Mandya: Mandya district has earned the distinction of having the highest number of tourist destinations in Karnataka. Mandya is not only a leading agricultural region, but also a flourishing centre of historical heritage, scenic landscapes, and rich cultural traditions.Earlier, the district had 34 officially recognised tourist attractions, including the KRS dam and Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary. With the recent approval of 72 additional locations, the total number of designated tourist spots has now risen to 106—the highest in the state. Belagavi with 100 locations and Chikkaballapura at 95 take the next top positions in the state.According to officials from the tourism department, Mandya offers a diverse tourism portfolio featuring pilgrimage centres, natural retreats, and iconic heritage sites. Major attractions like Brindavan Gardens, Melukote, Shivanasamudra Falls, along with Adichunchanagiri Mutt, Balmuri and Edamuri, and the historic town of Srirangapatna, continue to draw lakhs of visitors all round the year.Efforts are under way to further strengthen tourism infrastructure, improve connectivity, promote eco-tourism and heritage conservation. These initiatives are expected to accelerate economic growth, create employment opportunities, and empower local communities, especially rural entrepreneurs.Speaking to TOI, Raghavendra HB, deputy director of Mandya district tourism department, said, “The revised list of 106 tourist locations have received govt approval. We have submitted a proposal seeking Rs 25 crore to develop basic facilities in these identified spots.” He added that Srirangapatna taluk leads with 24 tourist destinations, followed by KR Pete and Maddur with 18 each. Pandavapura features 13 attractions, while Mandya, Malavalli, and Nagamangala have 12, 11, and 10 spots respectively.Among these, Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Mutt in Nagamangala taluk remains the most visited place — drawing more than 66 lakh visitors between Jan and Dec 2024. Other top attractions include Nimishamba Temple, Melukote, Gaganachukki Falls, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, and KRS.Mandya’s hall of fameTaluk——— No. of tourist places– Srirangapatna Taluk – 24– KR Pete Taluk – 18– Maddur Taluk – 18– Pandavapura Taluk – 13– Mandya Taluk – 12– Malavalli Taluk – 11– Nagamangala Taluk – 10Total – 106 tourist spots Source: Tourism department
