Winter festival draws tourists by the hordes

The extended weekend thanks to Christmas on Monday has ensured a heavy tourist inflow into the city from Friday evening. With this, the city of Palaces has proved again that it is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the state.

With the district administration hosting the first-ever Winter festival, a flower show at Mysuru Palace and a slew of programmes to draw the people from across the state and the neighbouring states, tourists have not disappointed the organisers.

Huge crowds were witnessed at Palace, Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Chamundi temple, and other temples like Srikanteshwara temple at Nanjangud, Sri Ranganathaswami temple at Srirangapatna and others. Speaking to DH, Mysore Hotel Owners' Association president C Narayanagowda said that there has been 90% occupancy this year-end. Around 6,000 rooms of the 7,000 in 280 hotels in Mysuru, are occupied. The rooms are booked till January 1, he said.

Tourists have been pouring in from Friday evening as hotels and resorts have reported almost full occupancy. There was a heavy traffic jam on Mysuru-Bengaluru highway too.

There will also be a display of fireworks on the midnight of December 31.