A thig of Beauty is a joy forever-III

The Shiva temple, located atop a hill, is sacred to the resident tribals and one needs to follow their traditions strictly. For an hour or so, we dropped anchor here to discover the gushing waterfalls and lush greenery that surrounded the place. The downstream journey from Parantalapalli was all about refreshing the hours gone by. It was time to catch up on lost mountains, lost thoughts and lost history. Because, Papi Kondalu will go down in history if the Polavaram project takes shape and the fragile eco-system of this mystical and magical place will be lost forever.

Whoever said a thing of beauty is a joy forever?

Papi Kondalu or Papi Hills and its surroundings located near Rajahmundry is a visual treat to the spectators. Even from the launch point at Pattiseema, the river appears to be narrowing and the hills begin to show. Many tribal communities infuse life in the hills, which are their homes and the only source of livelihood by agriculture, fishing and handicraft. The journey from Pattiseema to Papikondalu is dotted with temples and scenic points. There are tribal areas around Papikondalu. The boat ride takes the visitors to their destination via Polavaram, Devipatnam, Singanapalle, Tekuluru and Koruturu. The Ramakrishna Paramahamsa dhyana temple and a Siva temple at Perantalapalli, can be visited too. All year round is cruising season.