HYDERABAD: An agro and eco-tourism complex was recently inaugurated on the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) campus by its Director-General William Dar.

The new complex was located at the site where erstwhile Manmool village was situated, according to a press release.

It consists of a castle, temple, mosque, chapel, golf course, driving range and running track.

To mark the inauguration, ICRISAT staff jogged along the track.

The right blend

Inaugurating the complex, Dr. Dar said the facility demonstrated what agriculture and environmental conservation could do when blended together.

With protection and conservation measures on the 3,500-acre campus, the place offers a placid ambience amidst a scenic dry land agrarian environment to visitors.

ICRISAT has a few modern facilities, including a golf driving range.

Dr. Dar said the eco-tourism complex provided opportunity for staff to rejuvenate their physical and spiritual health which, in turn, would help them to be productive to strengthen the livelihoods of poor and marginal farmers.

The location of the complex at Manmool was historic as it was where ICRISAT's research work had begun, he noted. Legend has it that Manmool was earlier called `Mandagola.'

Folklore has it that `Manmool' has been adapted from the name `mandu-moola' (`mandu' means medicine and `mool' means roots).

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