Drive to Akka Mahadevi caves

[Gowtham]

Last weekend, We went a on a small drive from Hyderabad to Srisailam.

Since, we have multiple logs on Srisailam drive. I don't want to share more information on it.
I will concentrate more on Akka Mahadevi Caves (few people call it Akkamadevi devi Caves)

 

There are two ways to visit Akka Mahadevi caves from Srisailam: 

• AP Tourism boating
• Private boating

Akka Mahadevi caves boating start point:

Both the boats agencies start from same location : Pathala Ganga

To reach Pathala Ganga, you need to either take rope-way or steps.

If you have a bike you can ride down via steep path. 

Cars cant go down. Need to park them at rope way entrance. (designated parking is available) 

Location details

 

Distance and time taken to visit Akka Mahadevi caves:(Applicable for both Private and Government operators)

• Boat ride takes around 90 minutes (one way)
• Distance is around 16 kilometers (one way)
• Boat speed is around 14 km/hr 
• Total time for entire ride (including caves visit) : 4~5 hours

 

Safety:

Both government and private agencies provide life jackets.
You may catch up cross winds at few locations but nothing to worry about them.

Ride is smooth through out.

 

AP Tourism boating:

AP Tourism boating is managed by government.

It is a big boat with 50 member capacity.  

 

Boat starts between 9AM~10AM from Pathala Ganga. (only one slot)
You need to reach the point by 9AM and book the tickets for boating.

Once you book the tickets, you need to wait till the boat is full (50 members) .

Boat usually starts between 10AM~11AM.

 

Price: 350/- (per head) 

 

Private Tourism boating:

These are managed by private operators under government control.

They have around ~15 member capacity boats which are small.

Boats are basic as shown in the above image.

 

These boats don't have any fixed timings, they are available from 6 AM, according to locals.  (I feel that is the best time to visit)

These guys close their operations before 2 PM.

 

Food and Water

Carry food and water, they are available just before boating point.

Near the caves they charge x3, sometimes they may not be available.

 

About Akka Mahadevi Caves: 

Once we get-down from the boat, we need to walk around 500 meters, path is neatly laid.

No washrooms are available at the caves, plan accordingly. 

 

Caves are very small, don't expect them similar to Belum/Borra caves.

But the stone formation outside the caves are amazing. Boat guys act as a guide, they will tell about the history of the place.

 

Foot wear are not allowed into caves.
Once you enter into caves:(approximate numbers)

 

• Walk : 100 meters
• Crawl: 50 meters
• Walk side ways : 20 meters

Once you reach dead end you will find a Shiva lingam.

Only one person can enter at a time (for Crawl/walk side way)

 

Drawbacks

Bats, it will stink inside the caves.

Some people may feel suffocated inside the caves, due to narrow passages. 

Fine dust inside the caves, not a place for people with dust allergy 

 

Overall, I would say it is a must visit for nature lovers. 

Not an ideal place for Instagram crowd.

 

Important note:

Visit only during monsoon(Cloudy) and winter(December, low temperatures).

Avoid this place, when the sun is out. Summer is completely ruled out.

 

If you are taking AP tourism boat, try to occupy the last row. It has best view.  

 

[Gowtham]

Roads are excellent through out the drive.

Mandatory stopover at the ghat section entrance.

 

Two old work horses

First leg of the journey from Hyderabad till ghat entrance is a drivers paradise

Single lane road with perfect banking angles

Start early in the morning to enjoy the road

Ghat section is narrow, overtaking a heavy vehicle is a tough task

Forest department has created few designated stopovers in the forest. Good move. 

There are around 6 stopovers in the forest.

First view of the reservoir 

Soaked up in rain

Still a long way to go..

Way to boating point 

View of the dam from the boat

 

Private boat with less capacity

Fisherman village,
This is located deep in the forest.

They don't have basic facilities.

Very peaceful place.

 

Beautiful views en-route

 

 

 

We spotted around three fisherman villages. These people are disconnected with our world.

 

Akka Mahadevi caves entrance, 500 meter walk form boat.

Naturally formed entrance, this place is active from 13th century 

A lady is meditating at this place from the past 16 years.
She never left the place. 

Boat operators carry food.

The end

[Sridhar Tandra]

7 hours ago, Ranger said:

Not an ideal place for Instagram crowd.

Want to see these folks taking pictures at this place, I am ROFL by imagining them at the Side walk / Crawl zones!!   

[sagar]

Lovely log @Ranger. One place around Srisailam that has been missing out on information for the travelers. Looks like you guys have done it during a perfect weekend which had mild showers. I am surprised to see those coracles in the pictures. Are they still legally running it after a lot of disasters in the past in that region?

[rkamal]

@Rangerexcellent pics, and write-up. the rope ways are working now? i heard they were not operating, the last time i went. (almost an year back) Thank you!

[Gowtham]

2 hours ago, sagar said:

One place around Srisailam that has been missing out on information for the travelers.

 

Had to convince seven lazy folks to visit this place. Took me an hour to convince them ?

3 hours ago, sagar said:

Looks like you guys have done it during a perfect weekend which had mild showers

 

Weather played important role, If the temperatures are high/Sun is out. It would be a disaster. 

 

3 hours ago, sagar said:

I am surprised to see those coracles in the pictures.

 

Coracles belong to fisherman. Those are used for fishing. They use them to commute around the small villages. 

 

1 hour ago, rkamal said:

the rope ways are working now?

 

Yes, It is working. 
Previously, it was stopped due to some repair work. 

 

Than you guys. 

[ksa171983]

Nice weekend drive.. waters look very clean in the photos

[sagar]

Water level at Srisailam are high right now.. Chances of raising the dam gates in the next week..  

[ksa171983]

3 hours ago, sagar said:

Water level at Srisailam are high right now.. Chances of raising the dam gates in the next week..  

lets do a quick drive ?

[Sridhar Tandra]

15 hours ago, ksa171983 said:

lets do a quick drive ?

Sunday morning? what say @Ranger @sagar @Vinith @Sud

[ksa171983]

44 minutes ago, Sridhar Tandra said:

Sunday morning? what say @Ranger @sagar @Vinith @Sud

I'm game bro ??

 

Let's discuss over mobiles on Saturday and start off [emoji482]

[mit1682]

@Ranger you clicks are amazing. Which camera and what setup you are using.

[Gowtham]

21 hours ago, ksa171983 said:

Nice weekend drive.

 

Weather was good through the drive.

 

17 hours ago, ksa171983 said:

lets do a quick drive ?

 

2 hours ago, Sridhar Tandra said:

Sunday morning? what say

 

People at my house will kick me out. 
I am on back to back drive mode, from the past three weekends.

Looks like they will open dam gates today. 
 

1 hour ago, mit1682 said:

you clicks are amazing. Which camera and what setup you are using

 

Pictures are from D3200 (Nikon, old one) and Google Pixel (mobile) 
 

[Shekar]

Lovely log @Ranger. Beautiful clicks. Some time back I heard Telangana tourism also running a boat service from Somasila to Srisailam which includes Akkamahadevi caves. But it was on demand basis. (At least 70% booking). Any one have any idea on this. As far I know it was a two day trip including temple visit.   

[Gowtham]

2 minutes ago, Shekar said:

Lovely log @Ranger. Beautiful clicks.

 

Thank you.

 

2 minutes ago, Shekar said:

Beautiful clicks. Some time back I heard Telangana tourism also running a boat service from Somasila to Srisailam which includes Akkamahadevi caves. But it was on demand basis. (At least 70% booking). Any one have any idea on this. As far I know it was a two day trip including temple visit.   

 

Interesting information, never heard about it.

 

I had discussion with few of the boat drivers. 
According to them there is a two trek facility along the Nallamalla forest regions.
It can be done officially, If we take permissions from the forest department. 

Few people have done it recently. 

 

[Sridhar Tandra]

1 hour ago, Ranger said:

Looks like they will open dam gates today. 

Arre convince kardo na, gates opening expected hence let's go! will start early and come back by post lunch

[sagar]

On ‎8‎/‎9‎/‎2019 at 1:19 PM, Sridhar Tandra said:

Arre convince kardo na, gates opening expected hence let's go! will start early and come back by post lunch

 

Sorry to have missed out on the conversation guys.. Also, it was horrific to see so much of traffic lined up that complete weekend :O 

[Sridhar Tandra]

8 hours ago, sagar said:

it was horrific to see so much of traffic lined up that complete weekend

Yep, I think this weekend will be very similar at Nagarjunsagar too  

[ksa171983]

8 hours ago, sagar said:

 

Sorry to have missed out on the conversation guys.. Also, it was horrific to see so much of traffic lined up that complete weekend ?

good that you missed,good that Gowtham did not get permission , good that me and sridhar did not initiate a whatsapp conversation.

Lot of patience and determination required.

Looking at the horrific traffic i remembered my saleswaram trip but at least that was to say hello to God ..

[Shekar]

On ‎8‎/‎9‎/‎2019 at 1:00 PM, Ranger said:

 

Thank you.

 

 

Interesting information, never heard about it.

 

I had discussion with few of the boat drivers. 
According to them there is a two trek facility along the Nallamalla forest regions.
It can be done officially, If we take permissions from the forest department. 

Few people have done it recently. 

 

I could recall the number of the Boat manager at Somasila whom with I spoke long back, Mr. Rishi Reddy 9010007152. 

[Gowtham]

21 hours ago, ksa171983 said:

good that you missed,good that Gowtham did not get permission , good that me and sridhar did not initiate a whatsapp conversation.

Lot of patience and determination required.

Looking at the horrific traffic i remembered my saleswaram trip but at least that was to say hello to God ..

 

Haha, I must say that we are lucky.

 

16 hours ago, Shekar said:

Boat manager at Somasila whom with I spoke long back, Mr. Rishi Reddy 9010007152. 

 

Thank you for the information. 

 

21 hours ago, Sridhar Tandra said:

this weekend will be very similar at Nagarjunsagar

 

On weekends, Yes.
Weekdays should be fine.

Gates are still open?

[Sridhar Tandra]

1 hour ago, Ranger said:

Gates are still open?

As of today yes, there is a constant in flow of water without a break is what I heard of

[karthik]

Wow place is unbelievably good. Pictures came out very well. Nallamala has lot of potential tourist spots. I did boating in NagarjunaSagar, it is average. This one is too good.

[Gowtham]

On 9/9/2020 at 8:46 PM, karthik said:

Nallamala has lot of potential tourist spots.

 

Yeah, has many view spots. Pictures wont do any justice. 

[sagar]

Are the forest resorts at Nallamalla open to tourists during this covid time? 

[Gowtham]

On 10/30/2020 at 4:33 AM, sagar said:

Are the forest resorts at Nallamalla open to tourists during this covid time? 

 

I guess it is based on boating.
If boating is open, one can visit this place without any issues.
Avoid this place during summer.