Karnataka’s Heritage Cities Mysuru, Hampi Among Sites To Be Developed Under Centre’s Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme

Karnataka’s two erstwhile royal cities will soon be developed under the centre’s Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme.

As per an Memorandum of the Ministry of Tourism dated 4 January, Mysuru and Hampi are among the 36 destinations that have been chosen for development under the scheme.

Heritage sites in 19 states and union territory have made it to this list. This includes Gandikota and Arakku- lambassingi in Andhra Pradesh, Bomjir and Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh, Jorhat and Kokrajhar in Assam, Gaya and Nalanda in Bihar, Chandigarh, Provorim and Colva in Goa, Dholavira and Dwarka in Gujarat, Kumarakom and Kozhikode in Kerala, Leh and Kargil in Ladakh among others.

Swadesh Darshan was first launched by the central government in 2015 under which 75 sites were developed. In July 2022, the Ministry of Tourism revamped its Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) in order to develop sustainable and responsible destination centric approach with objectives such as enhancing contribution of tourism to local economies; creating jobs including self-employment for local communities; and enhancing skills of local youth in tourism and hospitality.