Udupi,(The Hindu): The Marvanthe Beach is one of most beautiful stretches in Udupi district. It is at Marvanthe through which the National Highway 66 passes giving an enticing view for travellers of the Arabian Sea on the one side and the eye-catching Souparnika on the other. In fact, most tourists stop here to catch a view of the sea as it is very close to the highway. The Souparnika on the other side only adds to the beauty of this place. The district administration and the Department of Tourism have decided to convert this place into a major tourist centre.

Soon, tourists will be able to enjoy the cool breeze of the sea walking on the pavement with interlock tiles and also sit on granite benches and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings at Marvanthe. “We want to develop the Marvanthe-Trasi stretch as a marine drive to give tourists an unforgettable experience,” Anita B.R., Assistant Director of Tourism, told The Hindu.

The department has 1.10 acres of land close to the beach which it intends to develop for parking and other amenities for tourists at a cost of  1.36 crore under the Coastal Circuit Scheme. The funds have been released to Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) for this purpose. A watch tower with life guard facility will also come up on the beach. To give the tourists a taste of coastal cuisine, food shacks too would be constructed. “Some food shacks would be given to owners of petty shops whose stalls were removed from the beach for its development,” Ms. Anita said.

The government has 13.12 acres of land opposite the Souparnika, on the other side of the highway. Here, the department would construct a Tourism Information Centre with all facilities, including a food court, at a cost of  6 crore. Those with a spirit of adventure would be able to enjoy the thrill of water sports in the river. A sum of  1.84 crore has been sanctioned for the development of water sports under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Union government.

A house boat facility will be introduced by September in the river, while a floating restaurant is being planned near the river course. “Our aim is to attract tourists both from the country and abroad,” said Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis.