• Tourists still pay entry fee, parking charges; dry fountains till Dec. 19
• Reason: Hydraulic model study underway at Brindavan Gardens by Karnataka Engineering  Research Station

Mysore/Mysuru: Hundreds of tourists visiting the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam and the iconic Brindavan Gardens have been returning disappointed for over a week now, particularly on weekends, as none of the colourful fountains in the Gardens  are functioning.

Visitors from various parts of Karnataka and outside the State said they were unaware of the disruption and felt let down after reaching the popular tourist destination, famed for its illuminated musical fountains and  landscaped lawns.

Many said absence of the much-hyped musical fountain shows had significantly diminished the charm of the Gardens, especially during the evening hours when the lights are on and crowds peak.

Rs. 100 entry fee for dry displays

Tourists complained that no prior announcement or signage informed them about the non-functional fountains, leading to confusion and frustration. Per day, about 3,000 to 4,000 tourists visit KRS and Brindavan Gardens, with the number rising to 6,000 – 7,000 on weekends and crossing 10,000 during holidays.

“We travelled a long distance to enjoy musical fountain show. There was no prior information about fountains not functioning. An entry fee of Rs. 100 per person was collected at toll gate and Rs. 100 was charged for parking. Instead, we are seeing dry fountains, with even dogs sleeping inside them,”a tourist said.

Some visitors said they were forced to turn back from the parking lot itself after being informed by attendants that the fountains were not working.

Others, who paid the entry and parking fees, entered the Gardens only to find empty fountains, broken pipes and an overall lack of colour, prompting criticism of the authorities for charging fees without providing the main attraction. Over Rs. 3 crore was spent in 2023 to repair the fountains.

KERS hydraulic model study

The Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited (CNNL), which manages the KRS Dam and Brindavan Gardens, has not issued any official statement explaining the disruption or announcing a timeline for resumption.

However, when Star of Mysore this morning contacted CNNL Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) Farooq Ahmed he admitted that no media release had been issued to inform tourists.

He said the Hydraulic Division of the Karnataka Engineering Research Station (KERS), located within the KRS premises, is currently conducting hydraulic model studies, due to which the fountains have been kept non-functional.

“The hydraulic model study work began last Monday and the fountains have remained shut since then. We regret the inconvenience caused to tourists. The fountains are expected to resume functioning from Dec. 19, once the study is completed,” he said.

With the New Year and Christmas holiday season approaching and large crowds expected, visitors have urged the authorities to restore the fountains at the earliest and ensure timely communication about maintenance shutdowns to avoid inconvenience.