Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 7: In order to promote tourism in the coast, for the first time, 'River Festival' is being organized in the city. Preparations are on in full swing for the purpose at Kulur, Tannirbhavi and Sultan Battery river banks.

The 'River Festival' has been envisaged as part of Karavali Utsav on January 12 and 13. It is planned to develop river banks at tourism spots in the city.   If facilities are improved, this can turn into a huge tourist attraction in the coming days.

An area of 20 acres of government land has been identified for the River Festival. Work of building a make shift jetty for the purpose is going on in full swing. Deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, Sasikanth Senthil, and senior officials of tourism department visited the spot where preparations for the festival is on Sunday, and scrutinized the progress.

The deputy commissioner said that the main aim of organizing River Festival is to promote tourism in the district by using river banks and backwaters. The festival will activate the tourism potential of these areas, he added.

For two days, water adventure sports, floating hotel, restaurant, food court, several stalls, cultural programmes etc will be held at the river banks. Film festival about rivers will also be arranged. District tourism department has released Rs 30 lac for the festival.

Temporary jetties will come up at Bangrakulur, Tannirbhavi and Sultan Battery. The deputy commissioner said that the district administration is helped by fishermen in making preparations for the River Festival.