Three years after the multilingual audio guide was introduced to facilitate tourists visiting Mysore Palace, it seems to have kicked up a controversy, with some tourists speaking out against the facility which is being thrust on all foreign tourists.

Deputy commissioner P S Vastrad, who is executive officer of Mysore Palace Board, said that he had received complaints from tourists and public that the audio guide which is available in seven languages was made compulsory for all foreign visitors entering the Palace during Dasara celebrations this season. He then directed the board's deputy director T S Subramanya to look into it and submit a report, the DC explained. 

"The Palace Board had entered into an agreement with an international firm in 2008 to provide the audio tour service for 10 years. Sources claimed that "there is a binding contract that every foreign tourist has to obtain the guide, even though they do not want it." Some of the tourists argued against paying for the audio guide if it was not available in their language. The guide is only available in Kannada, Hindi, English, French, Italian, German and Spanish.

Vastrad felt that it was not fair to compel foreign tourists to obtain the audio guide and said that he would look into the contractual obligations and take a decision soon after consulting with legal experts. However, the DC said he has now made the audio guide facility to foreign tourists an option.

TOI