Warangal eco-tourism spots languish in departmental apathy

Saturday, August 7, 2021

Even as the Ramappa temple, Laknavaram Lake and Bogatha waterfall are abuzz with tourist activities, several other potential tourists hotspots including the Pandavulagutta (caves), Dameravai Megalithic Burial site, Tadvai forest, and Inuparathiguttalu in the Devunoor forest in the erstwhile Warangal district are not on the list of tourists, thanks to the apathy of tourism department officials.

Though the Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) decided to promote nature walks, night camping, cycling, bird watching, trekking, rock climbing and rappelling activities in the erstwhile Warangal district and also appointed an Eco-Tourism Manager to oversee these activities, nothing tangible has been done so far in this regard.

In addition to trekking and rock climbing at the Pandavula Gutta (caves) in Regondamandal of Bhupalpally district, trekking, cycling and bird watching at Tadvai forest in Mulugu district attracted many tourists when the forest department took initiative in 2018 to 2020. But these activities have come to a halt now, for some unknown reason.

Noted mountaineer S Anand Kumar, who conquered Mt Everest, also visited the Pandavula Gutta and helped the authorities to attract the rock climbers to the site. Former Collector Amrapali Kata also participated in the rock climbing event at Pandavula Gutta and tried to promote eco-tourism in Devunoor forest. Due to her efforts, some activities including night camping, trekking and bird watching events were organised in Devunoor forest area. But after Amrapali was transferred her successors did not take much interest in continuing the efforts.

The TSTDC and the Forest departments could join hands to promote eco-tourism sites, opines Dr Suresh Devatn of Society for Public Welfare and Initiative (SPWI). When contacted, Eco-Tourism Manager Kalyanapu Suman said that steps would be taken to promote the activities soon after consulting officials in Hyderabad.

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