A gold mine lies in neglect in Amaravati
While both domestic and foreign tourists visit these places, the state had done little to improve facilities here.
Guntur: After it was declared part of the state capital region, the number of tourists visiting old Amaravati, including Amaravati museum and Undavalli caves has shot up dramatically.
While both domestic and foreign tourists visit these places, the state had done little to improve facilities here. According to reports, about 48 lakh tourists visited Amaravati capital region last year.
The abject neglect by the tourism department has had locals demanding development of these heritage sites and tourism spots which they rightly point out would provide extra income to them and revenue to the government.
Undavalli has turned into the “Gate of Amaravati” as it is the main route to reach Uddandarayunipalem, the Amaravati core capital and Velagapudi, where the temporary Secretariat.
Undavalli caves were carved out of solid sandstone on a hillside in 4th to 5th Centuries AD. There are several caves and the best known is a four-storey one, with a huge statue of Vishnu in a reclining posture, sculpted from a single block of granite inside the second floor.
Visitors have to pass besides these ancient caves and a majority of the people who come to Amaravati capital region stop to admire them.
The ASI, which maintains the Undavalli caves, charges Indians Rs 15 per head and foreigners Rs 200 per head. About 700-800 tourists visit Undavalli caves on Sundays and holidays and 100-200 on weekday but almost all express displeasure over the poor amenities.