The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Two houseboats planned at Ooty Lake

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Sunday, Jun 08, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Two houseboats planned at Ooty Lake

D.Radhakrishnan

‘If the proposal is through, the facility will be in place by the summer of 2009’

Pykara Lake to have two high-speed boats
Cycle tourism being promoted

— Photo: D. Radhakrishnan

Crowd puller: A view of the lake in Udhagamandalam.

Udhagamandalam: With the Ooty and Pykara Lakes growing in popularity, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation plans to make them more attractive.

Design

It is planning to introduce two houseboats at the Ooty Lake, where repair works are in progress now. The design is yet to be finalised, but they will be built to host a mini-conference in which about 15 delegates can participate, says R. Anandan, Regional Manager of the corporation.

If the proposal is through, the facility will be in place by the summer of 2009, the Regional Manager adds.

The Pykara Lake, which has become a major tourist attraction since it came into being 15 years ago, will have two high-speed boats, each costing Rs. 7 lakh and having six seats. The conditions at the lake particularly its length are ideal for such boats, he says.

Expressing the hope that the boats will be introduced before the autumn tourist season, Mr. Anandan says if the response proves to be good, the corporation will request the government to operate more such boats.

The infrastructure has been toned at the Pykara Lake, which 20 km from here, and new boats have been provided. The boat jetties now comply with the naval specifications.

The number of tourists who visited Pykara during the summer of 2008 was 10 per cent more than the corresponding period last year, he says.

A scheme to promote cycle tourism here is being implemented now, with 19 cycles in operation.

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