Hampi will soon get a network of modern tourist amenity centres called “Traveller Nooks” after ₹25.64 crore was sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme. Tenders have already been floated for 20 such multi-utility facilities, which will include feeding rooms and sanitary pad vending machines to improve visitor convenience.
The Karnataka Tourism Department has drawn up a wide range of tourism-focused infrastructure and service projects worth ₹367.32 crore across the State, covering heritage locations, eco-tourism hubs, and major pilgrimage centres in Ballari, Mysuru, Bidar, Udupi, Belagavi, and Bengaluru.
The planned works range from audio-guided heritage walks and buggy services at Bidar Fort to a dedicated 11.7-km cycling corridor between Mattu and Padukere beaches in Udupi and upgraded tonga stands in Mysuru. While tenders for some components have already been issued, others are expected to be floated shortly, officials said.
The department will implement nine projects sanctioned under four Central schemes, Swadesh Darshan 2.0, Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD), Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), and PRASHAD.
Tataguni eco-tourism hub
The Roerich and Devika Rani Estate at Tataguni in Bengaluru is being taken up for redevelopment as an eco-tourism and cultural destination under the SASCI scheme. Officials said the project will include nature trails, an aviary safari loop, a zipline, and rope courses. It will also feature an eco-wellness plaza with waterfront and garden-view cottages, glamping units, boating and kayaking facilities, an open-air theatre, a floating jett,y and a perfume garden.
Mattu–Padukere coastal corridor
Udupi district’s eco-tourism initiative will cover Mattu Beach, Padukere Beach, and Dariya Bahadurgarh Island. With an outlay of ₹10 crore, the project’s core feature is an 11.7-km cycling track linking Mattu and Padukere beaches. Tourist amenities will be built using pitched thatch roofs, bamboo structures and wooden laminates.
Mysuru has two projects under the same scheme. An Ecological Experience Zone costing ₹18.47 crore will include an eco-view tower, canopy and lake walks, an eco-bridge connector, rope bridges and zipline facilities. Another ₹2.71-crore project will develop a Heritage Experience Zone centred on traditional tonga rides, with three new tonga stands and upgrades to two stables.
Heritage upgrades in Bidar
Under the CBDD scheme, Bidar has been allotted ₹25 crore for tourism development at Bidar Fort and the Papnash Lake area. The works include audio-guided heritage walks, information centres, and heritage lighting. The plan also features a tree house, a watch tower, a cycling track, a forest trail, and lake decks.
Pilgrimage infrastructure
A major portion of the funding is being channelled into pilgrimage facilities under the PRASHAD scheme. At the Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple in Mysuru, ₹45.71 crore has been sanctioned for temple and viewpoint development along with IT-based facilities. The State government is also spending ₹16.32 crore on related works at Devikeri, the Nandi State Pavilion, Devipada, and nearby viewpoints.
In Belagavi district, a ₹100-crore PRASHAD project will focus on developing the Savadatti Yallammagudda shrine, while more than ₹22 crore has been allotted for pilgrim amenities and site development at Bidar’s Papnash Temple.