Mangaluru: The Mangaluru division of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has announced special package tours to popular temples and tourist destinations during the Dasara festival.

The special services will operate from October 11 to 20, offering visitors an opportunity to cover several prominent religious and tourist attractions in and around Mangaluru as well as destinations in Kodagu in a single-day trip.

Advance seat reservations for the special package tours have been opened through the KSRTC website. Passengers can book their seats in advance and make use of the services, according to the KSRTC Divisional Controller.

Mangaluru Dasara Navadurga Darshan

Under the Mangaluru Dasara Navadurga Darshan package, the bus will depart from the Mangaluru bus stand at 8 am and take passengers to a series of prominent temples associated with the coastal region’s religious heritage.

The itinerary includes the Soorya Narayana Temple at Maroli, Mariamma Temple at Bolara and Mangaladevi Temple in Mangaluru. The bus will then proceed to Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple and Kodiyadka Annapoorneshwari Temple at Hosnadu.

The tour will also cover Kateel Durgaparameshwari Temple, Bappanadu Durgaparameshwari Temple, Sasihithlu Bhagavathi Temple and Chitrapura Durgaparameshwari Temple.

The final stops on the itinerary are Urwa Mariamma Temple and Kudroli Gokarnanath Temple before the bus returns to the Mangaluru bus stand at around 8.30 pm.

The fare for the Navadurga Darshan package has been fixed at Rs 500 for adults. Children between six and 12 years of age will be charged Rs 400.

The package is expected to provide devotees with a convenient way to visit several important temples without having to arrange separate transportation during the busy Dasara period.

Mangaluru–Talacauvery–Bhagamandala package

KSRTC has also introduced a package covering Mangaluru, Talacauvery and Bhagamandala, combining important religious sites with popular tourist attractions in Kodagu.

The bus will leave Mangaluru at 7 am and travel towards Puttur, where passengers will visit the Mahalingeshwara Temple. The tour will then proceed to Talacauvery Temple and Bhagandeshwara Temple at Bhagamandala.

The itinerary also includes the Triveni Sangama, the confluence of the Cauvery, Kannike and Sujyoti rivers, followed by Abbi Falls and Raja Seat, two of Kodagu’s popular tourist destinations.

The bus is scheduled to return to Mangaluru at around 9.30 pm.

The fare for this package has been fixed at Rs 600 for adults and Rs 500 for children aged six to 12 years.

Advance booking available

The special Dasara services are designed to cater to increased demand for temple visits and sightseeing during the festival season. With multiple destinations covered in each package, the tours offer passengers a planned itinerary and organised bus transportation.

KSRTC has advised interested passengers to make advance reservations as seats are expected to be in demand during the Dasara holidays. Bookings are available through the corporation’s online reservation platform.

The two packages also offer different experiences. The Navadurga Darshan package focuses largely on the major temples of Mangaluru and the surrounding coastal belt, while the Talacauvery–Bhagamandala package combines temple visits with the natural and scenic attractions of Kodagu.

Special services for Dasara visitors

Dasara is one of Karnataka’s major festival periods, drawing large numbers of devotees and tourists to temples and popular destinations. The special KSRTC services from Mangaluru are intended to make travel easier for those looking to undertake religious and sightseeing trips during the festival.

The services will be available from October 11 to 20, giving passengers several opportunities to plan their visits. The fixed fares and advance booking facility are expected to make the packages particularly useful for families and groups travelling during the festive season.

With temple visits forming the core of both itineraries, the packages provide an opportunity for visitors to experience the religious and cultural heritage of coastal Karnataka and Kodagu while also covering major tourist attractions in a single day.