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Konark to get major facelift

BHUBANESWAR: With huge investment on infrastructure development in and around Konark, the world famous heritage site is poised for a facelift.

Addressing the media here on Friday ahead of the 18th annual Konark festival being hosted on the open-air auditorium on the backdrop of the Sun temple, Tourism Secretary Asit Tripathy informed that the Indian Oil Corporation has given Rs.32 crore towards landscape and periphery development of the site. The Centre has further funded to set up an urban ‘Haat’ at Konark that would help in providing livelihood to the artisans and craftsmen of the region; he said and added that crafts exhibitions would be a regular feature in the haat to attract the tourists.

Indian Cultural Trust Fund would soon set up a light and sound show at the Sun temple, Mr. Tripathy maintained. The secretary said that the Union Tourism Ministry has sanctioned Rs.5 crore for the development of Chandrabhaga Beach at a distance of three kilometers from Konark.

To make Ramachandi, the popular tourists’ destination near Konark more attractive, the Department of Tourism is setting up an eco-tourism camp there, which would be spread over five acres of land, it was learnt.

The five-day festival will showcase Indian classical dances featuring Bharatnayam, Mohini Attam, Kathak, Kathakali, Manipuri and Odissi, Mr. Tripathy informed.Orissa Tourism development Corporation has announced package tours from Bhubaneswar to enable people to watch the dance festival. The Chief Minister will inaugurate the festival and Governor M.C.Bhandare will attend the closing ceremony.

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