This holiday season, the Telangana State Forest Department is aiming to lure potential adventure tourism enthusiasts into its forests, through Laknavaram Festival.
Individuals and families may look forward to fun-filled 24 hours, provided they are ready to change two buses and reach a spot from where Laknavaram is 20 trekking minutes away.
Tourists from Hyderabad or anywhere in the State may take a bus to Hanamkonda, where they can find another bus to Eturunagaram. They should get down at Chalvai, a village, and trek/drive up to Laknavaram.
The package has been planned for 24 hours, from 4 p.m. to 4 p.m. the next day. On the platter are a variety of activities that includes cycling, night camping, trekking, ride on a bullock cart, and other such.
Cycling tour
The festival begins with briefing the tourists about the activities and sightseeing in the next 24 hours. After the orientation, a cycling tour of 2.6 km awaits them with the view of Laknavaram lake on one side and verdant hills on the other. Post two hours of cycling, tourists are escorted to the night camping area through the forest, where individual tents, bigger tents and family tents are provided based on the need or comfort. Before retiring to sleep, they may look forward to an evening by the bonfire filled with conviviality.
The famous suspension bridge on Laknavaram Lake would be the next halt, from where the tour would be led on a boat to Kakarakayala Bodu island, one among the 13 islands in the lake, where breakfast would be served.
They then would be taken for trekking, and allowed to take in the sights of wild animals, before they reach the Saddimadugu reservoir that houses water from the lake before it is channelled for irrigation.
Telangana recipes
Lunch would be served near the reservoir, with chosen Telangana recipes. After a few moments of relaxation, bullock carts would arrive to take the tourists through the forests, to reach the Lake View Safari, where the trip ends after necessary guidance to the tourists to reach their respective destinations.
The Forest Department is charging ₹2,000 for the trip, inclusive of all the activities and meals. Each tourist should not carry more than one kg of weight, may bring battery-torches along, and should wear loose clothing besides trekking shoes. Plastic is not allowed on the trip.
For bookings, visit www.ecotourism.bhupalpally.com. For queries, call on 9502853154 or 7382619363.