Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Sailing indeed is a mouth-watering feast!

P. Sujatha Varma

Breakfast on board APTDC's fleet of 11 boats

DOUBLE TREAT: Cruising through the placid waters of the Krishna and savouring the delicious breakfast on board the Bodhisiri... does it get any yummier than this?

VIJAYAWADA: Lounging on a smear of green spread across a blue canvas can make a world of difference to your vacations. Cruising through the placid waters of the Krishna and heading towards the 133-acre landmass that has come to be known as an idyllic resort for tired souls can be an ideal culmination of the exciting holidays.

A glimpse of the unsullied beauty of the picturesque island from the jetty at Berm Park strengthens the desire to make the island one's home, at least for a few momentous days. Doubling the charm of the place, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) has introduced a breakfast round on board its fleet of 11 boats.

Comfort and appeal

A set of 24 cottages grouped into four clusters dots the island. Laying emphasis on comfort and appeal, great care has been exercised in laying out these cottages. Plush interiors, individual lounge facilities, sit-outs, extensive landscaping and the gentle waves frequently kissing the yard add their bit to the all-pervading charm of the island.

Visitors checking into these cottages are treated to a scrumptious round of breakfast, consisting of soft and delicious idli, vada, utappam, dosa, upma and pongali. A buffet breakfast on the floating restaurant Amrapali awaits the guests who can choose any three of the above said items to tickle their taste buds. The offer is also being extended to the guests checking into Punnami Guest House at the Berm Park.

Souls yearning for a delightful change in their lifestyle are welcome to experiment with the on-board breakfast round by paying Rs. 70 per head (besides separate fare for boat ride). The 45-minute journey on the river expanse and the delicious breakfast are offered free of cost. Depending on the size of the group, boats like Amrapali, Vijayasiri or Bodhisiri are pressed into service.

Cultural

Tourism officials have not only resumed operation of Vijayasiri and Bodhisiri cruises but have revived cultural programmes on board Vijayasiri to entertain the visitors. For an hour-long trip on Vijayasiri, the charge is Rs. 50 for an adult and for children it costs Rs. 35 per head.

"Floods which were followed by repairs to Prakasam Barrage had disrupted the boat operations. We have unfastened the boats into the undulating waters hoping to pull crowds in the coming days," says APTDC's Divisional Manager Venkateswara Rao.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

City development plan rocks VMC meet
PG medical counselling peaceful
Sailing indeed is a mouth-watering feast!
`Explore mango market in SE Asia'
eSeva to accept telephone bills after pay-by-date
Left parties oppose G.O. 160
Shower of hope?
Around the City
Reporter's Diary: Official `feel-good' ambience

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu