FRESH LOOK: The fence around the lawns in Mysore Palace is being painted ahead of the Dasara festival scheduled to begin later this month. — PHOTO: M A. SRIRAM

MYSORE: With Dasara festivities round the corner, preparations are being made to provide information about the events and their schedule, and to introduce events such as demonstration of yoga.

Those listed include heritage tonga ride, promotion of home stay concept, issuance of tourism passports, creation of a tourism desk and introduction to heritage trees in the city.

Publicity material and the schedule of events during the nine-day celebrations will be available at bus stands, railway stations and travel information centres by September 10. The decision to make available publicity material well ahead of the start of festivities was taken during a tourism sub-committee meetings held recently. According to a release from the sub-committee, 15 travel information centres will be established to provide adequate publicity in thickly populated places in Bangalore, Mysore and other cities. Information on hotels, places of tourist interest, schedule of events, and train and bus timings will be provided through these travel information centres. A round-the-clock tourism desk will be established.

The home stay concept will be promoted to accommodate the thousands of people who will visit the city to watch cultural programmes.

"It has been learnt that hotels and lodges have received bookings from tourists already, and to ensure proper stay during the festivity, home stay is being promoted," it said. The Police department had been requested to check the credentials of those who had come forward to offer home stay facilities to tourists. A brochure containing the list of those offering home stay facility would be brought out for the benefit of tourists. The authorities are planning to continue with the heritage tonga ride facility for tourists. As many as 25 "Shah Pasand" tongas will be spruced up and riders provided with a `darbari' style attire.

Tourists can take the tonga ride to visit heritage buildings in the city. The tonga ride will start from Rangacharlu Town Hall.

Double-decker buses will be introduced for tourists to go around the city. The tickets will be valid for one day.

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