Nirmal’s Mahbub Ghats needs government’s attention to bring back it on tourist map
Mahbub Ghats, also known as Nirmal Ghats, which are part of Sahyadri mountain range, offer a challenging drive over 12 km, with picturesque views of virgin forests and the large water body of the Sriramsagar Project.
Hyderabad: The Mahbub Ghats, also known as Nirmal Ghats, which are part of Sahyadri mountain range, offer a challenging drive over 12 km, with picturesque views of virgin forests and the large water body of the Sriramsagar Project. It possesses several unique features that set it apart from other ghat roads in the country.
The unique serpentine road was laid in the early years after Independence, but a well-laid road believed to have been in use since the times of Emperor Ashoka.
The road came into prominence during the time of the last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan in 1932, with the construction of watch-towers at the peak point of the ghat from Nirmal towards Adilabad and was a popular destination for people from adjoining districts till the late 1990s.
The ghat road section is located hardly four km from Nirmal. But, the building of a highway bypassing Nirmal has drastically reduced the number of motorists who were also dissuaded from using the road due to the non-development of basic infrastructure by successive governments.
S. Nitin, resident of Nirmal, said that hundreds of tourists from far off places like Hyderabad and even foreigners used to visit the place in the summer as the deciduous forests around the Mahbub Ghats presented a rare glimpse, was well as during the rainy season.
Motorists doing pan-India trips used to stay in a lavish British-era dak bungalow, and visit nearby areas like the Kuntala, Pochera and Gayatri waterfalls (Mukdi Gundam), which are within 30 km, he said.
Polishetty Laxman, a tax consultant from Nirmal, said the government had failed to include the popular ghat road setion in the tourism map and popularise it as a tourist circuit
He underscores the need to develop the existing two 30-feet watch-towers and a lawn around it with seating arrangements and a mini theatre for travellers to take rest in case of sudden heavy downpour.
Besides historic Shamgarh Fort or Nirmal Fort and nearby Kadam Project, the travellers can have a look at the unique wooden toys of Nirmal and visit the ancient Basara Saraswati, Jainath, Kadile Papahareshwara and Kalwa Narasimha Swamy temples, he said.
The area is known for its fog and chilly breeze, especially in the early morning even in peak summer, enhancing its appeal to nature lovers. The curvy and serpentine road and steep ghat sections offer an exciting driving experience, particularly for biking enthusiasts, said Mahender Reddy, an adventure tourist and a government employee from Nirmal town.
Green activist and engineering student Amulya points out that the ghat section was made initially by cutting the rocks of hills manually, showcasing their engineering skills. Over the years, the road was widened, but the steep ghat section with picturesque surroundings is popular even now for motorists, she points out.