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Stress on better infrastructure at Hampi

BANGALORE: Should comfort welcome the tourists arriving at the rocky terrain of Hampi, a World Heritage Site, or convenience?

For a terrain frequented by a number of medieval travellers who braved unspeakable adversities, the level of infrastructure to be provided to the modern day tourist is now being discussed by the planners.

At a time when work on drafting a Hampi master plan is commencing, experts are debating on the level of ‘heritage tourism’ that Hampi could be exposed.

“There is a need to differentiate between travellers and tourists, and Hampi has attracted travellers. A traditional traveller seeks convenience and not comfort which the administration should seek to address,” Sathya Prakash Varanashi, architect of Udbhava, said during his talk on ‘Heritage Tourism — Pros & Cons’ on Sunday.

Tourists will also include pilgrims, schoolchildren on vacation and others who are not counted, he added.

“The Hampi project should focus from the traveller’s point of view, and it should be showcased in terms of culture, rituals, folklore and others,” said Prof. Varanashi, who addressed experts at an international conference on ‘Tangible and Intangible Heritage of Hampi.’

Seeking participatory approach for development of Hampi, Prem Subramaniam, Head-Tourism Infrastructure IDFC said: “What is ordinary in Hampi should not be lost and local participation should be ensured.”

Hampi, he said, has been affected by ill-mooted ideas and development, and gave examples of successful tourism initiatives in Tsippori and Ushaya in Israel and of Luang Namtha in Vietnam.

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