Mukti Vanam set for inauguration

​Bhupalpally: The district forest department’s impressive eco-tourism project ‘Mukti Vanam’, is all set for inauguration. The park has been developed on around 50 acres, close to historic Kaleshwara Mukteswara Swamy Temple, called ‘Dakshina Triveni Sangamam’ on the banks of River Godavari at Kaleshwaram in Mahadevpur mandal in the district.

An amount of Rs 1.39 crore has been spent on developing the park and the works, which began last year and neared completion. The park is expected to become a value addition to Kaleshwaram, a famous Hindu pilgrim centre in Telangana and visited by thousands of devotees annually.

Final touches are being given to structures and landscaping at the park and it will probably be opened for public in a couple of weeks’ time, Bhupalpally district forest officer (DFO) T Ravi Kiran informed The Hans India here on Thursday.

Forest department sanctioned Rs 39 lakhs with which works like laying fencing, Children's Park, toilets, sinking borewell, installing an electric transformer, five Pagodas, cement benches, 10 Racha Banda's (platforms for visitors to sit and spend time), Food Court/Snack Bar works are constructed, he said.

The District Collector granted a special fund of Rs 1 crore. The amount has been spent on constructing entry plaza, ticket counter, walking paths, developing Children’s Park, three lotus ponds, Nakshatra Vanam, Rasi Vanam, Butterfly Garden, Navagraha Vanam, Saptharushi Vanam and Panchavati Vanam, the DFO informed.

In addition to that, a Bamboo Forest with bamboo varieties like Golden Bamboo, Buddha Bamboo, Blue Pine Bamboo, Assam Bamboo, Variegated Bamboo and Painted Bamboo developed along with two islands, construction of modern toilets, underground cable power line, tap connections and huts.

MLA Putta Madhu has also contributed Rs 15 lakhs towards construction of Tree House in the park. Soon the forest department is going to take up a block plantation inside the park wherein 250 each of Usiri (Amla), Neredu (Kala Jamun- Java Plum), Maredu (Bilvam) saplings will be planted, informed Mahadevpur forest range officer B Ramesh.

It is being planned to develop a canopy walk, construction of watch tower, yoga-cum-meditation centre, environmental education centre, swimming pool, three more tree houses, cycling path and a walking path in future for the convenience of the visitors, revealed district eco-tourism coordinator Kalyanapu Suman.

Many devotees visit Kaleshwaram to immerse the ashes of their departed ones in River Godavari. ‘Smruti Vanam’ offers an opportunity to individuals to plant sapling of their choice in memory of their deceased family members and the forest department takes care of the sapling, he noted.