The new capital of Andhra Pradesh State, Amaravati, and its surrounding areas will soon turn into a hub of yacht and sailing clubs with marina, river cruises and houseboats.
The Government, which has been talking about developing riverfront activities in a big way to attract tourists, on Tuesday approved establishment of yacht and sailing clubs besides operation of houseboats and river cruises from nine different locations in and around the capital.
Goa-based Champions Yacht Club had been operating a variety of water sports in the Krishna river attracting a good number of fun-lovers.
To take the excitement to the next level, the yachting firm now is all set to introduce new facilities with multiple operations. “Of the five houseboats we plan to operate from different places, the first one will arrive by Pushkarams. The houseboat and river cruises will operate from the river banks at Datta Ashram near Seethanagaram. A yacht-cum-sailing club with a marina (a specially designed harbour with moorings for pleasure yachts and small boats) will come up at the point where the western main canal (near PWD workshop) starts,” said S. Subhakar Rao, CEO of the firm. Besides, a floating cinema theatre allowing a brand new experience of watching films while floating on water will operate near Krishnaveni motel. The waterfront near an unnamed island near Bhavani island will flaunt a floating restaurant, a floating golf and water park.
The Punnami ghat of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation will have a yacht club and water sports while the adjacent Bhavani ghat will be adorned with a waterfront restaurant with a marina.
Expanding its activities to the new capital area, the firm plans to introduce water sports and a floating restaurant at Tallayapalem near Velagapudi.
Besides, the Punnami and Bhavani ghats will get two luxury caravans each in addition to pre-fabricated tensile sheets at all locations to protect visitors from heat and dust.
Cruise to begin operations
Meanwhile, the outsized cruise boat designed in the pattern of a dhow boats seen in Dubai, is also ready for commercial operations. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the operations by the 200-seater boat on August 7.
The boat guzzled 60 tons of wood, iron and steel to take the shape it finally acquired and has two bedrooms and a multi-cuisine restaurant in the ground floor.
The first floor has a banquet hall which will be let out for hosting parties while the second floor comprises a premiere deck that provides a panoramic view of the river and its picturesque surroundings. Ten persons can make use of this facility at a time.
The best part of the new facility is that it paves the way for ‘green cruising’ since it has eco-friendly bio-toilets which will not pollute the river water.
Of the five houseboats we plan to operate from different places, the first one will arrive by Pushkarams.
S. Subhakar Rao
CEO of Champions Yacht Club
