The State has accorded top priority to tourism, especially the one based on the distinct features and inherent strengths of the various districts, to give a boost to travel and hospitality sectors. The temple city of Tirupati is all set to get a lion’s share of what is described as ‘spiritual tourism’.
With 75,000 visitors a day on an average, mostly on pilgrimage to the abode of Lord Venkateswara, the readymade ‘spiritual market’ is up for grabs. As a number of visitors prefer an ethereal aura and blissfully-spiritual environs themed on Indian mythology, the hospitality industry is preparing itself to offer the best. The business model here is to offer entertainment with right dose of religion interspersed to rake in the moolah.
Sri Haridham, first-of-its-kind mythological and spiritual theme park, is coming up at the foot of Tirumala hills northwest of Tirupati, which is set to make a mark. Coming up close to SV Zoo Park, the park is designed to provide day-long ‘edutainment’ to the visitors by combining the spiritual elements along with the concepts and precepts of Hindu religion. The project hosts ‘108 great temples of India’, mythological rides, water parks, hotels, mall cum multiplex and much more, encompassing the central theme of spirituality and religion. K. Ajay Kumar, managing director of Vaishnovi Versatile Ventures Private Limited, which is executing the Rs. 500 crore-project, says the park will be completed in two phases.
The first phase is slated to begin in April this year and the facility is estimated to entertain 7000-10000 tourists a day when the second phase is finished by April 2019 as per schedule.
The project is being developed by Vaishnovi under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode along with the State government’s Department of Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture. The recently-opened Hotel Marasa Sarovar Premiere situated on Karakambadi Road to the northeast of the city, is uniquely-conceptualised on and inspired by ‘Dasavatharas’, the 10 incarnations of Lord Maha Vishnu. The hotel offers a combination of aesthetics and divinity to the people. “Places like Tirupati-Tirumala offer a firm ground for the promotion of spiritual tourism”, says Anil Madhok, managing director of Sarovar Hotels.
The arrival of more such players offering a serene ambience can, in fact, help tourists to extend their stay here by a day or two, which will indirectly help the local trade and commerce.
(Reporting by A.D. Rangarajan and B. Venkat Sandeep)
