Hyderabad: Tourists flock to Rayikal falls to catch its beauty

Warangal: Tourists in large numbers are flocking to see the Rayikal waterfall, causing a traffic jam of sorts on the 3-km muddy road that leads to the spot.

Numerous cars, two-wheelers and pedestrians jostled for space on the road to and from the waterfall. They faced a lot of problems as the muddy road was made worse by the rain. Being Friendship Day, groups of youngsters made a beeline to the waterfall.

After running the gauntlet of a road, visitors need to park their vehicles near the Rayikal lake and walk another 1 km through the Saidapur forest, crossing little streams, reaching the hillock.

A short climb leads the visitor to the waterfall cascading down multiple levels amid the lush green trees. The sights and the roar of the waterfall erases memories of the tiresome journey and the prospect of  similar experience while returning.

Located 40 km from Warangal, the waterfall is in Rayikal of Saidapur mandal in Karimnagar district. A detour after crossing Mulkanoor on the Siddipet road from Warangal leads to Vangara, the native village of former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.

Five km from Vangara is Rayikal, from where one needs to go off the road and take a mud road amid agriculture fields till the Rayikal lake.

A tourist said it can draw more visitors if facilities were provided.

“The village committee which is managing the waterfall must repair the road. They are charging a parking fee and the money must be used for the development of the area,” said Mr Satyam Patel, a student from Hanamkonda.

The waterfall became popular two years back after this newspaper reported about it. Forest and district officials had promised better facilities but so far no efforts have been made on this front even as large number of tourists are visiting the place.