Austere Dasara keeps tourists away from Mysuru

BENGALURU: The state government’s decision to keep Dasara festivities simple in view of the drought and spate of farmer suicides has resulted in a poor turnout of tourists in the heritage city of Mysuru. 

 

The city, which used to be teeming with tourists during these festivities earlier, has hosted only some from  Kerala and Tamil Nadu, this year. 

 

In fact, the local authorities have neither set up help desks at the railway station or the bus terminal nor put up banners and buntings to welcome tourists to the city of palaces. 

 

Authorities of the Indian Railways and KSRTC are yet to announce special services to Mysuru. Save for an illuminated “welcome” signage on Chamundi Hills, illumination of Amba Vilas Palace and the procession route, additonal lighting has been scrapped because of the power crisis. 

 

In short, the aura associated with Dasara festivities in Mysuru has vanished this year. The district administration had not held any road shows on Dasara in other states, or at important airports in the country and abroad. Therefore, thousands of tourists who used to throng Karnataka during Dasara to visit Mysuru, Hampi and other historical places are missing, a senior official told Deccan Chronicle, adding “We may expect more tourist arrivals in Mysuru because of long vacation next week, and not because of Dasara festivities.” Mr P.V. Giri, a local hotelier, said this year there were no enquiries for accommodation from tourists overseas as compared with those in previous years. The occupancy in hotels was only 25-30 per cent as compared to 50-60 per cent last year. Besides, no booking was reported for group visit of foreign tourists to various places including the Amba Vilasa Palace. “Seeing the present situation, not many foreign tourists may visit this time (except those who had booked earlier),” he added. 

To add to woes of tourists arriving from abroad, the flight from Bengaluru to Mysuru has been scheduled very early in the morning. 

 

Therefore, many foreign tourists have opted out because of an inconvenient schedule of arrival and departure of flights, sources added.