The Hindu : Musical fountain at Akkulam tourist village

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 03, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Musical fountain at Akkulam tourist village

By S. Anil Radhakrishnan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM APRIL 2. The capital's first musical dancing fountain, being set up by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) at the Akkulam Tourist Village at a cost of Rs. 40 lakhs, would be commissioned by the middle of this month.

The cascade-type lotus-shaped fountain, built adjacent to the aqua park of the tourist village, would have a representation of the Padmamanabha Swamy Temple in the backdrop. This city landmark has been selected for the backdrop as it forms the emblem of the DTPC.

A unique feature of the cascade fountain is that it can be seen both during day and night as it has been enclosed in a 6,000 sq. ft. covered theatre. "This has been done to lure school and college students to the tourist village during daytime'', the DTPC Secretary, G. Santamohan, told The Hindu.

As many as 400 persons can view the fountain at a time from the gallery. The vacant space before the fountain can be used for organising conferences and functions and can accommodate 100 persons.

An artificial waterfall would be set up in the cliff facing the swimming pool at a cost of Rs. 21 lakhs. A bathing ghat would also be built at the foot of the cliff. The Government had already allocated Rs. 10 lakhs as the first tranche and the tendering process had been initiated, the secretary said.

The children's park at the village would be illuminated at a cost of Rs. 10 lakhs on a permanent basis with the help of a generator. The pathway in the park would be concreted at a cost of Rs. 2 lakhs. Steps are being taken to install new playing equipment. The pathway would be concreted and the new playing equipment installed during the summer itself.

The existing snack bar near the children's park is to be given a face-lift at an estimated cost of Rs. 3 to Rs. 5 lakhs. The DTPC has decided to provide more boats to the village depending on the demand from the tourists. At present, a speed and a safari boat are in operation at Akkulam.

A new floating boat jetty is to be built near the boat house at a cost of Rs. 1.16 lakhs as the existing platform has become dilapidated. The new boat jetty would be completed during the current domestic tourist season.

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