Vidhana Soudha guided tour for public from June 1

The Tourism Department and the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) on Sunday launched the Vidhana Soudha Guided Tour initiative – to be functional from June 1 (Sunday) – where citizens can visit the seat of the Karnataka Legislature.

The tour will be operative on the second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays of the month. While those aged 16 and above will be charged Rs 50 per head, it's free for the U-16s.

Speaking on the occasion, Tourism Minister H K Patil said, “Vidhana Soudha is the living story of our state’s democratic journey. Opening its corridors to the public is a celebration of transparency, heritage and civic pride."

The tour will be held from 8 am to 5 pm in different time slots as specified by the KSTDC. The 90-minute tour will approximately cover 1.5 km on the Vidhana Soudha premises on foot, covering some iconic landmarks like statues of Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar, Kengal Hanumanthaiah (architect of the Vidhana Soudha) and the Legislative Assembly and Council halls.

Tickets have to be booked in advance online as well as on the spot. However, tourists must compulsorily carry physical copies of identity cards (Aadhar/passport). Those who cancel 24 hours before the scheduled time will be refunded the base ticket price.

While the initiative has been praised as a first-of-its-kind for citizens to visit the interiors of the Vidhana Soudha and appreciate its architectural aspects, critics have slammed the decision to charge entry fees.