DEVOTEES' DELIGHT: Gommatagiri near Hunsur is a sure stop for Jain pilgrims

MYSORE: The influx of pilgrims to witness the first Mahamastakabhisheka of the new millennium to the statue of Bahubali at Shravanabelagola, signals the emergence of spiritual tourism in Mysore.

For, more than 50 per cent of the nearly three million pilgrims congregating at Shravanabelagola, are expected to visit the City of Palaces that will give a boost to the local tourism industry. Mr. Suresh Kumar Jain, who is a member of the Mahamastakabhisheka Mahotsava Committee and in charge of accommodation, told The Hindu that all hotels in and around Mysore are fully booked from February 8 to 19 when the anointment ceremony will take place.

Apart from Jains, foreign and domestic tourists turn up in large numbers to witness the grand spectacle - of milk and water cascading down the 58-foot tall monolithic statue.

NRI conference

"Jains from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and other parts of India will start arriving within the next few days to witness the event. A get-together and an NRI conference has been organised on February 13 in which prominent Jains from India will also participate," said Mr. Suresh Kumar Jain.

Though temporary accommodation has been provided around Shravanabelagola, a sizeable number of Jains are expected to camp in Mysore as in previous occasions, said Mr. Jain.

At least 15 lakh Jain pilgrims are expected to visit Mysore to get a glimpse of the Bahubali at Gommatagiri near Hunsur, said Mr. Suresh Kumar Jain. Officials in the Tourism Department here said the season is likely to be prolonged this year due to the surge in number of visitors to Shravanabelagola.

`Steady increase'

"There is a steady increase in the number of international tourists seeking information from our office," say officials.

Package tours will be in demand and hence the authorities have arranged special services to cover places of tourist interest and religious significance. The package tours will cover Gommatagiri, Mysore, Srirangapatna, Ranganathittu and KRS and Mysore Palace, while special services will be introduced to cover places of religious significance for Jains in Mysore, Hassan, Shimoga, Chikamagalur and Dakshina Kannada districts. Special package tours from Mysore will cover Kanakagiri, Gopalaswamy Betta and Bandipur, Nagarahole, Abbe Falls, Irpu Falls, Madikeri and Bailakuppe, Shimsha, Talakad, Somanathapura and Nanjanagud.

Meanwhile, sources in the Mysore Division of South Western Railways confirmed that the Commissioner for Rail Safety inspected the track and the official nod to run passenger trains between Hassan and Shravanabelagola is expected any time now.

Trial run

A trial run was conducted recently on the section. Though it is being claimed that 22 special trains have been booked to Mysore and Shravanabelagola by private parties from across India, there is no official confirmation, sources added.

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