From audio-guided heritage walks and buggy shuttles at Bidar Fort to an 11.7-km cycle track linking Mattu and Padukere beaches in Udupi and upgraded tonga stands in Mysuru, the Karnataka Tourism Department has lined up a range of service- and infrastructure-focused works across the State.
These together form part of tourism projects worth ₹367.32 crore, under which tenders for some components have already been floated, while others are expected to be issued shortly, officials said.
The State Tourism Department will implement nine projects sanctioned under four central programmes- Swadesh Darshan 2.0, Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), and the PRASHAD scheme. The projects span heritage destinations, eco-tourism sites, and major pilgrimage centres in Ballari, Mysuru, Bidar, Udupi, Belagavi, and Bengaluru.
Eco-tourism and cultural hub in Tataguni
The Roerich and Devika Rani Estate at Tataguni in Bengaluru, which has been under discussion for its redevelopment as a public cultural and tourism space, is among the projects now being taken up under the SASCI scheme.
The officials told The Hindu that eco-tourism components of the Tataguni project include nature trails, an aviary safari loop, zipline, and rope course. “Plans also include an eco-wellness plaza with waterfront and garden-view cottages, glamping facilities, boating and kayaking, an open-air theatre, a floating jetty, and a perfume garden,” the official added.
Mattu–Padukere cycle corridor
The eco-tourism project in Udupi district spans three locations- Mattu Beach, Padukere Beach, and Dariya Bahadurgarh Island- and centres on improving how visitors move along the coastline. With an outlay of ₹10 crore, the project’s key component is an 11.7-km cycle track connecting Mattu and Padukere beaches, alongside basic tourist facilities designed using pitched thatch roofs, bamboo poles, and wooden laminates, the officials explained.
Traveller Nooks in Hampi
Hampi has been sanctioned ₹25.64 crore under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme for the development of “Traveller Nooks”, the one-stop, multi-utility amenity centres for tourists. Tenders have been floated for 20 such units which will include facilities such as feeding rooms and sanitary pad vending machines.
Mysuru has two projects under the same scheme. An Ecological Experience Zone, estimated at ₹18.47 crore, includes an eco-view tower, canopy and lake walks, an eco-bridge connector, rope bridges and zipline facilities, among other attractions. In addition, ₹2.71 crore has been sanctioned for a Heritage Experience Zone centred on traditional tonga rides, with plans for three tonga stands and the upgradation of two stables.
Audio guides, forest trail in Bidar
Under the Challenge Based Destination Development sub-scheme, Bidar has been sanctioned ₹25 crore for heritage tourism development focused on the Bidar Fort and the Papnash Lake area. The proposed works include heritage walks supported by audio guides, information centres and heritage lighting aimed at improving visitor engagement with the site. In addition, the project proposes a tree house, watch tower, cycle track, forest trail, and lake decks.
Pilgrimage infrastructure
The pilgrimage infrastructure accounts for a substantial share of the outlay under the PRASHAD scheme. At the Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple in Mysuru, ₹45.71 crore has been sanctioned for the temple and viewpoint development, along with IT components, while an additional ₹16.32 crore is being spent from the State funds on works at Devikeri, the Nandi State Pavilion, Devipada, and other viewpoints.
Another ₹100-crore project under the same scheme focuses on the development of the Savadatti Yallammagudda in Belagavi district, while Bidar’s Papnash Temple has been allotted more than ₹22 crore for pilgrim amenities and site development.
Published – January 11, 2026 06:35 pm IST
