The Hindu Business Line : Kanyakumari theme park to open in Dec

The park will have 18 rides, apart from other attractions such as an artificial waterfall and an elevated area from which visitors can view the sunset.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Nov. 25

BAYWATCH, a water theme park promoted by the Thrissur-based Sree Bhadra Parks & Resorts Ltd, located at Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, will open its doors to visitors by mid-December.

Speaking to Business Line, Mr K.N. Narayanan Namboothiripad, the Managing Director, said that the opening has been timed to coincide with the Christmas vacations when the number of visitors to the town goes up.

The decision to locate the park in Kanyakumari was influenced by the dearth of family entertainment facilities in the southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, he added.

The choice of Kanyakumari is also aimed at capitalising on the large, year-round tourist inflow into the town.

According to Mr Namboothiripad, a significant proportion of those who visit the town spend the entire day there, but do not have much to do besides viewing sunrise and sunset and making a visit to the Vivekananda Rock.

"The amusement park will give visitors something more to do and will thus add to Kanyakumari's attractiveness as a tourist destination."

Located on an area of 12 acres, the park will have 18 rides to begin with. Of these, around 10 will be water-based rides. Other attractions are an artificial waterfall and an elevated area from which visitors can view the sunset.

"The objective of the park is not just to entertain but also to educate," he said.

"In keeping with this theme, the first phase of the park's development will include a science museum and a coral collection." The science museum, which will be an interactive one, will be ready in about six months.

Special events will be organised on weekends for visitors to the park, Mr Namboothiripad said. This will include magic shows and cultural programmes. The programmes would feature traditions from all parts of the country.

Also on the anvil during the second phase of the park's development is a full-fledged art gallery with a permanent collection on display and a store that will sell works of art.

The company also plans to create a Vivekananda museum during the period.

Mr Namboothiripad said that the company's marketing efforts would be focused on the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The company is in the process of developing special packages for school and college excursions to the park.

As part of its efforts to attract students to the park, it will set up dormitory facilities soon, Mr Namboothiripad added.

The park, which can accommodate around 3,000 people at a time, will have a staff of around 90.

The total investment in the project is Rs 30 crore, while the investment in the first phase is Rs 6.3 crore.

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