Hyderabad: While there are cruise options for people from cities located on the coast, Telangana Tourism has come up with an idea that allows people from Hyderabad to experience the old-world charm of cruise: the annual river-cum-road Krishna cruise.
Relaunched on Saturday after years of Covid blues, the trip includes a road trip from Hyderabad to Srisailam and a scenic boat ride from Nagarjunasagar to Srisailam.
At Nagarjunasagar, people board a boat to Srisailam — a six-hour journey across the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana border. The double-decker boat has an air-conditioned lower deck and open to air seating on the upper deck.
As the ride began, hills rise on either side of the water, creating a view that brings to mind scenes from Southeast Asian islands like Phi Phi.
Shashank Rao, a physiotherapist from Hyderabad, said that he had come across an ad in the newspaper about the cruise. “I was intrigued. So I decided to make the journey alone," he said.
As the boat cut through the water, games of bingo were arranged and winners were awarded ` 200 to `500.
Midway through the journey, however, the phone network faded out. But this brought a rare chance for passengers to truly disconnect. With no screens to distract them, many turned to one another for company. It also opened up the experience to the sights around them. Some even reported spotting deers on the shore.
Navya A., lecturer at a BC welfare degree college, was on the trip with her husband, mother, and mother-in-law. She shared that this outing was a much-needed break. “We got married four years ago but couldn’t afford a trip. I started my job four months ago, so we decided to make this our first outing,” she said.
Dishes were served hot, and perfectly South Indian. As the sacred month of Karthika has begun after Diwali, the boat trip has drawn a large crowd, bringing pilgrims and sightseers alike.
The vessel has a capacity of 100 passengers. The availability of the service is seasonal, as it depends on water levels. The one-way ticket for an adult costs `2,000 and if a return is included, `3,000. The cruise ride includes lunch and tea services.
Another route that begins at Somasila and ends at Srisailam too offers breathtaking views along its 120-km cruise.
The cruise departs from Somasila at around 9 am and concludes at Eegalapenta, where passengers can take the ropeway to reach the Srisailam temple.
At present, it is only a one-way ride on a double-engine boat. Tourists can choose to come back the next day on the boat but the expenses to stay at Srisailam will have to be borne by the passengers themselves.
“In coming months, with the increase in the passenger strength, we can plan accommodation at Srisailam as well,” said Mohammad Ibrahim, general manager, water fleet, Telangana Tourism Corporation Ltd.
He said that the cruise is absolutely safe and people can travel with families. Travellers are required to wear life jackets while onboard. At present, the options for entertainment are not there but will be added in the coming months, including dance programmes, games like Tambola, cards and other board games for the entertainment of the people.
“A six-hour ride can be painstakingly boring if one is travelling alone. Phone signals are unreachable and there is no Internet for six hours,” said Jahnavi, a teenager who had come for her first-ever cruise ride with her family from Wanaparthy.
“Another highlight of the tour is the ancient Akka Mahadevi Temple, which sits nestled among dramatic rock formations. This temple holds deep cultural significance, and visitors often reach out to touch the idol’s forehead. However, the cruise does not offer a visit to the temple,” said Balveer Prasad, an assistant guide from Telangana Tourism Corporation Ltd.
The boat is driven by captain G. Tirupathi, who has received a year-long training at Kakinada Port. “I have received training for driving the boat, swimming and lifeguarding. Each boat has a ten-member crew: two boat captains, one driver, three swimmers, two helpers, a mechanic and an electrician, dedicated to monitoring the safety of passengers on the journey. While there are no doctors on board, a medical kit is available for emergencies,” G. Tirupathi said.
