Rajahmundry: The AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) is going to include a new package for tourists from the coming New Year's Day. The new package -- Road-cum-River cruise -- will be from Visakhapatnam to the famous picnic spot Papikondalu, on the border of Khammam district.

Disclosing this to mediapersons here on Wednesday, Divisional Manager of APTDC P. Jeevan Prasad said that they were re-introducing popular cruiser `Chitrangi' (beautifully decorated boat) with 50-seats to Papikondalu to facilitate tourists and nature lovers. He said that the package tour was only on Saturdays and Sundays from Visakhapatnam and that people of East Godavari could join from Rajahmundry, if there were vacant seats. He said that they were already running `Ratnagi' and `Chitrangi' from Rajahmundry to Papikondalu.

Breakfast and lunch

According to Mr. Jeevan, the tour will start every Saturday 10 p.m. from Visakhapatnam and reach Rajahmundry by 4.30 or 5.00 a.m. on Sunday. The APTDC will arrange bathing and other facilities for tourists in Rajahmundry. The tourists will leave for Papikondalu by 6.30 a.m. on `Chitrangi' across the river Godavari. First stoppage will be at Pattiseema Veerbhadra Swami temple, which is 1,100 years old. Breakfast and snacks will be arranged on the decks of `Chitrangi'. After leaving Pattiseema, the cruiser will reach Papikondalu by 2.00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

Lunch will be served during the voyage.

After spending three hours in Papikondalu, `Chitragi' will leave for Rajahmundry and then the tourists will return to Vizag.

Answering a question, Mr. Jeevan said that the charge for this rural tourism package tour is approximately around Rs. 900 to Rs. 1,000. Mr. Murali, Manager of Rajahmundry APTDC, and others participated in the press conference.

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