APTDC Launches One-Day Vijayawada–Vadapalli Pilgrimage Tour
Temple darshan charges, however, will have to be borne separately by pilgrims.
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) will launch a one-day pilgrimage package from Vijayawada to the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Vadapalli in Konaseema district from August 8.
Announcing the initiative on Wednesday, APTDC general manager (transport and marketing) T.S.V. Narayana said the package has been introduced to provide devotees with a convenient pilgrimage by combining transport and catering facilities.
The tour will begin at 4 a.m. from the Central Reservation Office (CRO) in Vijayawada and return by 7 p.m., enabling pilgrims to complete the visit in a single day.
The package covers the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, a centuries-old shrine regarded as one of the prominent Vaishnavite pilgrimage centres in the Godavari region. Popularly known as the 'Tirupati of Konaseema', the temple attracts thousands of devotees every year.
The package is priced at Rs 1,160 for adults and Rs 1,000 for children, inclusive of bus travel, breakfast and lunch. Temple darshan charges, however, will have to be borne separately by pilgrims.
APTDC officials said the initiative is aimed at promoting religious tourism while providing a hassle-free pilgrimage experience through organised transport and hospitality services.
Bookings can be made through the APTDC website or at the Central Reservation Office on Bandar Road, adjacent to Lemon Tree Hotel, Vijayawada. Narayana urged devotees to book their seats in advance.