Soulful City Sojourn: BMTC’s ‘Divya Darshana’ Tour
Context:
To promote spiritual tourism, BMTC has launched the ‘Divya Darshana’ weekend guided tour.
Key Highlights of Divya Darshana:
● Operates on weekends and public holidays.
● Inspired by successful tours like Bengaluru Darshini & Isha trips (50,000+ visitors).
Karnataka’s Recent Tourism Initiatives
Spiritual & Heritage Tourism:
● Bengaluru Darshini: City tour to 24 landmarks (20,000+ tourists in 6 months).
● Kalyana Karnataka Heritage Circuit: Bidar, Kalaburagi, Ballari — funded by KKRDB.
Eco & Nature Tourism:
● Eco Hubs: Forest stays & safaris in Bandipur, Kali, Bhadra.
● Coastal/Coffee Trails: Promoting Malnad & Karavali homestays.
Infrastructure Boost:
● Helitourism Draft (2023): Heliports at Dharmasthala, Gokarna.
● Hampi & Badami: Ropeways, lighting, signage, PPP infra.
Branding & Tech:
● “One State, Many Worlds” Campaign — global promotion.
Smart Tourism: E-ticketing, AR/VR, ‘Visit Karnataka’ app, chatbot support.
Hemavati River Link Canal Project
● Location: Near Gubbi, Tumakuru district, Karnataka
● Purpose: To supply 3.01 TMCFT of water to Kunigal taluk
● Project Cost (Phase 1): ₹615 crore
● Total Allocation to Tumakuru: 24 TMCFT
● Executing Authority: Water Resources Ministry under D.K. Shivakumar
Allegations by Opposition (BJP, JD(S)):
● Water is being diverted to Magadi & Ramanagara taluks (Bengaluru South district) under political pressure.
● Project is “unscientific” and favors Deputy CM Shivakumar’s influence zone.
● Protested by:
○ B. Suresh Gowda (Tumakuru Rural MLA)
○ G.B. Jyothi Ganesh (Tumakuru City MLA)
○ N. Ravikumar (MLC)
○ Minister V. Somanna (wrote to CM opposing the project)
Protest Highlights:
● Protest led by BJP leaders, farmers, activists, and religious seers.
● Over 100 people detained, including:
○ Tumakuru Rural MLA Suresh Gowda
○ Tumakuru City MLA Jyothi Ganesh
○ BJP District President Ravishankar
Farmer leader Chandrashekar
Dr. H.S. Venkatesha Murthy (HSV) – Kannada Literary Legend
- Passed away in Bengaluru at age 80.
- Born: 23 June 1944, Hodigere, Davangere.
- Kannada poet, playwright, critic, and professor (30 years at St. Joseph’s College, Bengaluru).
- President of 85th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana.
Key Works:
- Poems: Kriyaparva, Uttarayana
- Plays: Agnivarna, Chitrapata
- Children’s Lit: Kathana Kavana (won Kendra Sahitya Akademi Bala Puraskar, 2013)
- Translation: Ritusamhara (won Kendra Sahitya Akademi Translation Award)
Film Contributions:
- Wrote songs/dialogues for Chinnari Mutha, Kirik Party, etc.
- Song “Hasiru Ribbon” won 66th Filmfare South Award (Best Lyric – Kannada)
Awards:
- Rajyotsava Award
- Kannada Sahitya Academy Award
Two Kendra Sahitya Akademi Awards
