Trip to Bhadrachalam, Vishakhapatnam, Araku

Hi I am back with a new trip... Below are quick data before we go to story...

Places Covered: Rajahmundry, papikondalu, Kolleru, Bhadrachalam, Dwaraka thirumala, Annavaram, Vishakhapatnam  Shimhachalam, Araku valley

Number of Days: 10 days (27^th Dec 2012 to 5^th Jan 2013)

Journey With:  My parents, Vandana and our 4.5 years old son Srujan.

As usual spent many days in RnD by asking many people and reading few blogs about the places and charted out a plan. As we are travelling with my parents, Trip has to be well balanced with fun and also religious to make all happy. Also not to make too much packed to make my 4.5 years old son Comfortable.

As this is 10 days trip, Blog will be little big… Enjoy reading…Story begins now.... 

Day-1: Journey Started

  Started our journey to Rajahmundry sharp 1:20pm from Bangalore Railway station.

Day-2: Vysya Penugonda, Dhraksha Ramam.

  Reached Rajahmundry 7 am. We have planned to visit Vysya Penugonda which is about 45km away. This was Vysya community Holy place where Vasavi kanyaka paramershawari (Our Community Goddess)  born. Mom wanted to visit this place from long time and hence planed this for first day. Cab picked us from Railway station directly and dropped us to hotel Nirmala Grand. This hotel is just few steps away to Godavari river banks. Took an hour to fresh up and started our first side seeing. Reached Penugonda at sharp 12pm and temple was about to close. Luckily came on right time just before closing. After lunch, reached next place Dhraksha Ramam at 3pm which is one of the famous Shiva Temple. Temple was good.  We skipped few places which can be covered are Palakollu and Bhimavaram. Finally reached back to Rajahmundry hotel on 6pm and took rest. Spent few hours on river bank with a great view of Rajahmundry Bridge and river Godavari.

I guess many of you can skip this day as other than Vysya's its nothing much about this temple.

Dhraksharamam Temple

Vasavi temple

Day-3: Papikondalu, Kolleru Huts stay

  We booked a package for next 3 days with Sri Krishna Godavari boat tours and travels (www.papikondalutours.com). Cab picked us at 7am and dropped us at Purushothapatnam which is around 50KM away. From here actual boat journey starts. Water level at Rajahmundry is less and hence boats cannot come there and hence they pick us from Purushothapatnam. There were many boats already waiting for tourists. We found our boat and checked in to it. 

Boats waiting for pickup

Boat journey started at 9am. We were already very hungry and waiting for breakfast. Boat was not that great. About 50 people were there in that boat and the boat had 2 floors. Second floor is open to sky and ground is an AC cabin. Almost all will be in second floor only to enjoy the views during ride. After all we came for that only not to sit in AC room and sleep. Breakfast severed at 10am. Our next stop was Kolleru huts where we night halt. On the way to Kolleru they showed Gandi Pochamma Temple, Pattiseema, papikondalu,  Polavaram, Devipatnam (We can see a police station which was attacked by freedom fighter Alluri Sita Ram Raju), Perentapalli Tribal Village ( to visit Rama Krishna Muni Vatika which was creation of Late Poojya Swamy Balananda Sarswati in 1927, followed by darshan of Swayambu Lingakara Sri Veereswa Swamy ).Crew arranged some dance shows. Even they pulled many people among us to dance. Had a great journey with breathtaking views and nice entertainment. At 2pm Lunch is also served in the boat only and food was good.

Temple that comes on the way in boat ride

Reached Kolleru huts 4pm after long journey in boat. There were lots of huts built using bamboo. This entire place is on sand and exactly side by Godavari River. Check out the pics below. Don't expect a highfy rooms. They were plain huts and even doors are also not there :( and common bathrooms for all. Rooms were allotted properly to separate bachelor gangs and family people (You know why right). But the place is very safe and no way can others come except by boat. One side a nice view of Papikondalu, other side River Godavari and other side a small lake by name Palamaneru Lake joining the Godavari. We cannot swim in Godavari as water force is too high and too deep to swim and very dangerous. But the small palamaneru lake which is joining the Godavari is just a knee deep.

As soon as we checked in to the hut, we jumped in to Palamaneru Lake and had a great bath in that beautiful, wild place. Took some rest till 8pm spending some time with neighbors. Had dinner at 9pm and fire camp started. All family people sat circling the fire camp and played dumb-chards till 10pm. Other side bachelor gangs played cards, beach volleyball, had drinks (You know what), Full of dances. Had a great time and finally gone for sleep. It was very scary at night as all lights go off after 11pm. Entire place is supported with solar energy only and they cannot put lights after 11pm. Center of wild jungle (Of course no animals), with not even single mosquito, listing to the sounds that small bugs make during night, with the full moon light, with little fear in mind, With great joy, slipped in to the deep sleep.

Full view of Kolleru huts

Huts where we stay...Awesome place!!! is't it...

Day-4: Kolleru huts, Bhadrachalam

This is the Moon set at 6am that I told about.

                Woke up at 7am but my wife woke up at 6am and saw the Moon Set and captured below pic to show what I missed. 

      Had breakfast at 8am and started the trek in Village area. Basically they took us inside the Kollur village. All these villages are very remote and have less access to our world. Saw their village and trekked further more to reach a point of Palamaneru lake to swim. We can swim in this lake right behind our huts only but they took us this trek path to reach the place where it’s very suitable for river bath. Water was freezing cold. Took a deep breath and dipped in to it and almost freezes out my blood and adjusted with in few mins. Later Vandana, Dad and my son also entered the water. My son played in water for some time and cried to get out of it. But I enjoyed the river for almost 30min more and we all returned back to huts at 11am. Packed all our languages and had lunch at 1pm in hut.

Enjoying the river

Palamaneru River

Then our boat has come to pick us at 2pm. Entered the boat and journey started. This time we are not excited of boat as yesterday as we are seeing the river and boat from yesterday only. After about 2 hours journey they dropped us at Pochavaram. From there again a Cab picked us and traveled about 60km to reach Bhadrachalam at 6pm. They gave a room in Sudharshan Hotel which is exactly in front of Temple. Took some rest and visited the Sri Ram temple which is one of main purpose of the entire trip. Temple was very good and peaceful. Completed dharashan in free queue with in 1Hr. Had dinner in the restaurant opposite to the hotel and slept.

Day-5: Bhadrachalam, Parnasala, Dwarka Tirumala (Chinna Tirupati)

                 Woke up at 5am and went to Sri Ram temple for second Dharshanam. Temple opens at sharp 6:30. Sat in temple for an hour early morning in a peaceful environment. This time we took Antharalayam Dharshanam where they take us very near to GOD (I mean Idol). Came back to hotel and packed our language and started the journey at 8am.

Bhadrachalam SriRam temple

First place to see is Sitammavari Vaagu. Ram, Sita and Lakshmana actually lived in a place called Parnashala during their Vanavasam which is on banks of river Godavari. But they used to come to this place and stay for 5 days in a month. They said that Lakshmana using his bow and arrow created a small lake so that Sita can use it. This is the same place where Lakshmana cut the nose and ears of Demon Surpanaka. This place is just 30 min journey from Bhadrachalam.

Next place is Parnashala which is just 5 km away. This is the main place where Ram, Sita and Lakshmana used to live. This is the same place where Ravanasura took Sita. I told the sri ram story to my son and finally he liked the Ravanasura character a lot and impressed by his magical powers and even posed like him. 

There is a boat ride in river but we were not interested in that and started our journey from there.

My son posing like Ravanasura!!!

Visited Dwaraka Thirumala 1pm which is also called as Chinna Thirupathi. It was very big temple and good to visit. Almost went at closing time and luckily managed to have dharshanam. If not we have to wait till 4pm. Purchased prashadam and started the journey again. Reached Rajahmundry at 6pm and checked in to the same hotel, Nirmala Grand and had rest.

Finally ended 2012 with a great trip.

Day-6: Annavaram, Vishakhapatnam

                Started journey through Bus at sharp 6:30am (from 5am, every hour there is a bus to Vishakhapatnam). On the way to Vishakhapatnam we dropped at Annavaram (~2.5 hours journey). Booked an auto that will take us to Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy Temple and return back to bus station. With his help, we dropped all our language in some shop (up course there was nothing imp in those bags) and our auto journey started. In this trip we almost covered all modes of transports. With just 150Rs he took us to the temple and helped in dharshanam with in 20 mins and came to back to Bus station. Bus to Vishakhapatnam was ready and we got it at right time. Again Started 2013 in a nice way.

Reached Vizag (the other name of Vishakhapatnam) around 12pm. Took an auto and reached the hotel (APTDC Yathri nivas hotel...More details at the end). Had Lunch and took a nap. Evening went to VUDA Park which was very near to our hotel. Not a great park compared to what we see in Bangalore. But beach was there adjacent to park. Spent evening in Beach and returned to hotel. Had dinner and slept.

Day-7: Vishakhapatnam City tour

            We have booked the city tour from APTDC only which took us to most of the important places. The city tour started at 7am.

Place-1: Shimachalam which is a famous Narashima Swamy temple.

Place-2:  Kailash giri hill. Had a ride in cable car traveling up and down of the hill.Also,enjoyed the ride of small train which took us one complete circle of hill. You can get nice views of Vishakhapatnam city and beaches.

Place-3: Next stop to Thotlakonda is the prominent location for Buddhism and Buddhist studies in Visakhapatnam. The Hinayana Buddhist Complex dates back to the ages of 300 - 200 BC. Guide explained us about this place and how Buddhist monks studied here and how they leaved.

Place-4:  Rishikonda beach. Played in beach for some time and had lunch in APTDC Rishikonda beach resort. This resort was really nice and nice view of beach. 

Place-5: After lunch visited Visakha museum. The museum is all about Navy. Can see different kinds of ships models, how they function and what is used for wars. Ummm, got some interesting stuff.

Place-6:  Submarine. Yes they have placed a real used submarine on land which worked for Indian Navy for 30 years and retired. You can enter in to that submarine but of-course it is not inside the water but on land. The guide explained 7 compartments of submarine and gives all details how submarine works and how 40 people work there. It was really really a worth watching. I was amassed by the technology, robustness, highly planned submarine. It was the first time ever in my life I saw the submarine in real.

Place-7: Took us to the port where we can go for small ride on sea in APTDC boat. The place was stinking and a foul smell of fishes. It was really a pathetic place but it’s a worth visit if you want to see how fishing ships looks like, what they do in port once they get fishes, how they sell, how the fish market looks like. For Pure Veggy guys it’s a must place to Skip.

Finally they dropped in RK beach where we can spend some time in beach and return to hotel by our own. But we were too tired and returned back to hotel. We were completely tired to cover so many places and badly need some rest and slept early.

Day-8: Tyda Jungle bells resort.

              Woke early in the morning 5am and catched the train to Tyda. The train starts at 6:30am and goes to Araku valley. This journey is a most suggested one rather taking road. In entire 4 hours journey to Araku, train goes on deep valleys and you can see nice views. Around 50 tunnels will come during that journey. On each tunnel everybody on train shouts and enjoys the ride. Tyda comes half the way to Arakku. Around 8:30pm, we dropped at Tyda station. This was a remote station and there is no proper road also to this station. Now we have a big issue… How to reach our Jungle bell resorts? There were no cabs, auto and not even people. Sadly no signals also in mobile. We managed to walk sorry trek with our big language for some time and found the road. And from road we got lift from some taxi to our resort. I was really scared and this was the worst planned one for entire trip. I thought of taking some auto to reach hotel but not even people are there in that station.

             Checked in to our cottages and got fresh up. For some time walked and explored the resort. This was amazing place and a great resort I have ever seen.  Full of trees and very very less rooms and hardly you can see other people. Looks like very much a private place. Enjoyed the place and spent good time till night. And there is no phone signal in this resort and also TV. It’s actually good that you spend some time in walking and talking rather just getting glued to TV.

This Cottage called as igloo ... Where we stayed

This is where my parents stayed

Day-9: Arakku side seeing

                    In Vishakhapatnam only I booked the cab who supposed to come today and pick us and show all places in Arakku and drop us back to Vishakhapatnam railway station.

Cab guys came at 10am and we packed our language, checked out of hotel and started out Journey to Araku side seeing.

Place-1: Tribal Museum: Here we can see how tribal’s live and learn their life styles. Got many new things about them.

Place-2: Padhmawathi Gardens: It was a small park nothing much special. But my son liked a lot as he enjoyed a ride in toy train.

Entrance to garden

My Son Enjoying toy train

Place-3: Borra Caves: This was another super place.  The Caves, one of the largest in the country, at an elevation of about 705 m (2,313.0 ft). There are many shapes formed due to the salts in the water. Check our few pics below...

          Finally around 4pm we completed all places and started our journey back to Vishakhapatnam. Reach railway station around 7pm. But our train is at 11pm. Hence dropped all luggage in clock room and went to Vishakhapatnam Central shopping mall which is near to railway station. Spent some time in shopping and eating. Then came to back to railway station at 10pm and got in to the train.

Day-10: Nothing… Reached Bangalore around 8pm and home by 10pm.

It was a long trip and everybody enjoyed every part of it. Below are few bests of trip from my side.

-          Boat ride in Godavari.

-          Kolleru huts stay.

-          Bhadrachalam temple

-          Submarine in Vishakhapatnam

-          Jungle bells resort in Tyda.

-          Borra caves

Ok friend’s thanks for reading. I know many people will stop in between only as it’s too lengthy. Please post your comments and questions if any.

Meet you soon with new journey.