Tourists make a beeline to Lambasingi, Araku

Visakhapatnam: Tourists from the State and elsewhere are making a beeline to Lambasingi, Araku Valley, Ananthagiri, Borra Caves and other tourists spots in the Agency as the temperature dropped during the last three days.

According to the Regional Agriculture Research Station at Chintapalli, Lambasingi registered five degrees Celsius on Saturday morning making it the coldest place in Andhra Pradesh, followed by Chintapalli six degrees Celsius.

Araku Valley registered nine degrees Celsius and Paderu 10 degrees. Weather officials said the cold conditions would remain same for another two to three days. But the weather would remain pleasant till the end of February.

The people, who are eager to experience severe cold conditions and thick fog, are moving to the Agency in large numbers. Notably, this year Hyderabad and Vijaywada did not experience much cold, therefore, the people from these two cities are making it to Araku Valley during the weekends. Tourists from Chhattisgarh and neighbouring Odisha are also coming in large numbers in their own vehicles.

Tour operators and hotel owners said that the number would increase after the completion of cottages being planned by the APTDC with an estimated budget of Rs 50 crore. Similarly, the room capacity is being augmented in Araku Valley, Ananthagiri and infrastructure facilities were being improved at Tyda and Chaparai.

The APTDC sources said the vistadome (transparent coach) currently being manufactured at Perumbudur would be ready by April after which Visakhapatnam-Kirondol passenger train to Araku Valley would draw more tourists. Similarly, an 18-hole golf course is also being planned at Araku Valley.