Thousands Flock Lambasingi, Borra Caves; Resorts Booked Till January 2

 Vishakhapatnam: This weekend has witnessed heavy footfalls of visitors at Lambasingi and Borra Caves, both in ASR district of AP, with the temperature remaining mildly cool and pleasant.

APTDC officials said all resorts, both government and private, have been booked till January 2. The tourist season will continue till Sankranti.

Apart from the agency areas, people arrived in large numbers at popular spots in Visakhapatnam, including RK Beach, TU 142 aircraft museum, Sea Harrier (fighter jet), submarine museum, Kailasagiri Hill resort, Bheemili, Thotlakonda Buddhist shrine and Yarada. Simhachalam temple received thousands of pilgrims on occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi.

ASR district tour operators say a thick fog is enveloping the district till 11 a.m. and again from 2 p.m. onwards, attracting tourists. Minimum temperature has been between 7–9 degrees Celsius during the past two days. But it went up to a more pleasant 11 degrees on Saturday.

Most youngsters are preferring bike rides from Visakhapatnam to Lambasingi.

“Next time, we will bring our caravan, so that we need not bother about accommodation,” said a disappointed Sudipta Bhattacharjee, who came all the way from Durgapur in West Bengal but did not get accommodation.

The number of cottages in government and private sector are few compared to the flow of visitors. Many visitors cut short their stay due to lack of proper accommodation.

APTDC Lambasingi manager T. Appala Naidu said they have just 15 cottages while the accommodation in private sector is 200. More than 500 people have pitched tents. Appala Naidu said APTDC is planning to build more cottages, which would be completed by next year end.

The manager at Borra Caves said more than 6,000 tourists visited the caves on Saturday. He expected crowds to swell over 10,000 on Sunday and Monday.

In Araku Valley, demand is more than the availability of rooms. The valley has just over 1,000 rooms, including APTDC and private.