Local KSRTC’s Mluru Dasara Darshana Package Tours Package Tours Off on a Positive Note
Mangaluru: The KSRTC Mangaluru division’s ‘Mangaluru Dasara Darshana’ package tours started off on a positive note, deploying nine buses to different temples on Sunday. Based on the overwhelming response during the previous Dasara season, the division has introduced one-day dasara package tours to the temples this festive season.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Rajesh Shetty, senior divisional controller, of KSRTC Mangaluru division said, “The nine buses were dedicated to transporting passengers to various temples. Four buses specifically catered to trips to Kollur, while three buses facilitated visits to nine temples. Additionally, passengers in two buses opted for the Madikeri package. In comparison to last year, where only three buses were booked on the first day, this year is already off to a better start, with an average of about 6-7 buses being booked daily. It is anticipated that the rush will escalate during the weekend or after October 21. In the previous year, we had operated up to a maximum of 22 buses a day,”.
” Among the various tours, the Kollur and city routes are in high demand. The demand for the city tour is expected to increase on or after the fifth day of the Dasara festival.
The Darshana package tours will cover Mangaladevi Temple, Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple, Sunkadakatte Sri Ambika Annapoorneshwari Temple, Kateel Durgaparameshwari Temple, Bappanadu Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple, Sasihithlu Bhagavathi Temple, Chitrapura Durgaparameshwari Temple, Urwa Mariamma Temple and Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple” added Rajesh.
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Shetty also said ” KSRTC has appointed a dedicated coordinator for each tour, who will accompany the passengers during their travel. For local trips, a task force has been established to proactively address and resolve any issues that may arise. There has been a public demand for the introduction of a KSRTC package tour to Gejjegiri, which was offered during Deepavali last year. We hope to re-introduce this package tour soon. It will cover Vittal Panchalingeshwara Temple, Umamaheshwari Temple, Puttur Mahalingeshwara Temple, Gejjegiri, and Hanumagiri,”
On Sunday, as part of the inauguration of the package tours, passengers were greeted with chocolates. The Madikeri package from Mangaluru will cover Raja Seat, Abbey Falls, Nisargadhama, Golden Temple, and Harangi Dam. Mangaluru- Kollur package will cover Maranakatte Mahalingeshwara Temple, Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple, Kamalashile Durgaparameshwari Temple and Uchila Sri Mahalakshmi Temple.
It should be noted that the Mangaluru division of KSRTC operates- Ambari Dream Class AC Sleeper buses-6; Multi-Axle -47; Volvo-11; Non AC Sleeper-46; Rajahamsa- 40; Karnataka Sarige -154; Gramantara Sarige- 147; City- 52; among the total of 509 plus buses.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Pranesh Shet and his wife Ms Gabriele Turner (origin of Berlin, Germany) residing in Udupi said, “We take quite a few trips between Berlin and Udupi during the year since our siblings are in Berlin. Even though we have visited quite a few temples in Udupi and DK, we wanted to experience something new on this newly introduced one-day tour package arranged by KSRTC during Mangaluru Dasara. We hope this tour will be an exciting one, so we can spread the news to our friends, who also can enjoy the sightseeing of historic temples in DK.”