Tourism dept to launch houseboat package at Konaseema this month

The Andhra Pradesh tourism department is all set to launch a unique 'houseboat tourism' scheme this month to showcase the Godavari coast and the Konaseema region as ideal tourism spots.

Speaking to Business Standard, N Bhanuchander, district assistant manager, AP Tourism Department, said that the tourists can charter a cruise boat that can house two couples or families, once it is formally launched this month.

"Under the new tourism package, a base kitchen is being built at Peddamallaram village in a five-acre land acquired by the department. The place is meant for moon light dinners and campfires during the night stay at the boathouse. Boat cruising starts from P Gannavaram near Rajavolu to Shivakodulanka Island," he said.

"Konaseema, popularly known as mini Kerala, gives the nature tourists an exhilarating experience as one traverses through the coconut grooves on one side and the running stream of river Godavari on the other. The lush green coconut grooves, the running streams of the Godavari back waters and the boat tourism provide a perfect environment for nature lovers," he said.

Besides the bountiful beauty of Konaseema, the district has religious places of tourist interest. Several mechanised launches (boats) carry passengers from one place to the other providing coastal transportation to people of the coastal villages. The coconut groves are located from Siddantam to Peddamallam villages on the Godavari backwaters.

The Godavari river is divided into two streams "� Goutami and Vasistha "� from the Dowleshwaram Barrage. At the Vasista stream, three group of islands called Shivakodulanka, which is now the focus of tourism development by the tourism department.

The tourism department is arranging four cruise boats. Each houseboat has two twin-decked bedrooms. At present, two boats "� Neelaveni and Sampangi "� are readied for the launch. Chartering a houseboat for 24 hours costs Rs 3,000.

Bhanuchander said that the Tourism Department is developing Pedamallaram as a major tourist centre with facilities like restaurant, base kitchen, waiting halls, dormitory and other necessary infrastructure at a cost of Rs 50 lakh.

"The department is planning to market the tourism packages in major cities including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, besides Hyderabad. Despite the department's grandiose plans for boosting the much-neglected tourism potential in the East and West Godavari districts, the department does not have transportation facilities of its own to introduce tourism packages," he said.