Karnataka launches hi-tech Travellers Nooks in Hampi under Swadesh Darshan 2.0
After continuous complaints from tourists about lack of basic facilities including clean and hygienic toilets, baby feeding rooms, waiting rooms in Hampi, the Department of
After continuous complaints from tourists about lack of basic facilities including clean and hygienic toilets, baby feeding rooms, waiting rooms in Hampi, the Department of Tourism has decided to fill this gap. Recently, one such hi-tech facility, Travellers Nook was inaugurated near Shri Krishna Swamy Temple in Hampi by the Minister of Tourism, K. J. George in Hampi. These facilities are being established under Swadesh Darshan Scheme 2.0. Swadesh Darshan Scheme is centrally funded initiative by the Union Ministry of Tourism, to develop sustainable and responsible tourism. The programme provides financial assistance to States, Union Territories, and Central agencies to build world-class tourism infrastructure across the country. Officials from the Tourism Department said that this move aims to help tourists spend time with ease at Hampi, which is also proposed to be one of the global tourist destinations along with Mysuru and Lakkundi.
Speaking to The Hindu, K. J. George, Minister for Energy and Tourism, said, “Hampi is one of India’s greatest civilisational treasures and Karnataka’s proud global heritage destination. Our vision is to make every visitor’s experience as memorable as the destination itself. The Traveller Nooks developed under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 represent a new benchmark in visitor-centric tourism infrastructure by providing clean, safe, accessible and world-class amenities without compromising Hampi’s unique heritage character.” Ram Prasath Manohar, Commissioner, Tourism department, said the Department of Tourism through the Karnataka Tourism Infrastructure Limited (KTIL), has already operationalised one such facility of Traveller Nooks. “Twenty more such facilities will be built and made functional in the first phase of Traveller Nooks under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0.
Of these five such facilities will be made functional in few months time. The project, sanctioned at a cost of ₹25.63 crore, aims to transform Hampi into a world-class heritage destination by providing modern, visitor-centric amenities while preserving the sites’ rich cultural and historical legacy,” he said. Three categories The department has further classified these Travellers Nook into three categories depending on the visitor footfall, location requirements etc. As per the details from Tourism Department, these three categories include Noble, Royal, and Imperial Travellers Nook. The Noble Traveller Nook offers essential amenities such as safe drinking water, hygienic public toilets, vending machines, retail outlets, public Wi-Fi and way-finding facilities for tourists to navigate easily.
The BriefWire