A passage to Karnataka

Travel enthusiasts will look at picture-perfect destinations within the state in a post-Covid world

The Covid-19 pandemic has put the brakes on overseas and inter-state travel. Though some travel routes are opening up via air and rail within the country, travel to high-risk states is still barred. But if your wanderlust is making you climb the walls of your home, fret not. There are plenty of local trekking options you can think of driving to when more relaxations on travel come along. Karnataka is blessed with scenic locales, trekking paths, beaches, forests, lakes and hilly areas, that all make great getaways. All you need is a car and your favourite travelling companions, keeping all safety guidelines in mind.

Travel enthusiasts are training their sights on destinations closer home. It is a fact that many of us ignore nearby tourist spots, and look at faraway destinations while planning our travel itinerary. Covid has given everyone a great opportunity to think of exploring the popular and hidden tourist spots within the state, when things start limping back to normal.

Bengaluru has many trekkers and trekking clubs. If you want to go trekking, a safe option would be to go on guided trekking tours offered by the forest department. Guided tours mean that safe destinations will be chosen and there will be a cap on the number of visitors and physical distancing rules will be followed. Before Covid, the forest department was offering guided trekking services at hillocks like Skanadagiri or Kuduremukh etc.

Now, the tourist department and forest department can look at tapping the tourism potential in areas like Huttridurga, Siddara Betta, Chennarayana Durga, Shivagange, Savanadurga and Ramadevara Betta etc.

Karnataka is also blessed with a number of historical places Hampi, Mysuru and Badami etc which attracts tourists from across the globe. However, there are places like Santebennur, Uchangidurga, Gummanayaka fort, Kavaledurga and Mirjan fort which are waiting to be explored. When we talk of hill stations in Karnataka, there are popular hill stations like Nandi Hills or Kemmanagudi but there are lesser known hill stations like Basavanabetta, Avalabetta and Kutagal Hills which provide some breath-taking views. With appropriate infrastructure at this sites, these lesser known destinations with ample tourist potential, can be leveraged.

Similarly, there are many lesser known waterfalls and unexplored beaches in Karnataka which can be promoted by tourism department. As these places are not that crowded, they ensure that guided tours can be safer for a limited group of people and can also help in promoting local economy.