Hyderabad to Papikondalu, Andhra Pradesh

[arifismyname]

Papikondalu - A hidden gem of an island to relish for a lifetime

 

"Papi kondalu" or the "Papi Hills" which are located in the Eastern Ghats between Godavari and Khammam districts has always fascinated me when ever I googled it online. The desire of wanting to visit this place by boat and staying in the bamboo hut for a night just grew bigger and there came a day when I happened to go to Rajamundry in the month of November. And that's when I did not back out from visiting this gem of an Island called Kolluru amidst the Papi hills.

 

Essentials to know before you plan a trip to the Papi hills:

1) Make sure you do your boat and hotel (bamboo house) bookings in advance amongst the available packages at the agencies.

2) Lunch provided in the boat is purely veg and delicious which is included in the packages.

3) You have a choice of menu between Veg and Non-veg during dinner at the bamboo house.

4) Be aware of the fact that you will be having zero mobile signals.

5) Tea and snacks would be provided at the stay around 4 to 5 PM.

6) There is a satellite phone, though and a tuck shop which has snacks, medicines and other knick-knacks

7) Only limited solar power is available until 11 PM.

 

Itinerary:

 

Saturday - Day 1

9:00 AM - The boat ride begins post breakfast.

10.30 AM - Visting GandiPochamma Temple and darshan.

1.00 PM - Vegetarian lunch in the Boat during travel.

2.00 PM - Reach Papi hills.

3.00 PM - Visit "Ramakrishna muni vatika" (Ashramam), Veereswara Swamy Temple and darshan of Load Shiva.

4:30 PM - Tea break.

9:00 PM - Dinner time (Veg and Non-Veg) besides camp fire.

 

Sunday - Day 2

8.00 AM - Local trek in the forest area.

9.00 AM - Breakfast at the camp site.

12.30 PM - Local sight seeing, experiencing tribal culture.

2.00 PM - Lunch (Veg and Non-Veg)

3.00 PM - Return journey by Boat.

6.30 PM Reach Pattiseema / Polavaram

 

Here is a small photolog of the event flow

 

Papi hills are a set of three hills which form a beautiful gorge on the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh.

 

We started the boat cruise from Rajamundry around 9 AM in the morning into the Godavari river.

 

 

 

Passing through the picturesque locations along the Godavari river, we reached Kolluru village by 5 PM in the evening.

 

The nearest place where one can stay is the Kolluru village which has a bamboo hut accommodation for tourists. They have to be booked in advance through AP tourism online. 

 

The Kolluru village is scarcely populated and disconnected from basic facilities such as road connectivity and telephone networks. The only functional phone in the village is a satellite phone. 

 

Kolluru village lying amidst these majestic hills and serenading waters is heavily disconnected from the modern world having countable tribal population. 

 

After a delicious dinner, we sat outside the huts, enjoying the cool breeze under the mid night sky.

 

The place had a serene calmness all around and I kept gazing at the perfect amalgamation of hills and the river infront of me for a long time.  

[arifismyname]

The next morning, I trekked around the village scattered in the forest on a hill. 

 

The famous bamboo chicken served at the village

 

The journey back to the base was short downstream and scenic throughout.

 

I was still trying to sink the feeling that I had visited one of the most peaceful places in the country throughout the boat ride back home. 

 

Yes, there are mountains. Then there are beaches. And there are forests. But this place is like no other. It's a little world in its own.

 

 

 

 

My weekend visit to Papikondalu has been one of my most unique travel experiences till date and a memory to relish for a lifetime.

 

 

[sagar]

Brilliant pictures as always @arifismyname and Thanks a lot for sharing your event flow and itinerary. Your travelogue has got all that is essential to visit Papikondalu. Any idea if the boat ride exists until Badhrachalam ?

[Gowtham]

Fantastic pictures.

Eye pleasing.

How do you manage to take selfies like this?

Very passionate!

[Sridhar Tandra]

Wonderful, this is on my checklist for long! will have to complete Papi Kondalu, Bairutly / Pacherla and Maredumilli before Summer 2018

[karthik]

No words brother.
You have showed us the beautiful side of Papikondalu.

Pictures are breath taking.

What is the best time to visit Papikondalu?

[arifismyname]

On 11/13/2017 at 7:17 AM, sagar said:

Brilliant pictures as always @arifismyname and Thanks a lot for sharing your event flow and itinerary. Your travelogue has got all that is essential to visit Papikondalu. Any idea if the boat ride exists until Badhrachalam ?

 

Pleasure sharing it with a bunch of travel enthusiast @sagar

and Yes, the boat rides are available until badrachalam. There are a different kind of packages depending on the number of days we would want to take up. So, it would be our choice but, most of them usualy take it only half way and not to badrachalam. a 1 night package.

 

On 11/13/2017 at 11:08 AM, Ranger said:

Fantastic pictures.

Eye pleasing.

How do you manage to take selfies like this?

Very passionate!

 

Thanks a lot @Ranger Actually my friend does it to me

 

On 11/13/2017 at 3:01 PM, Sridhar Tandra said:

Wonderful, this is on my checklist for long! will have to complete Papi Kondalu, Bairutly / Pacherla and Maredumilli before Summer 2018

 

Yes @Sridhar Tandra .This place is definitely a must visit if you haven't travelled here before. Absolutely beautiful. If you are looking for a weekend getaway to spend some time in peace away from the city, this is the one for u. Don't miss it.

[arifismyname]

23 hours ago, karthik said:

No words brother.
You have showed us the beautiful side of Papikondalu.

Pictures are breath taking.

What is the best time to visit Papikondalu?

 

Thank you @karthik. November, December would probably be the right time according me.

[hsudhir]

Amazing is the word. Beautifully crafted pictures. They look like a paintings of a dreamland. Thanks for keeping them up.  

[Pravash]

Excellent arifismyname. Very nice photographs. Need your help. I am from Hyderabad.

1) How did you book Papikondalu trip? I mean any good travel agencies contact, will you able to share ?

2) Is the 1 night  stay at hotel (bamboo house) safe for family with 3-5 year old kid and ladies?

3) How did you travel from Hyderabad to Papikondalu? Do the agencies provide full transportation from Hyderabad to Papikondalu and return ? Can I drive my car from Hyderabad to  Rajahmundry to Papikondalu and then I will park my car any availability of parking place for 1-2 day and then go on Papikondalu boat trip? 

 

Any information on above will be appreciate. 

 

Thanks....

[Gowtham]

18 hours ago, Pravash said:

1) How did you book Papikondalu trip? I mean any good travel agencies contact, will you able to share ?

 

You can contact Punnami tourism Rajahmundry, Link

 

18 hours ago, Pravash said:

2) Is the 1 night  stay at hotel (bamboo house) safe for family with 3-5 year old kid and ladies?

 

It is safe many families visit this place.

 

18 hours ago, Pravash said:

3) How did you travel from Hyderabad to Papikondalu?

Can be done via road, Hyderabad to Rajahmundry is completely 4-lane toll road.

 

18 hours ago, Pravash said:

I will park my car any availability of parking place for 1-2 day and then go on Papikondalu boat trip?

 

They will provide a paid parking facility for boat rides. 

[sagar]

Hi @Pravash, There are definitely many boat agencies available to do this, but I would suggest you to go with the AP tourism which can be available online. They have a lot of packages depending on the number of days you want to choose. The food is very organic and tasty. Staying in these bamboo houses is altogether a wonderful experience. Yes, it is very safe for the families to go. During my trip to this place, 75 % of the crowd were families and the others are a groups from different travel agencies. Since you would be in a remote area, make sure that you would be away from phone signals and electricity.

There is an emergency satellite phone at the resort and the electricity is limited to 11 30 PM.

[sbhamidi]

2 hours ago, Ranger said:

 
They will provide a paid parking facility for boat rides. 

 

Thanks Ranger this information is good

 

 

1 hour ago, sagar said:

Hi [mention=228]Pravash[/mention], There are definitely many boat agencies available to do this, but I would suggest you to go with the AP tourism which can be available online. They have a lot of packages depending on the number of days you want to choose. The food is very organic and tasty. Staying in these bamboo houses is altogether a wonderful experience. Yes, it is very safe for the families to go. During my trip to this place, 75 % of the crowd were families and the others are a groups from different travel agencies. Since you would be in a remote area, make sure that you would be away from phone signals and electricity.
There is an emergency satellite phone at the resort and the electricity is limited to 11 30 PM.

 

Will there by mobile connection available like cellone or airtel or anything

 

[sagar]

11 minutes ago, sbhamidi said:

Will there by mobile connection available like cellone or airtel or anything

 

 

 

Absolutely zero network sire, but yeah that is one best part of being more connected to ourselves

[sbhamidi]

 
Absolutely zero network sire, but yeah that is one best part of being more connected to ourselves [emoji3]

Agree we need the "Mytime" for ourselves n family...

[Pralay]

Lovely pictures... wonderful. mesmerizing landscapes.. Thanks for sharing.. !!

[vivek]

Amazing stuff @arifismyname. I really am not sure if that place as beautiful as they look in your pictures but, I would definitely want to visit this place after going through your log. Thanks for sharing.

[Guest Munaf]

@arifismyname Your pictures are so extravagant and the content has some really good information. Amazing work. I guess, this is probably a good time to visit Papikondalu as there wont be much hazards in water due to lesser watter currents when compared to post monsoon season. Any other recommendations about the best time?

[Guest Deepu]

Awesome pictures and information @arifismyname.. Your itinerary fits in perfect for anyone planning to do this. ?

[sagar]

[mention=609]arifismyname[/mention] Your pictures are so extravagant and the content has some really good information. Amazing work. I guess, this is probably a good time to visit Papikondalu as there wont be much hazards in water due to lesser watter currents when compared to post monsoon season. Any other recommendations about the best time?

I would recommend you to do this trip around November/ December months. That’s the best time to go.

[ksa171983]

this is just wow @arifismyname You pictures are worth a thousand words.. Brilliantly taken and detailed..

[Naveen1]

Beautiful picture.

it is a pleasure to watch them.

Made it my desktop background. 

[KSK]

My family and my sister's family also went to Papikondalu on December 31st 2017. We have spent New year (2018) day amidst picturesque locations of Papi hills - for once disconnected from virtual world and not a bit concerned about wishing someone or getting buzzing new year wishes on our mobile phones. It was an amazing experience.

 

We traveled to Bhadrachalam and then to Pochavaram, which is approximately 72 km from Bhadrachalam, to board a boat and reach Kolluru. My brother-in-law did all boating and bamboo hut booking through his influence. Though we had wonderful time, my suggestion is not to visit Papikondalu with families during new year's time, especially Dec 31st. There was lots of boozing and smoking on 31st, continued till morning. On Jan 1st, there was an altercation between some tourists and local tribal, and tribals beat a couple of guys with sticks for creating nuisance for food not being prepared well (maybe they were still in hangover). But otherwise, it is a must-visit place at least once.

 

Some pics taken by nephew:

 

 

 

 

And some by me:

 

Need to walk through this trail for about 1 km to reach a stream:

 

Stream...:

 

Managed to take a pic of altercation:

[sagar]

Awesome pictures @KSK.. Looks so much fun. How much were you charged for this trip?

[KSK]

2 hours ago, sagar said:

Awesome pictures @KSK.. Looks so much fun. How much were you charged for this trip?

Thank you @sagar

 

Cost was Rs.1500/- for adults and Rs.1000/- for children. My brother-in-law knows an endowment officer in Bhadrachalam. Through that source we booked.

[Gowtham]

Is it a round trip?

I mean pickup/drop point is same?

I heard few queries regarding parking.

[KSK]

6 hours ago, Ranger said:

Is it a round trip?

I mean pickup/drop point is same?

I heard few queries regarding parking.

 

Yes, it was a round trip - Pochavaram-Kolluru-Pochavaram. I do not know actual pricing of the package, but what I heard from friends, our price was dead cheap. It was a 2-day 1-night stay package, including food.

There is parking facility at Pochavaram boating point (at owner's risk). Vehicles will end up with lot of dust, leaves and bird droppings?

 

Edited January 21, 2019 by KSK

[sagar]

I have this about 10 years ago starting from Rajamundry. Don’t remember the price we’ve been charged though ?