Kothuru Reserve Forest now a tourist spot

Located 18 km from the city is the Kothuru Reserve Forest is now being turned into a picnic spot to attract tourists. The Kothuru Reserve Forest is maintained by forest department and developed by Dr B R Ambedkar Vanasamrakshana Samiti (VSS).

With the start of the Karthika Maasam, The forest dept officials and the volunteers of VSS are putting in all the efforts to make it a tourist spot as soon as possible. 175 acres from the 1600 acres of land is going to be concentrated on for beautification.

Apart from just the lush greenery and the scenic beauty the Abhyanjaneya Swamy temple attracts crowds while giving tourists a pilgrim spot to visit aswell. The Govt has allotted 1,600 acres to Dr BR Ambedakr VSS and distributed Bamboo, Neem, Eucalyptus and many other plants to increase its greenery.

The VSS organisers have dug a well to provide tourists with drinking water facilities. "The state government allotted the forest land to Dr BR Ambedkar Vana Samrakshna Samiti in the year 1995, hundreds of volunteers did work hard and developed over 175 acres. As a result the good picnic spot was developed," said VSS secretary Gayatri Devi.

In Karthika maasam most visitors offer special pujas to lord Shiva and Vishnu. "Forest department will take as many steps to develop the Kothuru Reserve forest. We developed Donka road for the smooth passing of vehicles," said Forest Range Officer RV Prasad.

The newly developed picnic spot is three kilo meters from Vijayawada – Vissannapeta Road. The forest and VSS jointly developed the Donka road for commute convenience. VSS and Forest department has also jointly constructed one hut for cooking purposes.

By Dasari Srinivasa Rao