Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

For a getaway

Resorts are fast becoming popular with Mangaloreans who need a break from city life

UNIQUE Resorts around Mangalore have their own character

With a rapidly increasing young population and increasingly hectic work-styles, entertainment options are fast growing in demand. Then there is the weekend. Where does one go and what to do? After you have had your fill of malls, multiplexes and beaches, it is probably time to head to one of the many resorts that are mushrooming around Mangalore.

Home stays in Kodagu, Chikmagalur and Hassan have been popular, nevertheless, now you don't have to head that far. A lot of resorts are now just comfortable driving distances from the city. The newly opened Bgrow's Holiday Homes resort at Kumbra near Puttur is an hour's drive while Summer Sands Beach Resort of the Albuquerques in Ullal is less than half an hour's drive. Land's flavour coming up near Adyar promoted by Raghunandan Kamath of Natural Ice Cream, Mumbai, is just a 20-minute drive. The Evergreen Farm Resort of the Soans brothers in Moodbidri and the Turtle Bay beach resort at Trasi, Udupi District are some of the top resorts around the city.

Resorts around Mangalore have their own character. Bgrow's is situated in a rural area while Summer Sands is a typical beach resort and Land's Flavour derives its name from the local flavour — the tiled roofs, Guthu houses, cottages built in exposed laterite — and is situated on the banks of the Nethravati river. Soans farm resort is 100 acres of farmlands, which grow pineapple and at least 50 other varieties of exotic fruits.

The resort culture appears to be fast becoming popular with Mangaloreans. They are cool especially during summer says Krishnaprasad who just cannot bear the dusty city places. Twice every year he chooses to get out of the city and head to resorts, alternating between beach and village themes. He has also been along his family to home stays and other resorts outside the state, and is happy that Mangalore is also getting its own set. Aditi and Lokesh who work for an IT major in the city also spend their vacations in resorts at least thrice a year.

With more and more corporate entities queuing up for Mangalore, the resorts are just going to increase. It is estimated that Mangalore needs at least 400 resort cottages by the year 2010 and large size resorts with their own swimming pools, sauna, golf course, health facilities and multi-cuisine establishments are already being planned.

M. RAGHURAM

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail