Udupi, Feb 15: Nestled between the Western Ghats and Arabian Sea, Udupi can look spectacular from the air. Come Tuesday and tourists to the city will be able to enjoy its natural beauty from a helicopter.
Heli -tourism has only been talked about in coastal Karnataka for about a decade. But now Udupi deputy commissioner R Vishal has decided to give it shape, convinced it will bring more tourists to the picturesque district.
The administration has roped in Chipsan Aviation to provide the helicopter which will fly six people at a time for10 minutes over Udupi city, giving them an aerial view of the green landscape abutting the sea. Bookings have already started for the joy ride which will take off from the Adi Udupi helipad.
“Tourists will get to fly over a 20 km radius in Udupi,” says tourism department Assistant Director, Nagaraj. Depending on the response over the next couple of weeks, heli-tourism could become a permanent feature in Udupi, according to him.
In days to come heli-rides could be organised to pilgrim centres like Kollur, Sringeri, Mangaluru and Murudeshwar as well , he reveals. “We have taken all the necessary clearances. The helicopter could also be used to support medical emergencies,” he explains.
Only last month, the Malpe beach in Udupi district became the first Wi-Fi enabled beach in the country , giving tourists another reason to visit it.
A joyride around Udupi, Manipal and Malpe will cost Rs. 3,000 per head. Students can avail a concession of Rs. 400 per head.
Tourists wanting to be picked up from Mangaluru to Udupi or wanting to go from Udupi to Kollur or other places should inform the Chipsan Aviation at least 24 hours in advance.
For using the helicopter service and details, call: 9742507270, 9388199101 or 9611520008.
DC made to wait at launch
It was a long wait for Deputy Commissioner R. Vishal outside Adi Udupi helipad on Monday, at the launch of the helicopter tourism facility here.
Dr. Vishal arrived for the launch around 9.20 a.m. only to find the gates to the helipad locked. He directed the NCC personnel to open it, but they refused. He then warned the officer in-charge Awdeesh Kumar Singh that he would have to take action against him. Mr. Singh opened the gates only after receiving a nod from the Commanding Officer.
Dr. Vishal said that he had sent two notices to the Commanding Officer and asked him to attend a meeting at the district offices complex, but the latter did not turn up.
Dr. Vishal said that the Revenue Department had leased the land to the NCC in 1967, which was extended in 2001 and then in 2005 till 2008. The NCC had just fenced the area. “Its location is strategic as it is on the Malpe-Manipal Road. Tourists can easily go to either Malpe or Udupi-Manipal from here,” he said. Dr. Vishal later said that he had asked the NCC officials to meet him on Tuesday to thrash out the matter.
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