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Plan a jungle getaway

Sandwiched between lush green hillsKambalakonda is an ornithologist's delight

PHOTO: K.R. DEEPAK

LUSH GREENERY Students going on a trek at Kambalakonda

Here's good news for adventure-loving tourists. They can go on a trek in the jungles right in the city.

One need not spend half-a-day in reaching the jungle, they can reach it in less than half-an-hour and spend the whole day in the jungle.

Wondering where the jungle is? It's at Kambalakonda.

Sandwiched between lush green hills, Kambalakonda is a nature lovers delight. Tourists from other places who are on short trips or a holiday have a golden opportunity to visit the forest and watch the rich flora and fauna in the sanctuary.

The high viewpoints set up amidst the greens make it a ornithologist's delight.

Buoyed by the tremendous response of tourists to its various holiday packages, the divisional officials of AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) have added Kambalakonda to the itinerary of the city heritage tour. As of now tourists would be taken to the place only as a part of the city tour but the corporation has plans to organise day-long treks in future.

"We are planning to introduce trekking at Kambalakonda as a package tour. The modalities are being worked out. We are sure that it will be big hit as tourists can experience and explore the jungle close to the concrete jungle," says APTDC Divisional Manager P. Jeevan Prasad.

Tourist boom

The inflow of tourists at Borra Caves recorded a 38 per cent growth for the month of October. This year 45,572 tourists visited the place as against 33,048 during the same month last year.

The hotels of the corporation in the division had 74 per cent occupancy during the month. The occupancy of the corporation's two hotels at Araku was 78 per cent in October.

The rail-cum-road package to Araku recorded 25 per cent growth this season over last year. This season 6,400 tourists availed of the package as against 5,121 last year. It could have been even more but the change of weather towards the end of last month has had a telling effect.

Mr. Prasad said that the city tour has recorded 47 per cent growth. While 1,620 tourists availed of the package last year this year it has gone up to 2,378.

B. MADHU GOPAL

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