EASY ACCESS: Reaching this Shaivite temple at Pattadakal in Bijapur district will be made easy with the introduction of the helicopter service.

BANGALORE: That magnificent structure called Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur will soon be accessible in a matter of a few hours. You can absorb the breathtaking beauty of the cave temples in Badami and then be back to work the next day. If you have not visited those historical ruins in Pattadakal, saying they were too far, that excuse will not be valid anymore soon.

Helipads in 20 of the State's most beautiful spots will be ready in the next six months, according to Managing Director of Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) Prashanth Kumar Thakur. You will then be able to fly in and out of Hampi, Belur, Chikamagalur, Udupi, Jog Falls, Gadag, Raichur and Hassan, among other places.

Mr. Thakur said at an interactive meeting on the State's helicopter tourism potential, organised by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) on Saturday, that such helipads would give a major boost to tourism in the State. Officials from Pawan Hans Helicopters, a Government of India enterprise, visited the State recently to study its helicopter tourism potential. Its deputy general manager Pawan Hans Sanjay Kumar said it had identified ten spots for helipads.

The State Government allocated Rs. 50 crore in the budget for the construction of six mini airports in Hassan, Shimoga, Belgaum, Bijapur, Gulbarga and Bellary.

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