President Dr Jeevandhar Ballal were present.

DHNS

[engineer.akash]

Karnataka to introduce night safari at Bannerghatta park

Fifth location in the world to get this facility: Minister.

— K. Murali Kumar


The Lion Safari at the Bannerghatta Biological Park, in south of Bangalore (file photo).

Our Bureau

Mangalore, March 13

The Karnataka Tourism Department is planning to introduce night safari facility on 180 acres in Bannerghatta Park in Bangalore, according to Mr Janardhana Reddy, Karnataka Tourism Minister.

In an informal chat with presspersons on the sidelines of his visit to Pilikula Nisargadhama near Mangalore on Saturday, Mr Reddy said Bannerghatta night safari will be started at an investment of Rs 180 crore.

“Only two days ago, the Central Zoo Authority of India has given clearance for this. Cabinet approval has been given for this and Rs 50 crore has been released. Work on this will be started in the next 10-15 days,” he said.


Mr Janardhana Reddy, Karnataka Tourism Minister

At present, night safari facility is available at four places in the world.

Bannerghatta will be the fifth one to get that facility, he said.

The planning for the night safari has been done by the agency that had done the night safari project in Singapore. The Karnataka Government will take up the project work.

The project cannot be taken up under the public-private partnership mode as it comes under the forest area.

Asked about the Government's plan to start heli-tourism project, Mr Reddy said the tenders for heli-tourism project will be opened on March 25. By April first week, the project will be awarded.

There will be three base stations in Karnataka — Mangalore, Hampi and Mysore. Three helicopters will be stationed at each of these base stations.

The coastal tourism circuit — involving Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts — will be catered by the Mangalore base.

The heritage tourism circuit – involving places such as Hampi, Badami, Pattadakkallu, Aihole and Bijpaur – will be covered by the Hampi base station.

Mysore will be the base station for Malnad region. This will cover the areas such as Mysore, Shimoga, Madikeri and Jog Falls. Tourists will be given all the security and facilities under this heli-tourism project, he said.

The Karnataka Budget has earmarked Rs 257 crore for the tourism department. Of this, nearly Rs 50 crore will be spent for improving tourism facility in coastal Karnataka, he added.

The Hindu

[engineer.akash]

Location Kodagu District, Karnataka, India
Total height 170 ft
Number of drops 2
Watercourse Lakshmana Tirtha River

The Irupu Falls (also Iruppu Falls) ಇರ್ಪು ಜಲಪಾತ are located in the Brahmagiri Range[1] in the Kodagu district of Karnataka, India, bordering the Wayanad district of Kerala. It is a fresh water cascade and is situated at a distance of 48 km from Virajpet on the highway to Nagarhole. The Falls are also known as the Lakshmana Tirtha Falls, derived from the name of the tributary of Cauvery which starts from these falls, the Lakshmana Tirtha River.

A forest trail leads from these falls to the Brahmagiri Peak in Southern Kodagu. Irupu falls is a major tourist attraction as well as a pilgrimage spot. A famous Siva temple, the Rameshwara Temple is situated on the banks of the Lakshmana Tirtha River,en route to the Falls. This temple attracts a large number of pilgrims during the festival of Shivaratri.

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[engineer.akash]

The Gokak Falls is a waterfall located on the Ghataprabha River in Belgaum district of Karnataka, India. The waterfall is six kilometers away from Gokak, a nearby town.


After a long winding course, the Ghataprabha river takes a leap of 52 metres (171 ft) over the sand-stone cliff amidst a picturesque gorge of the rugged valley, resembling Niagara Falls on a smaller scale. The waterfall is horse shoe shaped at the crest, with a flood breadth of 177 metres (581 ft). During rainy season, the thick reddish brown water sweeps far over the brink of the cliff with a dull roar that can be heard from some distance. There is a hanging bridge across the river, measuring about 201 metres (659 ft). Its height above the rock bed is 14 metres (46 ft).

One of the interesting features of this place are the monuments from the Chalukya era that are present on either banks of the rocky gorge.

There is an old electricity generation station which used to generate electricity during 1880s. A ropeway connects the power station to the cliff top.
July to September is the best season to visit the place.



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CC Akash F Patil



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[engineer.akash]

Karnataka - One State Many Worlds

[engineer.akash]

Karnataka - One State Many Worlds

[engineer.akash]

Heli-tourism to take off soon

Staff Correspondent

Helipads to come up in Mangalore, Mysore and Hampi

Tender process for the scheme to be completed by April

Rs. 11 crore released for tourism projects in the district: Janardhan Reddy

MANGALORE: Close to two years after Tourism Minister G. Janardhan Reddy announced plans to introduce helicopter tourism in the State, the project finally seems set to take off.

Addressing presspersons during a visit to the Dr. Shivarama Karanth Biological Park at Pilikula Nisargadhama here on Saturday, Mr. Reddy said that the State Government would call for tenders on March 25 and complete the process by the first week of April.

Three helipads covering coastal, central and southern Karnataka will be situated in Mangalore, Mysore and Hampi. Each centre will have three eight-seater helicopters.

Mr. Reddy said that the process of setting up an aquamarine park and a golf course at Tannirbhavi had begun. The aquamarine park would be a kind of underwater zoo. The park and the golf course would be built on public-private partnership model at a cost of Rs. 350 crore, Mr. Reddy said. The Rs. 5-crore ropeway connecting Tannirbhavi to Sulthan Bathery had been approved, even as Rs. 40 lakh had been released for this project. In all, the Government had released Rs. 11 crore for tourism projects in the district, he said.

The Government wanted to install a statue of Madhvacharya at Udupi at a cost of Rs. 6 crore. A sum of Rs. 50 crore had been earmarked for tourism projects in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts.

The Hindu


Janardhan Reddy inaugurates snake park

[engineer.akash]

Rs 50 crore to develop beach tourism: Reddy

TNN, Mar 14, 2010, 09.32pm IST

MANGALORE: The state budget has given special emphasis towards promoting tourism in Karnataka in general and its coastal districts in particular, said tourism minister Janardhana Reddy said here on Saturday.

While the total out lay for promotion of tourism is Rs 257 crore, Reddy said the three coastal districts would get Rs 50 crore with special focus on developing beach tourism including development of Malpe beach in Udupi.

Interacting with reporters, Reddy said special development plans are being floated for St Mary's Island and Malpe beach. A sum of Rs 6 crore will be spent on setting up statue of philosopher saint Madhwacharya on Malpe beach as well as a 125-feet high statue of Lord Krishna there. This project entails creating a pictorial description of the saint proceeding towards Udupi with his disciples holding the idol of Lord Krishna in his hand.

Around 30 cents of land belonging to Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation will be utilised for providing better infrastructure to tourists who visit St Mary's Island, he said. Likewise, the tourism department and the Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation will promote the golf course and aqua marine park at Tannirbhavi beach in Mangalore at a cost of Rs 350-crore on a PPP basis, he noted.

Asked if the budgetary allocation was adequate to promote tourism in Karnataka, Reddy said budgetary support might become redundant given that the department is moving aggressively to promote the state on a PPP model. "We will invite investors and entrepreneurs to invest in tourism related project, offering them necessary incentives to take forward the aim of project Karnataka as a potential tourism hub in India," he said.

TOI

[engineer.akash]

'Southern Splendour' chugs off from Bangalore

Bangalore March 15: 'Southern Splendour,' the special trip of the luxury train Golden Chariot, chugged off from platform six of Yeshwantpur railway station on Monday night.

The flower-decked purple train with letterings in golden hue was flagged off by the Chairman of Karnataka State Tourism and Development Corporation (KSTDC), Siraj Sheikh at 8.45 pm. The 88-seater train departed with 60 on board, including 35 passengers.

The tourists on board were quite excited waiting to enjoy the luxuries on-board the train and the breathtaking spots they would relish. Senior citizen Terece Itin and her husband from Switzerland were among them. On their maiden trip to India, they were keen on getting to know more about the country. "The train looks very nice.









As of now, everything feels pleasant. We do not know what is in store and are eagerly looking forward to the tour of temples in Tamil Nadu specified in the itinerary," said Terence.

A Bangalore-based couple Shishir Lall and Bernadine, are making this trip because of the "wonderful experience" they had during the week-long Golden Chariot trip around Karnataka. "The train by itself has so much to offer, the ambience, unlimited food and the cross-cultural encounters with people from various nations," Lall said. The cost of Rs 1,05,000 per ticket will be worth every rupee, they felt. A similar view was echoed by Renton, an advertising executive from Mumbai.

"The fact that an international journal like `Vanity Fair' has given it a ranking among the top trains in the world made me decide to take the plunge. The decor is quite impressive," he felt.

While the Southern Splendour' aims at showcasing the opulent side of India, passengers who walked on a red carpet to step into the train were nagged by a couple of beggars. A few cops were noticed desperately urging them to get out of sight.

Trip details

The seven-night, eight-day all-inclusive trip will take passengers through Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala before returning to Bangalore. The St Thomas Basilica, Mahabalipuram, Auroville tour, French town, temples in Thanjavur and Madurai, Jewish Synagogue, Dutch Palace are the places that figure on the itinerary. The trip will conclude with back-water houseboat trips and sunset cruises in Kerala.

The next run will be only on October 4. Bookings can be made on www.goldenchariot.org. Tourism Minister G Janardhan Reddy could not make it to the inaugural. Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, K Jothiramalingam, KSRTC Managing Director, Vinay Luthra, Bangalore Divisional Railway Manager, Akhil Agrawal, Chief Commercial Manager, South Western Railway, N R Sagar were present.

Mangalorean

[Krishnamoorthy K]

CHENNAI: It’s ranked as one the top seven super-luxury trains of the world by Vanity Fair. It boasts a spa, a gym; a bar and television in every room.

Five star cuisine. And it’s here on its maiden visit to the city.

The Golden Chariot, south India’s sole luxury train and an initiative of the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), graced Chennai with its presence on Tuesday, as part of its seven-day ‘southern splendour’ route running through Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala, before returning to Bangalore.

Vinay Luthra, MD, KSTDC, told journalists that the Golden Chariot was the least expensive train of its kind in the country. “The fare has been fixed at $450 per day, which is low when compared to other luxury voyages charging $500. The train is also equipped with several modern facilities,” he said.

At present, the Chariot traverses the Karnataka-Goa sector, covering important tourism spots. “The train has an occupancy rate of about 35-40 per cent. This is likely to increase to 50 per cent by 2011,” Luthra said.

“KSTDC is also planning to begin luxury services in another sector connecting Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu via Bangalore, Hasan, Mangalore, Kanniyakumari and Madurai in a few years,” he said. Tourists aboard the train at present are headed to Puducherry on Wednesday, and will proceed from there to Thanjavur, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram and Allepey.

Beatu, a tourist from Switzerland was delighted with the Chariot and called it the best luxury train in the sub-continent.

EB

[engineer.akash]

Magod Falls is a group of waterfalls in Karnataka, India, where the river Bedti falls from a height of nearly 200m in two steps.





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[engineer.akash]

Sathodi Falls is a waterfall in India that is formed by several unnamed streams near Kallaramarane Ghat, Uttara Kannada District, near Sirsi, and 32 km from Yellapur. It is about 15 meters (49.2 feet) tall. The stream then flows into the backwaters of the Kodasalli Dam, into the Kali River. The forest department was building a pergola for tourists to rest as of December 2006.



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A small dam below Sathodi falls

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Megha barso re song from Guru was shot at this falls.

[engineer.akash]

Lushington Falls, also called Unchalli Falls, is a waterfall created by a 116 metres (381 ft) drop in the Aghanashini river. The falls are located 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Sirsi, a town in the Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka, India. The falls are named for J. D. Lushington, a District Collector for the British Government, who discovered the falls in 1845.

The falls are reached by a 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) trek from Heggarne village through thick forest. Here the river makes a cavalcade of water falls and eventually leaps into a steep valley to form a spectacular, picturesque waterfall. The falls are sometimes called Keppa Joga because of the deafening sound they make.





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