Wanaparthy district collector Swetha Mohanty (IAS) stands out for her unique ideas. Recently, she trekked 6 km to Fort Ghanpur as part of a two-day trekking and camping event called ‘Climb On’ to give the location a tourism makeover. Built by Kakatiya kings, the 13th Century fort that has a great history, is 100 km from Hyderabad.
Ask her what prompted her to take the trekking plunge, and she says, “Though, a portion of the Fort has crumbled with time, a substantial part still remains intact. The objective is to promote this area for fitness enthusiasts in Hyderabad. Being only a two-hour drive from Hyderabad, I believe the ancient Fort Ghanpur is an ideal destination for an overnight trip. It has options for trekking/rock climbing and adventure sports like rappelling/giant swing, etc. And so far the response has been very encouraging.”
Fort Ghanpur was built by the Kakatiya kings in the 13th Century
Swetha says the Fort has a lot of offer. “For history lovers, there are many locations within the Fort that can be explored. A drinking water fountain that sprouts cold water irrespective of the temperature, an underground passage, well-preserved canons, boulders and a man-made lake. In fact, locals swear by the fact that there is a sizeable treasure in the fort yet to be discovered!
She foresees the Fort as a weekend getaway. “We plan to spruce up the area to attract groups, from adventure clubs to colleges and corporates, etc. Groups can come for a camping/trekking experience, the bonfire and tent accommodation; and the overall experience adds up to a great weekend. The local delicacies, which include barbecues and the famous Palamuru Grill, can also be savoured.”
A view from the fort
Is she an adventure freak? “Yes, a bit! During the IAS training it’s mandatory that you trek every week to the Himalayas, so I guess I got used to it (smiles). However, there is a personal interest too.” Swetha also initiated the distribution of biodegradable sanitary napkins for all the girl students in government colleges and hostels to promote menstrual hygiene.
“Girls in rural areas are using either cloth napkins or the non biodegradable ones. This might lead to health and environmental hazards. So, out of the Rs 300 given to every girl for cosmetic charges, we are making sure they spend Rs 10 (per month) on sanitary napkins. Also, we are planning to facilitate an incinerator (which helps burn the sanitary napkins) in schools and colleges.”
