Date:11/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/11/stories/2006051108950300.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

Government yet to tap Belgaum's tourism potential

Staff Correspondent

District administration seeks facilities; report submitted to Chief Minister District administration seeks facilities; report submitted to Chief Minister

Demands
Light and sound show and musical fountain at Kittur Fort
Improvement of 2.5-km stretch to Godchinmalki

Lavatories and restaurants at Gokak Falls, Belgaum Fort

LOSING HERITAGE: The Parasgad Fort near Yellamma Hill, ascribed to Ratta rulers, is now in ruins.

Belgaum: Though Belgaum has found a place on the tourism map of Karnataka, much needs to be done to exploit its potential as a major tourist destination.

Belgaum, or the erstwhile "Venugram" (bamboo village), has pleasant weather during the greater part of the year. Over half a dozen rivers such as the Krishna, the Malaprabha, the Ghataprabha and the Markandeya, historically important fort-ruins at Kittur and Parasgad, two reservoirs, Gokak Falls, Jain temples and other religious places, and thick forests with a variety of flora and fauna in Khanapur taluk with the Western Ghats as the backdrop, provide a unique experience for tourists.

Eco-tourism

Private interests have already started exploiting the eco-tourism potential by opening resorts in the forests between Belgaum and Goa.

Belgaum is also known as the seat of Hindustani classical music. Numerous educational institutions, including professional colleges, with the best of medical facilities, skilled hands and ample scope for cultural activities add to the city's charm.

Major tourist destinations identified for development are the Kittur Fort, the memorial of Rani Kittur Chennamma, the Gokak Falls, the Godchin Malki Falls, Dhupdal, Naviltirth (Malaprabha dam), Jogal Bavi, Kshetra Sogal Someshwar, Godachi Veerabhadreshwar temple, Torgal Fort, Yellurgad in Khanapur taluk and Belgaum Fort.

The district administration submitted a brief report on the development needs of these places to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy during his visit to the city on Monday.

It has urged the Government to provide a light and sound show, musical fountain, drinking water supply and restaurant at the Kittur Fort. Similar facilities have been sought at the memorial of Rani Chennamma in Bailhongal town and at the bird sanctuary in Dhupdal. Other demands include improvement of 2.5-km stretch to Godchinmalki, lavatories and restaurants at Gokak Falls, Jogul Bavi, Bhimgad Fort and in Belgaum Fort.