Karkala : Chief Minister D. V. Sadananda Gowda inaugurated the Koti Chennayya Theme Park located at Karkala on Jan 28 Saturday.

The inauguration ceremony was organized jointly by the Kannada and Culture Department and the district administration.

Speaking on the occasion, the youngsters must be inspired and encouraged by the greatness of Koti Chennnayya. He said that the Koti Chennnayya park is the first phase out the big project to be completed at the cost of Rs. 178 lakhs and further this must be developed as a tourism destination.

He said that the park also comprises of 10-foot high statue of Koti Chennayya and medicinal garden named after ‘Thaayi Devi Baidithi’ in respect to the mother of Koti Chennayya spent from MLAs fund.

Artists like Jayaraj, Arun, and Harish Pai and architect Purushottam Adve were also felicitated on the occasion. Karkala MLA Gopal Bhandary presided over the event.

Higher Education Minister Dr. V. S. Acharya, State Minister for Kannada and Culture Govinda Karajola, CDA Chairman B. Nagaraj Shetty, MLC Captain Ganesh Karnik, Udupi MLA K. Raghupathy Bhat, Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendon, and others were present.