Krishna District Tourism Promotion Council gets new lease of life

In a city which offers few options for entertainment and leisure activity, revival of the long-defunct Krishna District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) comes as a source of great joy.

After a lull of nearly eight years, the DTPC is back in action, drawing plans, in association with the Vijayawada division of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) to develop a tourism circuit in the Krishna region.

Restoration of the Tourism Development Council is yet to be officially announced and the former is already gearing up for a day-long Kuchipudi festival at Kuchipudi village on February 22. “The whole idea is to promote rural tourism which will pave way for recognition to the rural artists. The skilled artists endowed with immense talent deserve a boost,” D. Harichandana, Sub-Collector, Krishna district, told The Hindu.

“We have been a little dull on the tourism front. Because of agitations, we couldn’t go into festive mode,” admits Ms. Harichandana indicating that the dance festival is part of a larger plan to create a tourism circuit in the region by linking places of cultural and traditional interests like the ancient temples.

“The fact that the Tourism Council has been given a new leash of life is a positive sign. The Krishnotsav festival, designed to propagate the glory of Krishna district, also was last held a decade back. Plans are afoot to develop infrastructural facilities in and around tourist spots like Kondapalli fort which might soon flaunt a sound and light show, a crafts centre at Kondapalli village, addition of attractive features at Hamsaladeevi and Manginapudi beach. A tourist should be able to plan a two-day itinerary to cover these places,” says K. Pattabhi Ram, president of Vijayawada Hotel Owners Association.

For the moment, the Council is focussed on tapping the unexplored tourist potential of Kuchipudi village, a sleepy village in Movva mandal of Krishna district located about 65 km. from Vijayawada city.

The village has given its name to the popular dance form propagated by Siddhendra Yogi. Kuchipudi is also centrally located to many ancient temples in the surrounding areas.

The Siddendra Kalakshetra, standing majestically on a four-acre plot that had originally housed a humble dance school, turns into a hub of cultural activity during the annual Kuchipudi festival. Research scholars from various universities abroad pursuing project studies in theatre frequently visit the place.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by P. Sujatha Varma / Vijayawada – February 04th, 2014