Madikeri: The State Government, through the Department of Tourism and other government agencies, is investing over Rs. 7 crore to develop tourism in Kodagu district.

According to Deputy Commissioner Subodh Yadav, the Dubare tourist cottages, constructed by the Karnataka Jungle Lodges and Resorts, had been completed at a cost of Rs. 1.72 crore. The renovation of Mayura Valley View Hotel here, where 10 rooms have been renovated, is also ready for inauguration. District in-charge Minister Ramachandra Gowda is set to inaugurate the two facilities that are expected to meet the requirements of tourists who could afford to pay a higher tariff.

Projects

Eight toilet and drinking water projects were sanctioned to the district, involving Rs. 80 lakh (Rs.10 lakh for each project). Of these, three had been completed at Raja Seat, opposite the Department of Horticulture in the city and another at Kakkabe, Mr. Yadav said.

Three more similar projects were under construction at the Irpu Falls area, Dubare and Abbi Falls, near here. Two more would be built at Pushpagiri and at the site yet to be identified for setting up the Coorg Heritage Centre.

The proposed facility at Pushpagiri could be changed to another venue if one felt the usage would be less there, Mr. Yadav stated.

The Hattihole and Kotebetta site which was chosen earlier was changed to Dubare.

Heritage centre

Mr. Yadav said Class C &D land (partly degenerated forest land) could be chosen for setting up the proposed Coorg Heritage Centre, involving a cost of Rs. 88.75 lakh. If the persons involved could identify a suitable land, he could expedite the project, Mr. Yadav said. The Rs. 2.77-crore project for developing tourist facilities at the Coorg Golf Links facility at Bittangala, near Virajpet, had been dropped. The Centre was to have given a sum of Rs. 53 lakh but since the Government of Karnataka did not show interest in pursuing the project, it had come a cropper, Mr. Yadav stated.

Other projects

Among the other projects that had been sent for technical approval to the Superintendent Engineer of the Public Works Department in Mangalore are the Nagarahole trekking camp (Rs. 93.3 lakh), landscaping of Hattihole and Kotebetta (Rs. 32.67 lakh), landscaping and illumination and creation of children's park at Raja Seat (Rs. 30 lakh), landscaping of the Mahadeshwara temple in Virajpet (Rs. 18.17 lakh), illumination of Raja's tombs (Rs. 22.73 lakh), setting up of water theme park at Harangi reservoir area (Rs. 40 lakh) and restoration and illumination of the Fort and Palace in Madikeri (Rs. 18.18 lakh).

These proposals were sent directly to the Department of Tourism by the district administration, Mr. Yadav stated.

Mr. Yadav said Rs. 50 lakh was sanctioned to Kodagu by the Union Government for developing rural tourism, of which Rs. 40 lakh was given to the Coorg Adventure Club to encourage adventure sports in Kodagu such as trekking, rock climbing and water sports.

Village Forest Committees would be formed at Bittangala and Nalknad to oversee the two adventure tourism aspects. The restoration of Nalknad Palace at Yavakapadi village, near Kakkabe, had been done at a cost of Rs. 22.93 lakh, he said.

In Dubare, where the new cottages are set to be opened soon, another Rs. 50 lakh would be spent to construct 10 twin-bed log-huts, Rs. 15 lakh each for setting up elephant interpretation centre and developing trekking and elephant camp and Rs. 33 lakh for purchase of equipment, Mr. Yadav said.

Conducted tours

Mr. Yadav has proposed that conducted tours to various tourist destinations in the district could be organised by the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation.

A one-day trip could cover Raja Seat, Abbi Falls, Omkareshwara temple, Fort, Bhagamandala, Talacauvery, Padi Iggutappa temple and Nalknad Palace.

A two-day and one night trip could take one around Omkareshwara temple, Fort, Bhagamandala, Talacauvery, Padi Iggutappa temple, Nalknad Palace, Nagarahole (halt), Irpu Falls, Dubare forests, Harangi dam, Nisargadhama and back to Madikeri.

A three-day and two-night trip could cover Kushalnagar, Dubare, Harangi dam, Nisargadhama, Pushpagiri, and Somwarpet (halt), Honnammanakere, Madikeri, Raja Seat, Abbi Falls, Omkareshwara temple, Fort, Bhagamandala, Talacauvery, Tadiyandamol, Padi Iggutappa temple, Nalknad Palace, Nagarahole (halt), Irpu temple and Falls and back to Kushalnagar.

A three-day and two-night trip could also cover, Madikeri, Raja Seat, Abbi Falls, Omkareshwara temple, Fort, Bhagamandala, Talacauvery, Tadiyandamol, Padi Iggutappa temple, Nalknad Palace (halt), Irpu Falls and Temple, Dubare forests, Nisargadhama, Harangi Dam, Honnamanakere, Somwarpet (halt), Pushpagiri and back in Madikeri.

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