JOIN USLodging for literary meet visitors a challenge
Providing lodging facility for the literary lovers who take part in Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Madikeri from January 7 is a challenge for the organisers.
About 8,500 Jana Parishat representatives, 1000 VIPs and 1,000 guests are likely to take part in the meet. Apart from this, around 30,000 people are likely to visit the Sammelana daily.
The organisers are in charge of providing lodging facilities. There are 32 to 35 lodges in Madikeri, of which, half of its capacity has been given to the Parishat.
The Hotel Owners Association has decided to give the remaining rooms to the visitors. Madikeri and its surrounding areas have 500 to 600 home stays. The Kannada Sahitya Parishat has decided to book rooms in home stays as well.
Owing to lack of lodges in Madikeri, the organisers have booked lodges in Kushalnagar, which is 25 km away from Madikeri city. There are 29 lodges in Kushalnagar. A few rooms have been booked.
Free rooms
Hotel Owners Association President Nagendra Prasad said that two rooms will be given free of cost for the Parishat guests in each lodge. The remaining half of the capacity will be given for the Parishat at 30 per cent concession, while the rest would be reserved for the visitors.
Dalai Lama visit
At the same time, Buddhist spiritual head Dalai Lama will visit Bailukuppe near Kushalnagar on December 23.
Dalai Lama will be camping in the camp till January 4. As a result, all the lodges in and around Kushalnagar have been booked by his followers. In case, if Dalai Lama extends his stay in Bailukuppe, then rooms may not be available, said Prasad.
Sammelana lodging committee convenor Mohiuddin said, “We are giving priority to lodging facility for those representatives who pay Rs 300 to attend the meet.
Around 8,500 representatives are likely to take part. At the same time, we have to provide lodging facilities for guests, VIPs and artistes.”
Free meals will be provided for all the literary lovers, public on all the three days. The public will have to make their own arrangement for the stay in Madikeri, he added.