Kondaveedu, Kotappakonda being developed as major tourist hubs in AP

Vijayawada: The forest department is to develop Kondaveedu and Kotappakonda as major eco-tourism hubs by taking up nearly 58 works '4.40 crore with an average monthly footfall at 3,000 to boost tourism in Palnadu district.

Forest authorities have come up with proposals to develop 33 facilities at Kondaveedu eco-tourism initiative at an estimated cost of '2.66 crore and they include camping facilities, eco-friendly cafeteria, battery-operated vehicles, a lotus pond, medicinal plant arboretum, provision of coracle ride facility, development of trekking paths, development and maintenance of adventure tourism activities like trekking, zip line, rock climbing, rappelling, kayaking and others, development of artificial water falls, provision of rejuvenation facility to the visitors with the help of AYUSH department, setting up eco-friendly shelters and several others.

Earlier, the authorities had taken up a series of works from 2018-19 to 2022-23 worth '3.98 crore. Kondaveedu eco-tourism hub registers an average monthly footfall of 12,500. The major attractions include Kondaveedu ghat road, entrance arch, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple, amphi theatre, pagoda, Puttalamma tank, trekking, 3D stones and an adventure activity zone.

Similarly, the forest authorities are also developing Kotappakonda eco-tourism by coming up with proposals to develop 25 facilities at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 1.74 crore. They will include a hill viewpoint deck with eco-friendly material, trekking routes, a plastic recycling unit and compost unit, raising integrated nursery and sale of seedlings, provision of new boats in boating area, setting up drip irrigation system along Giripradakshina and maintenance of drip system along the ghat road, and amenities at Pathakotaiah temple.

Some of the major attractions include ghat road, Brahma statue, Vishnu statue, Pagoda (huts) fish aquarium, birds’ view point, Kalandi Madugu and enclosures for ducks, deer and ostriches.

Earlier, the authorities had spent nearly '1.91 crore from 2018-19 to 2022-23 to provide a series of amenities and the eco-tourism initiative registered an average monthly footfall of visitors at 12,500.

Additionally, the department is planning to develop Sattemmathalli, Devarampadu, Guthikonda Bilam, Bhatrupalem, Macherla, Daida, Vinukonda, Sanjeevakonda, Mannepalli and Boppudi as eco-tourism hubs.

Palnadu district forest officer N. Ramachandra Rao said, “As part of our efforts to promote eco-tourism in a big way, we are developing a series of amenities at several important places to attract more tourists besides spreading awareness about environment conservation and protection.”