Hyderabad to Maredumilli, Rampachodavaram road trip.

[Surya78]

Hello all this is my first travel story and I will try to keep it as minimal as possible with all the important info.

 

Trip distance : 450 Kilometers (one way)

 

Drive time : 9 hours (includes multiple breaks) 

 

Hyderabad to Maredumilli can be done in two different routes.

 

Route :1

Hyderabad --> Suryapet --> Khammam --> Kothagudem --> Bhadrachalam --> Chinturu --> Maredumilli

Route:2

 

Hyderabad --> Suryapet --> Vijayawada --> Rajahmundry --> Rampachodavaram --> Maredumilli

 

My choice was Via Bhadrachalam. Most scenic of the both.

Hyderabad to Maredumilli : Take Route 1

Maredumilli to Hyderabad : Take Route 2

 

Road Condition :Route 1

 

Hyderabad to Suryapet : 4-lane, toll road

Suryapet to Bhadrachalam : 2-lane, average road

Bhadrachalam to Maredumilli : 2-lane, Most scenic road

 

Road Condition :Route 2

 

Hyderabad to Vijayawada : 4-lane, toll road

Vijayawada to Rajahmundry : 4-lane, toll road but poorly maintained, expect some potholes

Rajahmundry to Maredumilli : 2-lane, average and scenic road

 

Hotel details

 

We stayed in Vana Vihari cottages, our cottage name is Bison which is very decent for the price.

 

Costed us around 1300/- per day, rooms are very neat. Don't expect any luxury. Stay is pretty decent.

 

I see many members asking, If the place is safe for families. Yes the resort is absolutely safe.

Places to visit in Maredumilli

• Amruthadhara waterfalls
• Jalatharangini waterfalls
• Nature Trails
• Mothugudem waterfalls
• Medicinal Plants Conservational Area
• Coffee Plantation
• Nandanavanam
• Tribal Culture
• Swarnadhara
• Jungle Star Nature Camp Site
• Madanakunj

 

Places to visit Rampachodavaram

• Rampa Waterfalls
• Temple of Lord Shiva
• Bhupathipalem reservoir

[Surya78]

Pictures taken en-route from Bhadrachalam to Maredumilli

Drive for the trip, A decade old but still turns the heads.

Vana Vihar resort entrance.

Bison cottage, Our accommodation for the day.

You can park your vehicle near your cottage.

 

[Surya78]

My photography attempt.

Breath taking roads through dense forest.

Slight drizzle, fog, dense forest, ghat sections..What else do we require?

Nights are lonely and scary. We came out for the drive after dinner. It was an adventure for sure.

 

[Surya78]

In vana vihari.

Forest trails.

Beautiful roads and greenery is unbelievable.

One more click of my Viva.

 

[Surya78]

 

Bhadrachalam to Maredumilli. Don't miss this place.

Beautiful views from the Bhupathipalem bridge.

Better than Kerala at some points?

Pictures doesn't do justice to this location.

 

 

 

[Surya78]

Jalatharangini waterfalls

Don't miss the famous Bamboo Chicken.

Views inside the Vana Vihari resort. Resort itself is located in the dense forest.

Some times visibility is very low due to the fog.

Some random picture of the waterfalls that we covered.

Forest trails that we took to explore deep.

 

[Surya78]

Rampa waterfalls.

Some more amazing views.

Clean water gushing out.

We started exploring the place.

 

Trails to reach the waterfalls

 

[Surya78]

Amruthadhara waterfalls

Bridges that we need to cross. To reach the foot hills of the waterfalls.

Again forest trails

Clean and fresh water.

Views en-route to Jalatharangini waterfalls

 

 

[Surya78]

I had very less exceptions about Maredumilli, but this place has proved me that I am wrong.Next Day we drove back to Hyderabad via Vijayawada.It was an awesome drive. Long weekend well spent.

 

Visited Dhraksharamam Jyotirlingam

Couldn't capture the beauty of this place due to low light.

Deva nagari lipi on the walls of the temple

 

[Gowtham]

Looks like you covered most of the importantly locations. Nice report and pictures.

Planning to visit Maredumilli during winter.

This information will be helpful for sure.

Thank you for sharing.

[sagar]

Lovely travelogue 

I have been to Maredumalli before but haven't covered so many places as you did.. In fact, I was very unaware of these many places around Maredumalli.. Thanks a lot for sharing.

[shammy]

Nice write up !! 

 

Very informative post with beautiful pictures. I never been to this place before. best time to visit this place?

[kamal]

Awesome Travelogue buddy.. superb pictures too.. I never knew that Andhra Pradesh had such a dense forest.. Should plan my next road trip to this place..

[sharma]

Beautiful narration and clicks 

This place looks like a visual treat for the eyes. Wish you many more such vacations with your Viva.. flag

[hsudhir]

Thoroughly appreciate the way you have captured the authenticity of this place and the roads through the forest look beautiful.. Planning to visit this place in December.. Is that time suggestable to do ?

[brteja]

I love your spirit and passion for driving. Great travelogue and crisp writing with beautiful pictures. Keep up the good work.

[mansur]

A very refreshing travelogue .. I had visited this place during December last year. It wasn't during the monsoon but still the beauty of this place was no less.

[uday]

Excellent report 

What is the best time to visit this place.

Some people are suggesting Winter and some in monsoon?

Any other hotels in Maredumilli apart from Vana Vihari?

[Gowtham]

uday said:

Excellent report

What is the best time to visit this place.Some people are suggesting Winter and some in monsoon?Any other hotels in Maredumilli apart from Vana Vihari?

It is equally good in both climatic conditions.I heard it is beautiful in winter specially early mornings.Temperatures go very low in Lamabasingi. Must visit place during winter.Regarding accommodations, Vana Vihari is the only safe option as of now.Price list of Vana Vihari resort

[Balakrishna]

Great travelogue with really good pictures... Awesome info about the hotels.. Any accommodations around Lambasingi ? Which is the best route to reach Lambasingi ?

[Gowtham]

Great travelogue with really good pictures... Awesome info about the hotels.. Any accommodations around Lambasingi ? Which is the best route to reach Lambasingi ?

It is tough to find accommodation at Lambasingi.

You need to stay at Maredumilli or Rajahmundry.

You can drive to Araku via Lambasingi.

Best plan is stay at Rajahmundry/Maredumilli and start early morning drive to Lambasingi and stay for the night at Aruku.

Route : Rajahmundry --> Narsipatnam --> Lambasingi --> Paderu --> Aruku

Distance : 250 kilometers

Drive time: 6 hours

Roads will be very average but you will get amazing views.

[balag]

Great travelogue and pictures.. This place seems like it could be perfect during any season for a drive. Is it a crowded place i mean is it commercialized? Any other stays apart from Vanavihar? Just wanted to know alternatives if vanavihar is fully booked.. TIA

[uday]

Excellent post

You have covered all the details about Maredumilli forest.

Best information so far.

Awesome pictures

It is one the best place to visit from Hyderabad.

[Naveen1]

Wow superb pictures.
I missed your travel log.
Good information Surya.

Best season to visit this place?

[Gowtham]

Just now, driveking said:

Best season to visit this place?

 

Monsoon and Winter, avoid this place in summer. It is like hell.
Even in monsoon, humidity is on the higher side but the early drive around this place is fantastic. 

[Guest Fathima]

HI 

Nice write up nd very informative too.

We are planning for sometime mid Oct but is the trip baby friendly as we have a 11 month old daughter.

Any leads or info will be helpful.

 

Thanks,

[Sridhar Tandra]

Here are few pictures of Draksharamam that you feel you missed capturing due to low light, captured these when I have visited Tapeswaram - Dwarapudi for my BIL marriage..!!

Sridhar Tandra (ST)

[Sridhar Tandra]

Sridhar Tandra (ST)

[Gowtham]

Those pictures of paddy fields are too good.

[Sridhar Tandra]

That guy who was spraying just completed his job and I have asked him to spray it again for me to capture, he was asking if I will publish him in the local newspaper..!! I was ROFL,  Buhaha

[Gowtham]

On 10/1/2017 at 2:12 PM, Guest Fathima said:

 

Any leads or info will be helpful.

 

Humidity is high.

You won't find any basic necessities in the forest.

You need plan well and carry all the required things related to the child.

Place is baby friendly you won't have any issues with food and washrooms as long as you book the accommodation in Forest.

 

I have visited this place last weekend. Adding few pictures.

 

 

 

 

[Sridhar Tandra]

Awesomeness overloaded..!! Pictures are too good Gowtham

[Vinith]

Nice [emoji108]


 

[Pinaki]

 

 

What awesome pictures are these ! No dispute - One of the weekends I am surely stepping and driving on this road ! Excellent. Simply loved it. 

[uday]

Awesome pictures.
How did you get those reflections? We need any filters?

[Gowtham]

39 minutes ago, Sridhar Tandra said:

Pictures are too good Gowtham

 

13 minutes ago, Pinaki said:

Excellent. Simply loved it.

 

17 minutes ago, Vinith said:

Nice

 

6 minutes ago, uday said:

Awesome pictures.

 

Thank you 

 

 

6 minutes ago, uday said:

How did you get those reflections? We need any filters?

No filters required,  reflections are perfect due to lack of wind.
Humidity is high.
Avoid this place in summer at any cost.

Best time to visit is in  Monsoon/Winter.

[suhas]

Awesome [emoji4]

 

 

 

 

[Surya78]

Excellent pictures Gowtham. Did you visit any waterfalls. Waiting for more pictures.
How is the road condition?
Planning to visit again this December..

Sent from my Redmi 3S using India-Drive mobile app

[Gowtham]

1 hour ago, suhas said:

Awesome

 

1 hour ago, Surya78 said:

Excellent pictures Gowtham.

Thank you 

 

1 hour ago, Surya78 said:

Did you visit any waterfalls.

 

We have visited three water falls.

• Rampa waterfalls
• Amruthadara waterfalls
• Jalatharingini waterfalls

We loved Rampa waterfalls, It is bit remote and away from regular tourists.
Water flow is very less, It will degrade further by December. 

 

We did not stay in the forest accommodation as most of them are full due to long weekend. 
We loved the Bamboo chicken and Bamboo biryani. Must try in Maredumilli.

 

[veeran]

wonderful information guys and nice clicks. 

[Saran]

Great pics Gowtham [emoji108]