Phalguni River: Backwater tourism begins

Team Udayavani, Feb 8, 2019, 10:43 AM IST

• District administration gives permission for water sports

Mangaluru:  In the backdrop of the recent success of the ‘River Fest’, investors have come forward to start cruise restaurant, water sports at Phalguni River. In this way, backwater tourism begins in the district.

In the initial phase, two institutions have already shown interest to start cruise restaurant and water sports at Phalguni River and accordingly, the district administration has given permission for a period of 5 years. What is worth noting that, post the success of the River Fest, even more institutions have shown their interest to start tourism related activities here. Hence, the new beginning of water tourism in the district is worth appreciating.

4 institutions have requested permission to start water sports from Kuloor to Tannirbavi along the Phalguni River. The deputy commissioner who is also the president of the district tourism development committee has given permission, applicable from Jan 1^st to the next 5 years, to Netrani Snorkeling Adventure of Murdeshwar and Wonder Splash of Mangaluru. Out of the two, Wonder Splash has also received the permission to start a Cruise restaurant at Phalguni River. With the aim to provide encouragement to water tourism, the first year will be considered as a provisional year and the organizers will not charged an annual license fee. After one year, taking into consideration the progress, the fee amount will be decided, decided the committee.

Water sports activities

Water sports can be conducted within a limit of 1 km of Phalguni River from Kuloor to the memorial for the victims of the airplane crash which is in Tannirbavi.

It has been aimed to provide a variety of water sports facilities including speedboat, Jet Ski, banana and bumpy ride, fly fish, pedal boat, kayak, inflatable towable, sleeper bumper and snorkeling. Wonder splash already has 30 years experience in tourism activities through its ventures at Goa and Karwar.

30 boats

On the occasion of the River Fest in Mangaluru, along with speedboats, jet skis, ferry boats, 30 different boats had been used.

Netrani Snorkeling Adventure is already involved in water sports activities at Murdeshwar and Malpe. It had organised the water sports during the river festival. This time it will be starting to give regular water sports facilities near Kuloor along the Phalguni river.

Water tourism

But this requires promotion. There is hope that water tourism will be become popular here. Water sports are expected to begin completely in the month of April, informed the institution’s partner Harish Harikanth.

Proposal to develop basic infrastructure at Rs 5 crore

In order to develop water tourism at Phalguni river till Tannirbavi, a proposal for various plans for the development of the basic infrastructure through the union government’s Swadesh Darshan Tourism at the cost of Rs 5 crore has already been sent to the central government. Also a Rs 4.83 crore proposal has been sent regarding the development of the river shore at Sasihitlu. The proposal includes landscaping, construction of path way, pedestrian track, water purification unit, temporary resting room, Kuloor bridge, Sultan Battery and the construction of Kuloor Bengre jetty. The district tourism development committee has submitted a proposal to the state government during the preliminary budget meeting, demanding grant for the creation go 13 jetties.

Love for water tourism

“Post the River Fest, the love for water tourism has increased. 4 institutions have come forward to organise water sports and tourism activities at Phalgui River. 2 of them have already been provided with the permission. A proposal has already been submitted to the government for functional jetties and the creation of basic infrastructure. Water tourism is expected to catch pace here in the coming days,” informed Sasikanth Senthil, DK DC

Opportunity for water tourism

“There is a good opportunity for water tourism in Mangaluru. Water sports and tourism related activities will be started from the next month. In order to attract tourists, an understanding needs to be done with the other water sports institutions in the country and a few plans are required,” said Ravi Paul, partner in the institution’s administration.

Article by Keshav Kunder translated into English by Aaron Dmello