Is Araku cursed? Tourism hit badly

Hyderabad: Come October, Araku used to spread its arms to tourists. The green hillocks, decked by yellow flowers (called Valasa), are an eye candy and many of us would have spotted these beautiful landscapes in films. Post Cyclone Hudhud, the once beautiful landscapes now look barren. One will argue that Visakhapatnam has taken a severe beating and only 10 to 20 per cent of Araku has been affected. But the tourist hotspot is facing the aftermath of the deadly cyclone.

Though the authorities cleared the roads within three days, the place has failed to attract footfalls as it used to do. There is a feeling among the locals that the place has been cursed. Going by the set of incidents that have happened over the past three years, one may tend to agree with them. In 2012, it was a strike by the employees of the tourism department which dented their coffers. The strike ran for couple of weeks and even the famous ‘Arakotsav’ had to be postponed. The incident set the ball rolling for other ‘curses’. In 2013, the ongoing Samaikyandhra movement hit transportation badly, thereby affecting tourism in the region. And in 2014, it was the Hudhud’s aftermath.

“Our initial rejoice that Araku roads are up and operational and not much damage has been done vapourised as guests started cancelling their cottage bookings. October-November is the peak season and we used to generate about Rs 30 crore in revenue to the tourism department. This time the revenue will be very less,” lamented Kerasani Seetaiah, a senior official with the tourism department.

Padmapuram Park, the 78-year-old horticultural park, is partially hit and so is Anantagiri. But the jungle-themed house on trees – ‘Jungle Bells’ resort – has been completely ravaged. Thankfully, Borra Caves remain unaffected. However, more than these, it is the lives of hawkers that have been hit badly. Due to drastic fall in tourist arrivals, the hawkers, who used to make the famous ‘Bamboo Chicken’, are on the roads.

The coffee plantations, which run over 60,000 hectares in the Araku, Paderu and other agency areas are also badly hit. Though there is a train route to Araku from Visakhapatnam, many take the 120-km long road to enjoy scenic coffee plantations amid silver oak trees, which flank the 45-km long ghat road. Post cyclone, the ghat road is not that scenic anymore.

Experts say that it might take a good six years to get the coffee plantations up and running. “The cyclone has uprooted all the silver oaks including those that were 120-150-years-old. The coffee plant is a creeper and we plant silver oaks, which will take three years to grow and then we have to plant coffee, which will take three more years. Now, we will have to start from the scratch. Apart from coffee, we do plant peppers as an additional plantation, which also is completely damaged,” said Ranganadha Rao, a plantation owner. Adding to the woes, the place is also being affected by politics.

Araku has YSRCP man as its MLA while the ruling party is TDP. The locals say that in a bid to get political mileage, both are raising objections to plans proposed by the other, which is taking a toll on tourism. (With inputs from Harish Kakarla)