This Srisailam ride puts many off-road drives to shame

Srisailam: For the lucky few Indians who own a car or bike, off-road driving is no big draw because they rarely get a chance to drive or ride on good roads and what they do every day is nothing sort of an off-road adventure given the way roads are badly maintained in the country. 

Still, off-road driving -  a concept that has a cult following in the developed countries across Americas, Europe and the Middle East - has its own charm in India too if one gets a chance to experience some marvellous off-road tracks - less travelled and unknown for many. Here is one such ride which puts many world-class off-road drives to shame. And it’s the mind-numbing ‘jeep’ ride from the temple town of Srisailam to Istakameswari temple located 21 kilometers away in dense, but picturesque Nallamala forest in Yerragondapalem mandal of Prakasham district in Andhra Pradesh.

While nearly half of the distance to the tiny temple can be covered through black-topped road on Srasailam-Dornala route, the remaining part is an off-road track strewn with stones, boulders and what not. It winds through dense forest, crossing three big hills and several valleys.

“The temple is in the core area of Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, frequented by wild animals. So, we did not allow vehicles inside until recently. As older devotees were finding it difficult to trek to the temple, we started allowing Mahindra Commander vehicles four years ago. The entry is regulated and restricted to a total of 10 trips in day,” B Jayachandra Reddy, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Markapur, Prakasham district, told The Hans India.  

AP Forest Department checks all the Mahindra Commander vehicles deployed on this route and only those which can withstand the rigorous of the difficult terrain are permitted. The officials keep a strict vigil on each trip and each visitor, taking their photographs and contact details.  They also warn visitors not to venture into forests beyond the track and temple lest they fall prey to wild animals.  

The drive is so punishing that the vehicle owners need to change tyres every three months and that too when tyres are well-maintained. "We use a new tyre for front axle for one month before shifting it to rear axle where it lasts for another two months. So, we need to change tyres every three months. Though punctures are rare on this route, tyre tread comes off, forcing us to shift it to rear axle," a driver explained.

There are roughly 150 Mahindra Commander vehicles in Srisailam that provide transportation for pilgrimmes to visit nearby holy places. Many of them are deployed on Srisailam-Istakameswari route. "We need to spend a lot on maintenance of the vehicles. As there is intense competition, we hardly get two trips a month. So, we are finding it difficult to pay installments for vehicles and make ends meet," lamented another driver.

But pilgrims laud their driving skills. “It’s the most exciting and exhilarating ride I had taken in my lifetime. But danger lurks at every corner, during every climb and descent along the route. However, drivers are so skillful here that we did not have problem. Kudos to them,” said Sunitha, a pilgrim, recounting her experience.

Ch Gundaiah, who provides free meal to willing devotees at the temple in the dense forest, says 100 to 150 people visit the temple each day. “Nearly half of those who come here eat food,” he adds. Istakameshwari, as its name in Telugu indicates, is a goddess who, it is believed, makes your wish come true. 

Legend has it that if one goes there and makes a wish, it comes true. But the place situated in dense forest reminds you of object poverty in India. Hope Chenchu children who roam around there with running noses and beg for few coins make a wish for better life and their wish comes true.