Vishakhapatnam: Tourist places in Visakhapatnam city and holidaying sites in ASR district are remaining packed during the ongoing Dasara festival.
There is a rush of visitors, mostly locals and from nearby towns, whether at Araku Valley, Lambasingi, Anantagiri and other places in ASR district. Similar is the case at Kailasagiri, Rushikonda, Thotlakonda Buddhist Shrine and other beaches in Visakhapatnam city.
More people are expected to visit these places during the next two days.
Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) has provided adventure sports like a zip line at Tajangi reservoir near Lambasingi, apart from tented accommodation.
“All 15 resorts in Lambasingi are booked till this month end,” said resorts manager K. Appala Naidu.
Similarly, AP Tourism Development Corporation properties at MVP Colony, Ananthagiri and Araku are getting tremendous response, an APTDC official said.
Waltair division officials have started a special train to Araku every day for the next six days, as there is a tremendous rush in the regular trains.
Many tourists have complained about lack of toilets at the tourist sites. They suggest that mobile bio-toilets can be provided on the Beach Road from Vizag to Bheemunipatnam, covering important sites. Authorities can collect user charges while properly maintaining these toilets.
Kailasagiri, a major tourist attraction in Visakhapatnam, has only two public toilets.
Another tourist Vikram Singh, who works as a guide in Delhi, said Vizag lacks tourist guides at important places.
“People would like to know the history of Simhachalam temple, Thotlakonda Buddhist Shrine, Dutch Cemetery in Bheemili and defence museums like TU 142, INS Kursura, Sea Harrier and PNS Ghazi submarine fin,” Singh stated.
He suggested that local youngsters could be trained and deployed as guides, which will help them earn some money.
