Date:03/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/03/stories/2006010301810500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Chamarajanagar forest area to be developed as tourism hot spot

Special Correspondent

`Mystery trails' expected to attract a large number of tourists

INSTANT NEWS: Minister for Food and Civil Supplies H.S. Mahadeva Prasad inaugurating the website `mysterytrails.com' of the Forest Department in Bangalore on Monday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Bangalore: The thick forest area in Chamarajanagar district, earlier under the "control" of Veerappan, is now being developed into a tourism hot spot by the State Government and is expected to draw the attention of tourists in a big way.

The Government on Monday launched the ambitious project "Mystery trails" with the local Girijans roped in to serve as guides to the tourists. And with a nominal fee of Rs. 400 per day towards the trekking, the rich Chamarajanagar forests are expected to be a big draw not merely to the local tourists but also those from abroad who enjoy trekking in the Western Ghats.

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies H.S. Mahadeva Prasad, who is also Chamarajanagar district in-charge Minister, told presspersons that it was the first time in over 25 years that the Government had decided to promote Chamarajanagar as a tourism destination.

The Minister launched a website — www.mysterytrails.com — designed by the Forest Department to promote eco-tourism in Chamarajanagar. The website gives details of the region, the forest cover, the wild animals therein and the approach to the place. It also gives details of the trekking schedules, the accommodation, food and all that go with drawing the attention of enthusiastic tourists.

Mr. Prasad and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests R.M. Rai said the Forest Department had trained several tribal people of the area in trekking and the manner in which they should guide tourists. It would be a two-way project in serving the tourists and also simultaneously benefiting the local tribal people, apart from promoting the forest cover in the region. Chamarajanagar district has a forest cover of 2.75 lakh hectares.

The Government has also decided to focus attention on infrastructure development in the vicinity of the famous Hogenekal falls which is located along the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.