Is Barkur heading to be a Pilgrimage Tourist destination?

In the recent past, with more and more tourists preferring to go off the beaten track, in our place, villages are attracting people for relaxation and relief from congested city life. Now there is a new breed of visitor, who genuinely love the archeological remains but also wants to enjoy town’s restaurants, special delicacies, if offered….  a dip and a swim in the warm waters of  river……..and general atmosphere of frivolity.

Barkur is having the basic ingredients to be one such attraction, as the town itself a peninsula surrounded by serene Sita and her tributaries, historical monuments, ruins like fort near National Junior College excavated to attract historians and students, to remind the glorious past, very presence of good number of age old holy temples for various communities  - rebuilt or renovated in these years, likes of Garodi at Benne Kudru….and few of them planned to be constructed on the same Moola-stanas, in coming days, well maintained Konkan Railway Station at Barkur and many other realities and uniqueness, otherwise not seen elsewhere in the District, to be utilized by innovative entrepreneurs, to showcase Barkur, in coming days.

We being deeply rooted in culture, heritage, spirituality and traditions, should concentrate on ‘experience tourism’ instead of ‘mass tourism’.  Let first Barkurians discover Barkur first!

‘Rural tourism’ is specifically restricted to offbeat areas in our place, now rarely visited; we feel this is more authentic tourism. It is the duty of leaders of the place, more precisely their initiatives, to provide basic infra-structure, ensuring a unique experience to the visitor, since it is intertwined with the social and cultural ethos of this holy destination.

We understand that ‘Village project’ had the backing of UNDP. Each such place would be getting Rs.50 lakh for improving basics. Self help groups would be set up and another Rs.20 lakh given to them for developing logistic facilities and starting community participation ventures. During a chat with our local MLA Mr. Hegde, during ICYM’s Silver Jubilee Celebrations the matter was just discussed, of course he made a mention of the same during his address in the presence of then DC Mr. S.R.Uma Shanker, who reciprocated with every sort of help and support!

Much was expected from them………but attention was diverted to other burning issues like the repair of bridge, drinking water, roads in the interiors etc.

Kattale Basadi area renovation work half done, 10-12 mighty tanks / lakes to be cleaned, a decent Hotel, a ring road to connect Church and old Barkur area, fun boating around Benne Kudru – Sharabeedi Kadavu,  information booklet or permanent sign boards and hoardings to guide people at the Bus stand, Railway Station, improvement to the existing museum at the College.. like this and others can be undertaken by public specified people and organizations.

This Web Site, Barkur-on-line, in general, look for all round progress of the place and expect a special slot in the ‘Tourist Map of Coastal  Karnataka’.

Visitors of our pages are welcome with suggestions…… in turn we will organize to forward them to the concerned authorities.

A month back a suggestion has come to publish a ‘Year Book Barkur’, looks impressive. The local First Grade College may take-up the job….. even it can devote few pages of its Annual Souvenir for this purpose.

On our part, our Host will be more than happy to publish any such articles forwarded to him in the interest of Barkur.

On behalf of Barkur on line and ICYM Barkur Ex-Members Association,

P.Archibald Furtado, Muscat,12/09 /2005.