Hampi, Belur-Halebid, Badami to get new KSTDC hotels

The search for better hotel deals at Hampi, Belur and Halebid will end soon, as the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) is constructing more hotels.

To meet the increasing demand of more and better accommodation from tourists, KSTDC will construct four-, three-star hotels in Belur, Hampi, Vijayapura and Badami. The work is being undertaken with a recent grant of Rs 80 crore by the state government.

These hotels will be ready and operational within two years. They are being built under the green initiative of KSTDC. The corporation has started the exercise of installing solar and windmills at its properties to generate green energy at a cost of Rs 16 crore.

“We lack standard hotels, especially in Badami and Vijayapura. This has been a repeated complaint from tourists. The decision has been taken based on tourist footfalls at these destinations, where facilities are lacking. Each of these hotels will have 50-100 rooms. A detailed project report has been prepared and is before the government for approval,” KSTDC managing director Kumar Pushkar told DH.

Once the projects are cleared, tenders will be floated and work will start soon after, KSTDC officials said.

In case of Belur, tourists commonly complain of long distance travel between accommodation and destination, which has led to the demand for a good hotel at a proper location.

Hampi already has many private and government properties, including Jungle Lodges and Resorts, Forest department guest house and homestays in partnership with the government.

Pushkar said the demand for more, especially affordable accommodations is on the rise, so Hampi was added to the list. Work on starting another hotel near BR Hills is being included in the list, he added.

KSTDC has 18 hotels across the state. They rate their Madikeri and Nandi Hills properties as their best.

KSTDC has also taken up the exercise of upgrading its old properties. It is starting with Mayura Hoysala in Mysuru, Hotel Mayura at Tungabhadra dam in Hosapete and at Jog Falls. Renovation work has also begun at the Ooty property.