HASSAN: The Department of Tourism has identified 28 major destinations in Hassan district to improve infrastructure facilities.

It has also been planned to construct a hotel of international standards at a cost of Rs. 3.6 crore on the outskirts of Belur, which is famous for its Hoysala architecture.

Aadilakshmi, Assistant Director, Tourism, told The Hindu that the department had already acquired 10 acres of land belonging to the

Department of Water Resources on the banks of Yagachi Reservoir by payng Rs. 12 lakh.

The hotel, with a view of the Yagachi backwaters, would have 40 rooms, swimming pool and other facilities of international standards.

A big hall would be designed to exhibit models representing the cultural heritage of the district. Specially assigned architects were assisting the department in drafting the blue print of the hotel, he said.

The Yagachi and Hamavathi reservoirs would be developed on the lines of Brindavan Gardens in Krishna Raja Sagara Reservoir and an island hotel was proposed in Channapatnakere. It was being developed by Lake Development Authority on the outskirts of Hassan city, she said.

A light and sound show would be the major attraction for those visiting the Sri Channakeshava Temple in Belur. Plans were afoot to take up landscaping in the temple surroundings. A low-budget hotel would come up in Halebeed and Dwarasamudra and Vishnusamudra lakes would be developed for boating, Ms. Aadilakshmi said. It had been planned to develop lakes in Belasinda resort and Janivara village in Channarayapatna taluk, she added.

A cultural complex would come up in Halmidi village, where the first Kannada inscription was found, and a guesthouse would be built in Ramanathapura. It had been planned to provide facilities including hi-tech toilets, lay approach roads and maintain the gardens in Harnahalli, Koravangala, Nuggehalli, Doddgaddavalli and Mosale, which were famous for Hoysala architecture. Cofffee kiosks would be set up in these places, she said.

There was plan to develop the Gendekatte Resort, Bisle Ghat, Nagapuri Hill and Attihalli, which were known for their natural beauty, she added.

The Hassan District Tourism Development Committee (HDTDC) headed by the Deputy Commissioner decided to spend Rs. 20 lakh for meeting the

immediate needs of tourist destinations recently.

It had been decided to intsall stone chairs, provide wheel chairs to physically challenged tourists, establish district and taluk-level tourism clubs in schools and colleges, improve the offices of the Tourism department and conduct refresher courses for guides in tourist places. The facilities at Shravanabelagola got a boost this year with the construction of a "yatri nivas" and interpretation centre to help out tourists who visited the Jain centre during "mahamastakabhisheka," she said.

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