Three tourist circuits identified to increase footfall in Cauvery basin

In a major boost to tourism promotion in the Cauvery basin — comprising Mysuru, Kodagu, Chamarajanagar and Mandya districts, and parts of Ramanagaram district — the newly constituted Cauvery Tourism Development Authority (CTDA) has identified tourist circuits for drawing higher footfalls.

The authority, which recently met, announced the circuits — Malai Mahadeshwara Tourist Circuit, Kodagu Tourist Circuit and Chamarajanagar Tourist Circuit.

The authority was constituted to develop a combined ‘Mysuru Tourist Circuit’ consisting of Kodagu, Mandya, Chamarajanagar and Kanakapura taluk in Ramanagaram districts. Incidentally, this was one of the recommendations of the Karnataka Tourism Vision Group.

Accordingly, the circuits — Kodagu, Chamarajanagar and M.M. Hills Tourist Circuits comprising prominent and lesser-known tourist destinations in all the five districts — Mysuru, Kodagu, Mandya, Chamarajanagar and parts of Ramanagaram district – were identified. The lesser-known spots were included to attract tourists and improve economy in the areas.

There are several alternatives to explore the destinations in the circuit. They include: Madikeri-Abbi Falls-Bhagamandala and Talacauvery; Madikeri-Dubare-Cauvery Nisarghadhama-Harangi dams; Madikeri-Iruppu Falls-St.Ann’s Church-Clock Tower-Nagarahole; Madikeri-Honnammana Kere-Mallahalli falls; Abbi falls-Chelavara Reservoir-Mallahalli falls and Iruppu falls; Mysuru-Golden Temple (Bylakuppe)-Cauvery Nisarghadhama-Abbi falls-Mandalpatti-Madikeri and Bhagamandala.

There is a mix of pilgrimage, wildlife tourism, eco-tourism and waterfall tourism in this circuit. It includes Chamarajanagar-K.Gudi-Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Hills-Yelandur; Kollegal-Bharachukki-Chikkallur-Gundal; Kollegal-Malai Mahadeshwara Hills-Gopinatham-Hogenakal; Chamarajanagar-Terakanambi-Parvathi Hills-Gundlupet-Himavad Gopalaswamy Hills-Bandipur; Mysuru-Somanathapura-Talakad-Gaganachukki-Bharachukki-Chikkallur.

In this too, there is a mix of wildlife and eco-tourism. The spots covered are: Ambigarahalli-Yadatore-Kappadi-Chunchankatte-Periyapatna-Kendagannaswamy Gaddige-Bheemakolli-Antharasanthe-Haradanahalli-Terakanambi-Huluganamaradi-Kanakagiri-Parvathi Hills-Biliri Ranganathaswamy Hills-Bandipur-Himavad Gopalaswamy Hills-Nanjangud-Suttur-T. Narsipur-Mudukutore-Talakad-Chikkallur and Mahadeshwara Hills.

In addition, a decision has been taken to develop Mysuru-Gommatagiri-Yadatore-Kappadi-Chunchankatte-Bettadapura Circuit and Mysuru-Gaddige-Kabini-Bheemakolli-Chikkadevammanabetta-Nanjangud-T.Narsipur-Talakad-Mudukutore-Somanathapura circuit.