The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Cruise down Godavari made more exciting

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Monday, Mar 31, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Cruise down Godavari made more exciting

D. Chandra Bhaskar Rao

Noise-free solar launch makes the difference

Photo: G. N. RAO

Splendid: Solar launch taking tourists to Papi Hills. —

BHADRACHALAM: A trip down the Godavari is more relaxing and a different experience now. A noise-free solar launch has been pressed into service for the thrilling river cruise. Even the hospitality on board is more alluring because of the personalised services from the tribal youths managing the operations on their own.

With modern fittings and facilities, it is being looked upon as the queen of all launches bound for the fascinating landscapes of Papi Hills. It has been the favourite cruiser for both the locals as well as the tourists who are making a beeline to the temple town for taking the pleasure trip to catch the glimpse of the splendours on the riverside before they go down the water of the Polavaram project.

Tourism potential

As part of the ambitious programme to tap the immense tourism potential, the ITDA has provided three launches costing Rs. 37,86,420 to tribals especially the Konda Reddy youths. About 30 per cent of the cost came to them as the community investment fund under the ‘Indira Kranti Patham’ and 40 per cent as bank loans. The youths operating the “Giri Vihari “launches were given due exposure to the customs of hospitality.

Operations insured

ITDA Project Officer Budha Prakash Jyothi got the Giri Vihari operations insured covering every visitor for a sum of Rs. 1 lakh. The tribal operators

charge the tourists only Rs. 200 per head for a daylong trip from Pochavaram to Perantallapali as against Rs. 300 collected by the private operators.

They extended the trip down to Devipatnam in West Godavari.

With special preparations on menu for break fast and lunch, the visitors are treated with tastes of local dishes. They indulge themselves for a while in the hills watching the scenic beauty with the binoculars provided on board and take instant photographs. Though the Papi Hills would be the out of the coverage area for most of the mobile networks, the solar launch would be having facilities for changing the cell phones on board.

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