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Essence of the countryside
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The soothing verdant valleys of Anantagiri and the refreshing Thatiguda waterfalls is a hidden paradise nestled in the arms of the Eastern Ghats, writes Nivedita Ganguly
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Photos: K.R. Deepak
In the lap of nature (left) A view of the Anantagiri Hill Resorts of APTDC ; the Thatiguda waterfalls
Seamless stretches of greens, meandering curves lined by silver oak and scattered coffee plantations - a nature’s jewel perched in the arms of the Eastern Ghats is Anantagiri. Located at a distance of 110 km. from Visakhapatnam at a height of 3
,100 ft above seal level, it was a delight waiting to extend its warmth and unexplored pristine beauty before us. This is a place that simply rejuvenates the lost spirit, almost with an instant effect. While the journey, rushing almost head-long into the lush scenary, is fascinating to say the least, our base camp at Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation’s newly built Anantagiri Hill Resorts provided the perfect setting to start off the adventurous journey. The spacious cottages of the resort with its grand balcony opening out towards the vast green valleys gives a dreamy effect. You get a feeling as though you’re standing in your very own box in the magnificent theatre of nature, watching it unfold into myriad hues and beauties. There are three watchtowers in the resort that offer a panoramic view of the place. The resort itself with the beautiful garden area is a great place to hang out in the evenings. Developed at a cost of Rs.5 crores, the resort has 16 valley-facing AC and non-AC cottages with nine budget accommodations and three luxury cottages coming up soon. The multi-cuisine restaurant of the resort is built on a slightly elevated area so that visitors can enjoy the valley view while taking a bite of some delicious dishes. Here you also get to capture the Kodak moments of the beautiful hills from the resort shining gloriously at sunrise and sunset.
Our odyssey starts with an early morning two-kilometre drive to the neighbouring village of Thatiguda to see the fascinating Thatiguda waterfalls. The drive to the tribal hamlet down the Anantagiri Hill Resort is a haze of green lush fields, forested hills and coffee plantations. The vehicle stops briskly at a place just before a small hill stream.
From here, we begin the one-kilometre trek through the small hamlets that are a treat for the eyes and senses. By then the sky is the colour of faded denim, and the sun has stretched its rays across the world. Birds frolic by the wayside even as mountain silhouettes loom on the horizon.
The endless stretch of greens glistening in the shining yellow rays of the early morning sun reveals the timeless eternity of the place. To soak in the landscape, we walk past the idyllic surroundings of the fields. The villages give a glimpse of the tribal culture and traditions of the region. The tribal folks deeply engrossed in the fields remain unperturbed by our presence. The region is home to 12 tribal communities, each having a distinct culture.
As we amble along, our guide Mangu proved to be a delightful companion. He tells us many stories of the tribal hamlets with excited comments about many old natives miraculously bouncing back to live from the jaws of death.
For a while we have the colourful company of a little group of villagers, joyfully following us. Our photographer caught all of this in an enthusiastic shooting spree.
A 45-minute walk over the green fields and hilly terrains takes you to the source of the gushing Gosthani waters where it explodes fiercely into rainbows out of a rocky cleft and pours into a torrential stream which calms down below.
We are the lone human presence in that primeval beauty of unearthly splendour. The pace of life is rather leisurely. Towering rocks surrounds the gushing waterfalls on one side while layers of green fields are perched on the other side. There are quite a few viewpoints from atop the hill. The climb up the face of the rock is a bit strenuous but nevertheless richly rewarding. You can get a grand view of the waterfall and the green valleys from there and also follow the vivacious route of the hill stream down the valley. It simply revitalises the soul and the spirit. Don’t forget to wear your pair of trekking shoes or you will surely trip over while climbing like I did!
After coming down the cliff and crisscrossing across the flowing waters, we experience the most refreshing and splendid sights of the Thatiguda waterfalls. The cascading waterfalls lay right in front of us. This location seems to come to straight out of a Bollywood flick. And we were true to think so. For guide Mangu tells us that many film shootings have taken place here right under the flowing waters of Gosthani River. The journey has been spectacular and now, the destination, spell-binding! As we walked back towards our vehicle for the drive back to the resort, we talk about the infinite canvas on which nature had painted with flamboyant excess.
Travel Tips
The best way to enjoy the scenic beauty of the place is to hire a cab or get your own car and head to this place. Many deluxe buses also take a daily trip to the place from Visakhapatnam. APTDC’s Hill Resorts in Anantagiri with its regal view of the mighty hills is an excellent place to lodge. The cost of a night’s stay in the cottages ranges from Rs.1,600 to Rs.2,000.
You can also keep Tyda as the base camp and stay at Jungle Bells and head to Anantagiri which is about a 45-minute drive from there. At Jungle Bells, Tyda, the cost of log huts and cottages ranges from Rs.800 to Rs.1,500.
Take the help of the local tribals for directions. You can also hire a guide.
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
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