Travel gets new meaning

BANGALORE: One state. Many worlds. This tag earned by Karnataka tourism is going places. On Monday, the Silver Chariot and Southern Splendour were added to the famed Golden Chariot fleet, now chugging to neighbouring states as well. Tourism minister G Janardhan Reddy launched the extended tour itinerary programme of the Golden Chariot, which will take passengers to Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala, apart from the normal route in Karnataka. While the new itinerary has been christened `Southern Splendour', the existing route of the Golden Chariot will be called `Pride of the South'. The extended tour will include temples, heritage towns, Auroville, backwaters and other attractions.

The first trip is scheduled for March 15.

SILVER CHARIOT
In a bid to extend luxury travel to middle-level income groups, Karnataka tourism launched the Silver Chariot with the theme of `one affordable voyage, many worlds'. Bookings for the tour, to start on April 2, will begin on Wednesday. The Silver Chariot will be conducted aboard a Volvo bus and include visits to Hampi, the Badami-Aihole-Pattadkal triangle and other places.

TOURISM MASTERPLAN
A tourism masterplan was launched with the intention of bringing in Rs 20,000-crore investment over five years. This will create at least two lakh jobs in the tourism industry. The masterplan will focus on ensuring safety and security for tourists, creating jobs, making Karnataka a globally competitive destination for tourism and institutionalizing good governance through transparency, accountability and participation. The plan also intends to focus on tourism cities and theme parks.

An MoU was signed between KSTDC and Our Native Village, a resort near Hessaraghatta, to make the latter an additional check-in point for passengers who arrive at Bengaluru International Airport.