Mesmerising Mancherial lures day-trippers, pilgrims

​Luxettipet: Though Mancherial is known for its commercial activity and coal belt, the newly-carved district situated in the north bank of the Godavari has many tourist attractions, forests, Yellampalli reservoir, Kawwal Tiger Sanctuary, Crocodile Conservation Centre at Sivvaram besides many places of religious interest.

The Godavari separates Mancherial and Jagityal districts forming a natural boundary. The Godavari and the Pranahita rivers are described as the lifelines of the district. The Yellampalli reservoir quenches the thirst of Mancherial, Luxettipet and Dandepalli mandals besides meeting the irrigation needs. The Gundala Waterfalls in Dandepalli and Tiryani mandals and natural springs are some of the notable features unique to the district.

The quarry at Gadpu, Gandhari Garden at Mandamarri, twin streams at Bhimaram, the Godavari river flowing towards north and a series of seven tanks built by the erstwhile Nizam are some of the tourist attractions that lend beauty to the district’s landscape.

The CSI Church here, Amba Agasteswara Temple and Lord Jagannath Temple at Chennur, the Satyanarayana Temple at Gudem in Dandepalli mandal, which is described as the next only to Annavaram in Andhra Pradesh, the Ayyappa Swamy Temple adjacent to it and Saibaba Temple at Gudemgutta are some of the places of religious significance in the district.

The CSI Church, at Modala in Luxettipet, which is famous after the Christian place of worship in Medak, and a school and a hostel that are affiliated to the church are famous landmarks in the district. The landmark is nestled amidst 60-acre teak garden. It is a big draw of tourists from adjacent places.

Besides, the tunnel connecting Chennayya Devuni village to Peddayya Devuni tribal hamlet, ‘wish-granting’ Alugubanda, evidence of the Pandavas relaxing in the district during their exile in the forests and Manchukondalu Waterfall are some of the awe-inspiring features of the district.

The Deer Park and Jinnaram is a favourite picnic spot of tourists. The 15-km-long route to Gadpur, where quarrying is undertaken, is interspersed with brooks, beautiful hillocks, green carpet of crops in fields and chirping birds, set gladden the spirit of tourists.

Gandhari Garden at Bokkalagutta in Mandamarri mandal serves as a feather in the district’s cap. The garden is spread over a sprawling 350-acre site. The garden is a favourite choice of the tourists as there is boating facility in the garden. Singareni Collieries Company Limited’s open cast mines and power generation centre at Jaipur contribute to industrial development of the district.

By Paruvella Satyanarayana