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Dine at sea when in Karaikal

K. Subramanian

Puducherry Tourism sets up floating restaurant

Novel idea: The floating restaurant on the Arasalar river in Karaikal introduced by the Puducherry Tourism Development Corporation.

Karaikal: The floating restaurant introduced by the Puducherry Tourism Development Corporation on the Arasalar river in Karaikal in Puducherry is now attracting tourists and pilgrims visiting the district.

The restaurant set up on a big fibreglass boat at a cost of Rs.10.5 lakh was formally inaugurated by Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy in the second week of June. It has started attracting tourists and devotees visiting the famous Lord Saneeswara Bhagawan Temple in Tirunallar.

A large number of people who came to attend the four-day Mangani festival of the Karaikal Ammaiyar Temple in Karaikal enjoyed being in the floating restaurant.

K. Dakshinamurthy, Assistant Director of Tourism, Karaikal, told The Hindu on Tuesday that the Tourism Department hoped to attract more tourists during the four-day Mangani Tourism festival organised by the Government on Wednesday. The restaurant is also expected to attract devotees coming to worship Lord Saneeswara Bhagwan on Saturdays at Tirunallar, and also those visiting the place during the ‘Sani Peyarchi’ function set to take place on August 5.

Mr. Dakshinamurthy said that the restaurant had a seating capacity of 30 persons and that a nominal entry fee of Rs.30 a head was being charged for boarding the restaurant and for a journey of 45 minutes from one end (from the bridge) of the Arasalar river to the estuary in the sea. He said that the restaurant starts its journey once 50 per cent of its capacity is filled up.

A group of tourists with a maximum of 30 members can book their places at a time in the floating restaurant in advance to avoid the weekend rush. Tourists aboard the restaurant can order tea, coffee, snacks etc. to be eaten while on the ride.

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