Karnataka proposes twinning of Hampi with Machu Picchu

BENGALURU: The iconic ruins of Hampi in Ballari and Machu Picchu n Peru may become sister heritage ites if a proposal by Karnataka's tou ism department comes through. rism department comes through.

The initiative, by Tourism Minister RV Deshpande who recently led a delegation to the South American nation, includes free entry at Hampi for the tourists who have visited Machu Picchu.

Deshpande made the pitch based on similarities between the two sites. Both Hampi and Machu Picchu have the Unesco heritage tag, they were built around the14th-15th century and both are famous for their Sun temples.

“Peru's tourism minister told me that she would discuss this with Peru's president,“ Deshpande said, adding that the regional administration of Cuzco, where Machu Picchu is located, has agreed to display Hampi on its website.

“The ticket for Machu Picchu will have a counterfoil for Hampi.Tourists can return the counterfoil and enter Hampi within two years. This is the first time we are twinning two heritage sites, instead of cities,“ Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee said.

'Restrict wildlife tourism'

Mukherjee said the State is not keen on promoting wildlife tourism. “We want lesser footfalls be cause the carrying capacity is saturated. We will restrict wildlife tourism by giving proper facilities and extract a price. It isn't the birthright of every ration cardholder to see a tiger. They can see them in a zoo,“ he said.