B Sriramalu

HASSAN: There are several tourism spots in Hassan district other than the well-known Shravanabelagola, Halebeed and Belur. The Tourism Department sent a Rs. 400-crore proposal for the development of these centres to the Union Government three months ago. The department hopes that the proposal will be sanctioned soon, as the Centre is expected to announce a new tourism policy in January.

Minister for Tourism B. Sriramulu, told The Hindu on the phone from Bangalore that he had requested the Centre to release more funds to develop Hampi in Bellary district, Hassan and Mysore as per international standards since a large number of foreign tourists visited these places.

Shravanabelagola, Belur, the Yagachi reservoir, Halebeed, Doddagadavalli and Channapatna tank would be developed as the part of the Rs. 400-crore package.

The Yagachi reservoir in Belur would be provided with boating facility. A hotel of international standards would be built there. Halmidi village, where the first `sashana' of the State was found, would also be developed, the Minister said.

Light and sound shows would be introduced at the Chennakeshava temple in Belur, the Kedareswara temple at Halebeed and the Jain basadi. Hotels for the common man would also be constructed, he said.

A folklore museum would come up near the Archaeology Museum in Hassan, Mr. Sriramulu said.

There was a plan to illuminate the Subramanyeswara temple at Ramanathapura in Arkalgud taluk, which is known as Dakshin Kashi, and the Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Holenarsipur, on the banks of the Hemavathi river.

The Minister said he had written to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad to connect Hampi, Hassan and Mysore by rail, as more than five lakh tourists visit these places each year.

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