Mandya: Tourists flock to Ganjam, near Srirangapatna, owing to its many attractions like the Dariya Daulat, the sangam, which is a confluence of rivers Lokapavani and Cauvery, and the ancient temple of Nimishamba Devi.
But sightseeing in the town is not easy as tourists are often harassed by local rowdies, who abuse them , deflate the tyres of their vehicles and even indulge in eve teasing.
Only recently, a visitor from Uttar Pradesh was approached by a man claiming to be a tourist guide, and was met by a volley of abuse when he refused to hire him to show him around the town. The UP tourist complained about the incident in an e-mail to the tourism department.
Often tourists also find themselves arguing with so called agents over parking fee and when they refuse to pay the amount demanded, find the tyres of their vehicles deflated or the petrol pipes of parked two-wheelers cut.
Worse , a section of the Srirangapatna fort often sees young men drinking and gambling , threatening the safety of tourists. Aware of the situation, the tourism department is now demanding better security at these spots for the safety of tourists visiting them.
“We have heard of these incidents but none of the harassed tourists have lodged a formal complaint with us. However, the jurisdictional police will be asked to provide adequate security around the places of tourism interest in Ganjam,” said a senior tourism officer.
