Godavari Delta Houseboat cruise (12/24hr) meet up

steven_ber

OK, this meet up could be a little different.

First, the dates, any day from 30th Jan till 15th Feb.

The cost, surprisingly small.


Andhra Pradesh tourism organise houseboat cruises around the Godavari Delta, the starting point is at a place called Dindi, it's next to Chinchinada Bridge (I went there last year, so I know exactly where it is) the closest big town is Narasapur.

The houseboats can be hired for 6, 12 and 23 hours, each houseboat has 2 rooms and each room can accommodate 2 adults and 2 children (up to 8 years)(I don't know if they will allow 3 adults and no children in a room), the 6 hour cruise doesn't sound like enough to me, and the 12 hour cruise would be difficult because of transport times, meaning at least one night would need to be spent in the (expensive) tourist hotel in Dindi, so the 23 hour cruise seems good value.

I'll try to arrange the 4 foot speakers and the bollywood dancers.

The prices for the whole boat are as follows: -

6 hours = Rs 1890
12 hours (9am till 9pm) = Rs 2940
24 hours (10am till 9am) = Rs 5040

I don't mind sharing a room with someone (and I don't mind sleeping on the floor), but 'm also willing to pay for a room for myself if the numbers aren't correct, so that means the other room on the houseboat will be available for Rs 2520 for the 23 hour cruise (air con is available when the houseboat halts for the night), food is extra.

I can't get the AP tourism website to open, a pity, you'd see that the housebats are amazing, but I know the houseboats are operating, I asked about them when I was in Rajamundry at Christmas.

To get to Dindi....

Using Polakollu station (about 8kms from Dindi), there are....

Well timed overnight trains to/from Hyderabad

Well timed overnight trains to/from Tirupati.

Overnight trains to/from Vishakhapatnam, though only Sleeper Class on this train and the arrival time in PALAKOLLU is 04:32 (if on time).

Also, you can use BHIMAVARAM JN or BHIMAVARAM TOWN stations (21kms from Palakollu), there are well timed trains to/from Chennai from these stations.

I could meet whomever comes at either Bhimavaram or Polakullu and we could take a taxi/auto from there to Dindi.

The 23 hour cruise would leave most of the following day for something else, how about Yanam (Pondicherry), an old French town at the north end of the Godavari Delta (about 40kms north of Dindi), it could be an interesting place to visit, I heard last year that they were building a massive replica of the Eiffel Tower at Yanam.

Fro Yanam, it's a 60-70kms journey to Rajamundry, or a 30kms journey to Kakinada, both places have overnight trains to Chennai or Hyderabad, and Rajamundry has overnight trains to Tirupati.

So, anyone fancy a floating meet up?

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webtraveller

Indeed Very Interesting.
Great Steven!!
Alas, I may not be able to do this time.
(But at least I am bumping this up!!!!)

pontesnm

Let me know how it goes. I may take my kids there.

capt_mahajan

Interesting, but I dont know if I can get away for a few consecutive days at that time. Not ruling it out, though.

The boat trip is not a great attraction for me, unfortunately

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steven_ber

I can arrange a few large waves and some problems with customs officials.

I think you'd make great company, and I'm looking forward to meeting you again.

But I must be honest, I'll be in Hyderabad either just before or just after the Godavari delta (depending on the date the houseboat trip), so can meet you then.