Major tourist spots in Odisha close down from Monday to check spread of coronavirus

BHUBANESWAR: In the wake of coronavirus outbreak scare several famous tourist places in the state including Sun Temple in Konark, Dhauli Peace Pagoda, Khandagiri and Udaygiri caves, Rajarani temple in Bhubaneswar are closed for tourists from Monday. These popular tourist places will remain out of bound for tourists till March 31, official sources said.
“Keeping in view the safety of tourists we decided to close major ASI protected monuments like Sun Temple of Konark, Khandagiri and Udaygiri Caves and Rajarani Temple in the state till March 31,” said Arun Mallik, superintendent of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Bhubaneswar circle. Every day at least 5000 visitors come to Sun Temple, Konark alone, official sources said.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday also appealed people to practice ‘social distancing’. “Each of us should avoid social gathering and assemblies like religious functions and marriage receptions. Being at home, reducing social interaction and avoiding gatherings will cut down vulnerability to a great extent,” the CM said.
Meanwhile the state government had stopped plying of tourists buses to various places from Sunday though people are allowed to visit in their private vehicles.
Puri district collector Balwant Singh requested tourists not to visit the pilgrim town and not to come out from houses, if not required. “Restrictions will be issued on sea beaches and people will not be allowed to get assembled. Health check-up of all foreign nationals present in the district will be done,” Singh said.
Tourists were seen returning home following the shutdowns. “We had come for a five-day stay in Puri and reached here on Saturday but now we are planning to go back on Monday as the atmosphere is getting scary due to the coronavirus scare. We are worried as we have to return by rail and there is danger in travelling with so many people together,” said Nilotpal Chatterjee, a tourist from Midnapur in West Bengal.
Tourist places, markets and shopping malls in the city wore a deserted look on Sunday as very few people came out of their homes compared to other holidays. “I went to a shopping mall to buy something and got scared as there were very few people in the market, as if it was Bharat Bandh. People have got panicked,” said Somesh Sahu, a student.
The shutdown will have serious impact on the tourism industry as a large number of vendors including cab drivers, hoteliers, restaurant owners, shop owners will be affected.
“We don’t know how to manage things in such a situation. Without tourists there is no point in opening the hotel but we cannot allow out staff to leave and have to pay them without work. It will cost huge financial loss,” said Badal Kumar Das, a hotelier in Konark.