Bangalore: An innovative new tourism package is on the anvil in Karnataka.

Heritage Passport will develop tourist circuits that will link various historical monuments and archaeological sites categorised on the basis of dynasties that built them and the architectural styles.

Kannada and Culture and Tourism Secretary I.M. Vittal Murthy told presspersons that the proposed project would be implemented in co-ordination with the UNESCO in a bid to meet global standards on heritage issues.

To begin with, the State will launch the Heritage Passport for Hoysala monuments. Monuments, including the famous Belur and Halebeed temples as well as little known monuments such as the Keshava and Ishwara Temple at Angadi, the birth place of the Hoysala dynasty, will be developed into one tourist circuit. While a route map will help tourists to travel from one monument to the other, eventually link and approach roads will connect these monuments.

Similarly, the Tourism Department will develop other circuits of monuments built by other dynasties such as the Gangas, Chalukyas, Vijayanagar kings and Kadambas, Mr. Murthy said.

The idea behind the scheme is to assist tourists who wish to visit all the major monuments. He said the "Hampi-development model" would be introduced in Belur and Halebeed. Under this model, private buildings around these two temples would also resemble Hoysala architecture.

Mr. Murthy said that the coaches of the state's luxury tourist train Palace on Wheels are being manufactured.

The State had entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Centre for the operation of the luxury train. To ensure better service, the State wanted to operate the train in collaboration with a partner.

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