Visitors throng popular tourist spots, temples in Karnataka to usher in New Year

BENGALURU: People from across the state gathered in large numbers at popular tourist spots and temples to mark the New Year.

Hampi, popular as the Dakshina Kashi, saw hordes of tourists on the Matanga Hills to catch the sunrise while some chose to meditate. Some also clicked selfies near monuments.

Visitors catch the sunrise at Matanga Hills on Wednesday.

Visitors rushed to Nandi Hills on the outskirts of Bengaluru after entry was allowed post 7 am, leading to a traffic jam. The district administration had barred tourist entry from December 31 evening to early morning on January 1. The St Mary’s island in Udupi district also drew large crowds to witness the first rays of the Sun in the New Year.

Devotees lined up at the Kanaka Durga temple in Ballari.

Devotees from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh also visited Shirdi in Maharashtra for darshan of Sai Baba. On Wednesday, the first day of the New Year, there were about one lakh visitors at Shirdi.

The Ghati Subrahmanya temple in Doddaballapur taluk.

In Ballari, crowds thronged the Kanaka Durga temple and devotees came from neighbouring Andhra Pradesha and Maharashtra too. The Ghati Subramanya temple in Doddaballapur taluk also witnessed huge crowds of devotees.

Visitors at the Himavad Gopalaswamy Hills on Wednesday.

In Chamarajanagar district, the Himavad Gopalaswamy Hills, Male Mahadeshwara Hills and the Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy temple atop BR Hills recorded heavy footfall of devotees. The Kannika Parameshwari temple in Chitradurga saw devotees lining up from early morning.

The Koti Lingeshwara temple in KGF taluk.

There was also a rush of devotees at the Kolaramma temple in Kolar, the Koti Lingeshwara temple at Kammasamudra in KGF taluk, Nimishamba temple in Srirangapatna, Manjunatheshwara temple in Dharmasthala among other places.