Facelift for Belur, Halebeedu

HASSAN: The Hoysala era temples at Belur and Halebeedu, a major tourist destination in Hassan, will get a facelift with the department of tourism planning to develop 25 cluster temples of the Hoysala period besides adding infrastructure such as pedestrian pathways, road connectivity,  moat development around the old fort, signages and also take up beautification of the Chennakeshava and Hoysaleshwara temples.

A project to develop Belur Halebeedu in Hassan has been readied at a cost of Rs 30 crore, says Deputy Director of the department of tourism Janardhan while a separate project will be conceived for Shravanabelagola in Hassan, a popular Jain pilgrim centre. Minister for Tourism Sa Ra Mahesh held a review meeting on developing Belur and Halebeedu with officials concerned on Monday and assured that he would make both places model tourist destinations in the district which is represented by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda in the Lok Sabha.

Mr Mahesh said that CM H.D. Kumaraswamy has convened a meeting on June 25 to discuss  ways to develop tourism in the state. The meeting will discuss development of historical places spread all over the state. A tourist guide says many monuments of the Hoysala era have not received any publicity owing to lack of signboards and road connectivity to various monuments spread over Halebeedu. These places also lack drinking water facilities and rest rooms, adds the guide.

Many tourists coming from far-off places find it difficult to get a restaurant where they can find food of their choice expect for hotels run by Karnataka State Tourism Department Corporation in Belur and Halebeedu.  Besides, tourist have no access to information on the other places they could visit such as the temple at Belavadi in Chikkamagaluru, about 12 km from Halebeedu, which also belongs to the  Hoysala era.