Tourists to shell out more to visit Papikondalu

Rajamahendravaram: The tourist boat boarding point to picturesque Papikondalu was shifted to Devipatnam, 55 kms away from Rajamahendravaram from the existing Anguluru village, which is 40 kms from the city.

With this, the tourists who visit Papikondalu should travel 15 kms extra to reach the boarding point. The boarding point was changed because of Polavaram project construction works.

Usually, the boat operators transport tourists to Anguluru village from Rajamahendravaram by vehicles. The road between Anguluru and Dandangi is having many curves and it is difficult task to travel in this route. If the water flow increases in Dandangi stream, the tourists in their return journey should reach Rajamahendravaram from Rampachodavaram by travelling 80 kms.

Meanwhile, there are no facilities to tourists in Devipatnam along with parking place. Due to shifting of boat point, there will be an increase in ticket fare. Normally, the boat operators are charging Rs 500 to Rs 550 including transportation to Anguluru from Rajamahendravaram.

Now the distance was increased to 15 kms between Anguluru and Devipatnam. The boat operators are planning to increase fare, it is learnt. As many as 4,000 to 5,000 tourists are visiting Papikondalu and 40 private tourist boats operators are ferrying them, of which two boats belongs to Andhra Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (APSTDC).