Government to transform Mangalore/Udupi into tourist centres: Reddy

Government to transform Mangalore/Udupi into tourist centres: Reddy

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Mar 14: Mr. Janardhan Reddy, the state tourism minister, inaugurated a number of facilities such as the snake park, a post mortem facility, an isolation ward, and others at Pilikula Nisargadhama and said that the government has allocated Rs 50 crore for the development of Mangalore and Udupi as tourist centrers. 

Speaking about the efforts to develop Udupi as a hotspot of religious tourism, the minister said that Udupi will get the major portion of the funds. Plans are afoot to erect a 125ft tall statue of Lord Krishna on Vadabandeshwara beach, 6kms from Udupi. The concrete-and-steel statue will be constructed by talented Udupi architects in consultation with religious leaders on a 1-acre plot, he said. 

The statue of Madhwacharya, the dwaitha philosopher, bearing an idol of Shri Krishna will be positioned on the other side of the beach, informed the minister, adding that, on this spot, the philosopher had obtained the idol of Lord Krishna from the captain of a ship that was sailing to unknown destinations from Gujarat. According to popular legend, the ship bore the idols of Balarama and Krishna. Madhwacharya consecrated Balarama at Vadabandeshwara Beach and took the idol of Krishna for consecration in Udupi, which ultimately because the world’s headquarters of dwaitha philosophy. 

Mr. Reddy also informed that the government plans to establish a tourist centre on St Mary’s Island, where the government has a considerable chunk of land. Malpe will also be developed as a tourist centre. 

Speaking about Mangalore, Mr Reddy said that the government is giving priority to the development of Pilikula Nisargadhama. The nature resort will receive all the required upgrading to receive the name of Dr. Shivaram Karanth Nisargadhama. On the same occasion, the minister flagged off the annual Netravathi - Falguni Jodukere Kambala.