Karwar - the new destination for this New Year - Times of India

Those headed to Goa for New Year's Eve need not return home disappointed as there's a new beach destination for an alternative. 

Many tourists who could not get rooms at lodges in Goa have arrived at Karwar where lodges and resorts are now houseful till January 5. Most of the resorts and the lodges in Goa were reserved almost three months in advance by tourists who wanted to ring in the New Year here. This caught tourists from Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu off guard. 

Police in Goa too discourage heavy inflow of travellers on the eve of New Year as it leads to chaotic traffic and poses security problems. Once the lodges and resorts in Goa are at their full capacity, police block vehicles carrying new tourists at the border till the first week of January. The threat of a terrorist attack in Goa has also had its effect with many people opting for other places to celebrate New Year. One of them being the beaches of neighbouring Uttara Kannada. The tourists visiting Karwar are mainly fromBangalore and Mysore. 

Jayant, a software engineer from Bangalore came to Goa with plans for December 31 but was left without an accommodation. So he changed routes to Karwar. Staying at a resort, he said he found the beaches of Karwar very enjoyable. "Unlike the ones in Goa, the beaches here stretch for miles. The islands in the Kali river and the scenery at the confluence of Kali and the Arabian sea are excellent," he said and plans to stay till January 2. "I intend to visit sometime next year too," he said. 

For others, unavailability isn't always the case. A group of college students from Kolar came to Goa only to find that a basic room costs between Rs3000 and 5000. They too headed to Karwar. "It is cheaper here and the place is very scenic," they said. 

Another tourist lamented that the state tourism department needed to do more to promote Karnataka as a holiday destination. Places like Murudeshwar and Gokarn are not far behind. With plenty of holidaymakers here, hotel owners, tourist guides and cab owners are a happy lot. That makes for a joyous note on which to end 2010.

Read more: Karwar's the new Goa - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Karwars-the-new-Goa/articleshow/7187025.cms#ixzz19ZVEFj80

Karwar and not Goa is the preferred destination for many, this year-end - Indian Express

Karwar and not Goa is the destination for many Bangaloreans and  Maharashtrians this year-end. There has been a heavy rush of tourists here this winter season. All resorts in town are booked up to January 2. Cashing in on the sudden boom, hotels are doing good business.

It was not too long ago that Goa was considered a tourist paradise. Karwar boasts of unparallel scenic beauty. Its 5 km long silvery beach immortalised by Rabindranath Tagore, cluster of islands in the Arabian sea, Kali river and of course the Western Ghat ranges with its green canopy protruding into the sea did not attract the tourists hitherto due to lack of facilities.

The credit goes to Uttara Kannada zilla panchayat, which first mooted the idea of exploring the tourist potential of Karwar, particularly Devabag peninsula at the mouth of the Kali. Though plans were drawn up in the early nineties, no tourism projects could be taken up here due to lack of funds. It was then the Jungle Lodges and Resorts, a state government undertaking, decided to set up a beach resort at Devbag. Later, a number of private resorts mushroomed in and around the town providing the much-needed facilities to the tourists.  

It is not merely the natural splendour that attracts tourists. Karwar is ideal for seekers of peace and tranquility. It provides an exclusive escape for secrecy and solitude. It was on the beach of Karwar that Rabindranath Tagore spent a moonlit night. The beauty of the night was the inspiration for many of his literary works, Tagore wrote in his memoirs.

For adventure lovers, there are many water sports like aqua glide ride, kayaking, water scooter, speed boat ride, snorkelling and para sailing at Devbag. The rich bio diversity of Karwar attracts botanists and environmental scientists. One can ride with fishermen in their boats deep into the sea for a thrilling experience. Swimming is not dangerous in the sea, known for its sublime calmness. Karwar sea is a  natural habitat for dolphins. During the boat ride one can spot the frolicking dolphins.

Local delicacies, particularly fresh sea food is a delight. “We come here because it is a place one only dreams of. It is a fit place to relax,” says a software engineer from Bangalore.


Source - http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/tagore%E2%80%99s-inspiration-is-now-tourists%E2%80%99-spot/234501.html

Pune Ernakulam B Weekly Superfast Train Only One Stop In Karnataka Petition - IndianVoice.org

Pune Ernakulam B Weekly Superfast Train Only One Stop In Karnataka Petition - IndianVoice.org

The Ministry of Railways on Saturday, the 27th November 2010, introduced a train connectingPune, Navi Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore and Ernakulam via Konkan Railway. Railway officials said that it will be the first train from Pune to run on Konkan Railways following a consistent demand for a regular train on this route from the Malayali community in Pune. It is among the four new ones announced in the railway budget 2010-11 by railway minister Mamata Banerjee.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/others/panaji-a-new-train-on-the-konkan-railways-69138?cp

Train 2519/2520 Ernakulam -Pune-Ernakulam bi-weekly super fast express will leave Ernakulam on Tuesdays and Fridays at 5.15 am and will reach Pune at 5.50 am, next day. From Pune, this train will leave on Sundays and Wednesdays at 6.45 pm and will reach Ernakulam Junction at 7 pm the next day. This train will have stoppages at Thrissur, Shoranur, Tirur, Kozhikode, Thalassery, Kannur, Kasargod, Mangalore Junction, Madgaon, Savanthavadi Road and Panvel.

Read more: Ernakulam-Pune bi-weekly from today - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangalore/Ernakulam-Pune-bi-weekly-from-today/articleshow/6996973.cms#ixzz16y4Jke1B

The newly started Pune-Ernakulam express train covers a distance of 353 kms in Karnataka. However, it has been given stops only at Mangalore Junction station. In Kerala, it covers 419 kms, but seven stops have been given there, at Kasargod, Kannur, Talassery, Kozhikode, Tirur, Shoranur and Trissur.

No Stop even at district headquarters like Udupi and Karwar, makes the people of the region to question the motive behind this neglect towards Karnataka.

Its High Time, people of Karwar stood up and demand for the Train to Stop at Karwar, which is a District H.Q. and wake up our respective Representatives...