Bhadrachalam to Rajahmundry by River Steamer

rangss

Most important question: Where do i get good beer?

__________________
...and I took the road less travelled.

machadinha

__________________
Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

pgautham

You are most welcome.
While I try to get some more info, can u tell me when exactly you are leaving?

sifar

gautam, I am one of the guys accompanying rangss on this trip. Our plan is this -

Saturday we plan to start from Vijaywada and reach Kaikuluru or Akkivedu to get to Kolleru. As rangss asked, which is the better option and how far would be it be from either of these places?

Sunday we start from Kotipalle and get to Palakollu (or Narsapur). We plan to visit Antarvedi in the evening.

After this onto Machilipatnam, Repalle, Tenali and back to our respective home bases!

__________________
There's so much distance to be travelled between the places you've already been.

pgautham

Hi Sifar,

Hope you all have good fun. Wish I could join you guys as well!!

I'll answer a few points:
- Don't worry about Veg food. We are in India after all. at the most you may miss a meal.(Which I did at antarvedi). In which case there is always banana's, tender coconuts etc.

- As to which of the 2 places to alight..Kaikalur or Akividu...
I think one of them, is the place to just drive by and you will have a good view of the lake.(U will get an auto).

The other place is if you want to go by boat. It will go till the
temple.

I'll confirm this tomorrow if possible.
How are you reaching these places? By train I suppose.

- As for antarvedi, if you are going by bus/auto then beware. Let me explain why.

I got the ferry from Narsapur and crossed over to the other side.
From there I went to Antarvedi by Auto.
From Antarvedi the river mouth is a good distance away. 4 kms or so.And quite some stretch is sandy road. U will reach a lighthouse. From there you will have to walk some distance to get to the mouth. You will have to go the right direction or else you will just reach the sea shore.

You will not get any transport at Antarvedi to reach there. So if you have ur own transport,then only go to Antarvedi.
Or else you could consider going to Perupalem beach at Narsapur. I have not seen it, but heard that its good.

Coming back to my journey, i reached Antarvedi at about 2 pm or so. I was hungry but all I could see was fish and fish food(I'am a veggie) and no means to go to the Mouth. I wanted to go at any cost to see the river meeting the sea. i went to a hire cycle shop and requested for a cycle. After some hesitation at hearing my language accent and looking at my face up and down he gave me one. Off I peddaled off in the hot SUMMER sun on an empty stomach! After about 2 or 3 kms, the sandy stretch started. Pushing the bike itslef was a huge task; let alone riding.
I was sweating like hell and drenched with sweat all over.

After some time I reached the light house.

From there, i went in the wrong direction and reached the sea shore. I rested for some time and came back to the light house hoping to see the mouth atleast from the top of the light house. Alas it was now locked!!

I shouted from outside the gate. With all the strength left till my voice went hoarse. FInally some one came! he opened the gate and told that the light house guy had gone out and so I could not go to the top. Another dissapoinment!
He took me to his quarters and then I had the exilir of my life. WATER! I was totally dehydrated(it was peak summer) and drank like a drunk.
I then asked where was the mouth. He pointed in a direction. I was too tired to venture any more and decided to get back.
But I just couldn't! I dragged my self along the direction he had pointed and then..there was the river , flowing into the sea!! The mouth was so wide, that you could hardly make out the other shore. There is no defining point of river ending and sea starting.
It was such a satisfying moment after all the trouble. I stayed for about 30 mins(I was the only person there, say for an occasional fisherman and I had gone alone), and headed back. On the way there was a village shanty(santhe or weekly market). I had a good fill of some fruits and fried Bajjies and reached Antarvedi. And went back by Jeep.

Ah that was a big story!

vsp27759

Dear Sifar,

I know who are all joining Rangss. But did I met you? :-)

V.Srinivasa Prasad
20.12.2006/21.55 hrs.

rangss

hah! VSP...sifar is a giveaway!

sifar

VSP, recall WAP-4 22257!

rangss

PGautham,
Just checking...did u land at Antarvedi or Antarvedipalem? I believe the two are different though close to each other.

roopesh_kohad

I am accompanying both rangas and sifar. :-) :-)

Hey ranga, collect some info about food. I am dying to taste chepala, bommirayalu et al. I found some info about Kakinada - Dried fish (Endu Chepa) and shrimp (Endu Royya) st some Subbiah Hotel.

pgautham

Hi Guys,

For going in boat at Kolleru, Akividu is the place to alight.

From the station u will have to get to the town. Better hire a vehicle from there.


Perupalem is a very good beach it seems. So instead of Antarvedi, I would suggest this. I dont think you can get into the water at antarvedi. It could be rough sea and is quite lonley.

Or u could do both if u have the time.
Morning u could go to Antarvedi and go to the beach after u r back...may be at 3 or 4 pm or so.
If u r going to Antarvedi, better hire a vehicle from Narsapur itself.

I had been to Antarvedi, when I went by Bus/boat. The place where the famous temple resides.

Wish u guys have full fun then. I'am signing off for the year.

And to all the members, Wish you all A great year ahead.

sifar

Allright guys, here's some information and tips after the trip

Steamer/Dieseler to Kunavaram
----------------------------

Other than APTDC services, there are unscheduled rides to Kunaravam from Rajahmundry. There will be a boat change here or if you are bored, opt for the bus. Most trips are on Saturdays with the return on Sunday. Cost will be around 300Rs/- with meals thrown in. Fantastic deal overall. However, a minimum of five people are needed. Else pay the 1500 yourself and get going! Fantastic deals, anyway you see it.

Crossing Kotipalle and getting to Amalapuram
-----------------------------
Regular bus services from Kakinada to Kotipalle. The bus drops you right near the ferry wharf. An alternative is to take the train but no one knows when it runs! The scheduled departure time in the time-table is never adhered too :-)

The bus drops you right near the wharf. Lots of small boats that take you to an island in between. You need to walk across to the other side and take another boat to reach the Amalapuram road. You will have to be extremely patient for these boats. Some take upto an hour to start moving. And be prepared to accomodate bicylces, bikes, scooters, goats and other things! When the island is submerged during the monsoons, the wharf moves about 3 km upstream. We were told there was a bus service from Kakinada to Amalapuram that uses a small bridge upstream to get across, but frankly, this is the way to go!

From the drop point, buses are available to Amalapuram. We took an autorickshaw for 70Rs and were treated to some wonderful scenery. Curious thing on the way -- lots and lots of phone booths. Atleast one every 20mtrs!!

Amalapuram - Narsapur - Antarvedi
--------------------

No direct bus service to Narsapur from here. Take one to Palakolu and get down at a junction just before the town. Ask the conductor for this. Auto's and buses are available to Narsapur. Once in town, ask for Steamer Road. This will lead to the wharf from where lots of ferries and small launches will get you across the bank. From here two options - bus or auto.

Bus
----
Board the one to Malkipuram. From here, autos are available to Antarvedi. Make sure you bargain for a return fare deal. Antarvedi village is about 2km from the coast/lighthouse. Should cost you around 100 bucks for the whole deal.

Autos
-----
250Rs. return deal. The guy will take you to the lighthouse and temple and wait at all these places.

At Antarvedi, the lighthouse incharge is a friendly guy and will let you up for Rs 5 per head. View from the top is fantastic! A walk to the beach from the lighthouse is possible though some marshy stretches will ruin your footwear. Don't forget to eat some nice dosas at the shack opposite the temple. Absolute steal for 6 bucks each.


More later... and happy new year to all of you!!

rangss

Kakinada: Hotel Priya Residency. OK Rooms for Rs. 300 single.
Neighbouring bar serves some terrific sea food...prawns fry with cashew nuts!

pgautham

Thanks for the fantastic info reg antarvedi and others.

However I strongly disagree with the Steamer info on Kunavaram:

1) Other than APSTDC services there are private operators running tourist services. Both of these don't go to Kunavaram. They go up to Parentapalli(a little after the Papi Kondalu). APSTDC is a 20 seater and the private ones are even bigger(60 or so).
These run only when they have the required number of people and cost around Rs 400 per head from pattiseema or Rs 500 if u want a car drop from Rajahmundry to the boat.

2) There are no 5 seater boats that go to Kunnavaram!!
There are some 5 or so seater fast boats run by APSTDC that only go for a spin around the bridge and back. Probably a 5 to 10 min Jolly ride.

3) The only way to get to Kunavaram by river, is to go through the "old is gold" service launch that I have referred to in my earlier updates, that run bi-weekly(Monday and Thu nights). They charge about Rs100/- including a hot, spicy, early lunch.

4) There is no boat change to go to Bhadrachalam; This route is sadly, no longer operated sicne its no longer financially viable.
Bus is the only way to go to Bhadrachalam from Kunavaram.
(Unless u hire the entire Launch for urself which should cost a min of 6K or more from Rajamundry. You can also hire the launch from Pollavaram, about 3 to 4 hours by boat from Rajahmundry, which will cost lesser because of the lesser distance. There are regular busses from Kunnavaram to Bhadrachalam.

Hyderabadi

Slightly.

I've been to Rajahmundry, Kakinada area several times when I was in India bu never really paid any attention to the beauty of the area..so thanks for this thread, especially pgautham's valuable contributions.

What also inspired me to plan a trip to this area during my next visit was the 2006 Telugu movie 'Godavari'. http://www.nowrunning.com/film/revie...&mv=God avari

I hope do the trip sometime this year.

__________________
"There’s nothing common about common sense." - Internets.