Bookings exceed capacity; upper deck in high demand
Mysuru: Mysuru’s dazzling Dasara illuminations continue to draw crowds even after the festival has ended, with the ‘Ambaari’ double-decker buses emerging as a popular way to take in the city’s glittering streets.
Since the illumination tour began on Oct. 11, nearly 7,000 people have travelled on the buses, operated by the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC). The demand has prompted the KSTDC to increase the fleet from four buses to six from Oct. 22. The service will continue until Oct. 31.
Nearly 1,500 passengers travelled on the buses between Thursday and Saturday alone. The upper deck, which offers an unobstructed view of decorative lights, remains the preferred choice, with around 5,000 of the 7,000 passengers opting for it.
“Nearly 1,500 people travelled on the buses between Thursday and Saturday, of whom about 500 travelled standing. At least 10 passengers are travelling standing in each bus. Bookings for Oct. 25 and 26 have already exceeded 100 per cent, as additional passengers are being accommodated after all seats on upper deck are booked,” said K.R. Madhuraj, Manager, KSTDC Mysuru Transport Division.
Each bus has 40 seats, with 20 on each deck. While online bookings account for most passengers, five to six additional passengers are accommodated through counter tickets and travel standing, he said. Daytime trips, however, saw little demand during the Dasara festivities.
Sixth year operation
The KSTDC operates the service under the name ‘Ambaari Dasara Illumination Sightseeing Tour.’ Launched in 2021, the programme is now in its sixth year.
As part of this year’s Dasara celebrations, the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) has illuminated 146 km of roads across Mysuru, including stretches around the Mysore Palace. The city’s traffic circles have also been adorned with 80 artistic installations made entirely of decorative lights.
Though the Dasara festivities concluded on Oct. 21, the illuminations will remain in place until Oct. 31, completing 21 days of festive lighting.
Tour details
The one-hour circular tour starts from Hotel Mayura Hoysala on JLB Road and covers several major roads and landmarks, including Metropole Circle, Hunsur Road, Krishnaraja Boulevard, Ramaswamy Circle, Chamaraja Double Road, Gun House Circle, the Palace Varaha Gate and Jayamarthanda Gate roads, Harding Circle, Albert Victor Road, K.R. Circle, Sayyaji Rao Road, Nelson Mandela Road and Irwin Road, before returning to the starting point.
The buses depart daily at 6 pm, 8 pm and 9.30 pm. Tickets cost Rs. 500 per person for the upper deck and Rs. 250 for the lower deck. Children above five years are charged the full fare, while those below five can travel free.
Online bookings can be made at www.kstdc.co. For enquiries, call 0821-2423652.
