BALLARI: The insensitive behaviour of foreign tourists has irked the people of Hampi and surrounding areas. It is said that a foreign tourist entered and roamed around Virupaksheshwara temple drinking beer on Tuesday evening. Moreover, other members of his group were wearing short dresses much to the embarrassment of ‘desi’ tourists.
Local residents said the tourist tried to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, but in vain. Devotees asked him not to do so and sent him back. However, he roamed around the temple premises holding a beer bottle in his hand. They alleged though there were security personnel, they failed to prevent the entry of the tourist.
The residents said some foreign tourists, mostly first-timers, behave badly due to lack of knowledge about local culture.
This was not the first time that foreigners behaved improperly. It is common to see foreign tourists roaming inside the mantapas wearingfootwear. This has hurt the sentiments of local people, they said. The residents demanded that the foreign nationals be banned from wearing short dress and footwear inside temples.
Prakash Rao, executive officer of Virupaksheshwara temple, told Express that directions have been issued to the security personnel not to allow tourists if they are in an inebriated state.
“It is a difficult task as some foreign tourists enter the temple consuming ganja and other narcotics. But still, we will see that no such incident takes place,” he added.