Zipline, zipline bike to add spice to Bogatha waterfalls

Bogatha Waterfalls (Mulugu): Ever heard of zipline and zipline bike? If not head to picturesque Bogatha waterfalls in Wajedu mandal located in the serene settings of thickets abutting Telangana-Chhattisgarh border.

In last four years or so, Bogatha has become a most sought-after destination in the State attracting sizable tourists from across the State and the neighbouring Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Although the Cheekupally stream has been cascading down from times immemorial, it never caught the attention of the people as accessing waterfalls was a herculean task before the 1.78-km-long high-level bridge across the Godavari between Mullakatta and Pusuru villages was operationalised in 2016.

The only motorable road available in the past to access the waterfalls was via Bhadrachalam.

The Forest Department which identified the tourism potential of the place has begun to explore what it can do to attract the visitors. Four years down the line, Bogatha witnessed a rapid transformation with the government pumping in funds to improve the facilities.

Adding more spice to the scenic beauty of the cascade, the forest department is all set to thrill the adventure sports lovers by inaugurating 150-meter zipline and zipline bike at the falls in a week or so. The forest department has already trained the locals to operate the zipline sports.

It may be mentioned here that a zip line consists of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on a slope. It enables a person propelled by gravity to travel from the top to the bottom.

The zipline bike is designed to be ridden up in the clouds. The bike zipline sits atop a trapeze run along the wire.

Speaking to The Hans India, Mulugu District Forest Officer S V Pradeep Kumar Shetty said: "Bogatha to become an adventure sports hub with zipline and zipline bike to be thrown open soon. We have already established Burma Bridge, net climbing and commando tower in children play area.

In addition to them, we have set up a double-storied pagoda, a restaurant, jungle safari, butterfly garden, battery-operated vehicles etc for the comfort of tourists."

Kalyanapu Suman, Ecotourism coordinator, said: "It's going to be entertainment fiesta for the Bogatha visitors. The 2.5-kilometer trekking path which recently came up gives an exhilarating experience to the tourists.

The tourists can enjoy a pleasant stay in the cottages built by forest department at Laknavaram Lake, Ramappa temple and Tadvai." For further details, the interested persons can contact Suman on073826 19363.

Meanwhile, Bogatha waterfalls came to life on Saturday with Cheekupally stream started to receive abundant inflows from its catchment areas in Chhattisgarh for the first time this season.