The Tourism Department will soon start weekend package tours for the residents of Kurnool and surrounding places. The package covers distinct routes each week ending with a major shrine in the district.
According to Tourism Officer Venkateswarlu, the packages have been designed for Kolanubharathi temple, Ahobilam, Mahanandi, Mantralayam and a special package for Belum caves.
On the first Sunday of every month, a tour will be organised to Kolanubharathi temple, which is nestled in the Nallamala forest surrounded by streams and minor water falls. Soon after starting at Kurnool at 7 a.m., the tourists will be taken to the Ketavaram rock paintings, a prehistoric human habitation. Later, the group will be taken to Rudrakoteswara temple in the interior forest of Nallamala. The temple is close to the YSR helicopter crash site.
The package also covers bio-diversity project of forest department and YSR memorial site. Finally, the tour winds up with a visit to Kolanubharathi Saraswathi temple near Kothapalli.
A guide will also accompany the group and explain the significance of each place. The tourists will be offered breakfast, tea, lunch and evening snacks. Each adult passenger will be charged Rs. 595 and child Rs. 535.
On the second Sunday, the tour will cover Orvakal rock garden, Mahanandhi, Ahobilam and third Sunday Orvakal, Nava Nandhi temples and Mahanandhi. On the last Sunday, a tour will be organised to Mantralayam covering Sunkesula reservoir, Mantralayam, Adoni Fort, Ranamandala Anjaneya Swamy. A special tour will be organised to Belum caves on request covering Belum caves, Yaganti temple and Nawab Palace at Banaganapalli.
Luxury bus A 50-seater luxury bus will be deployed to transport the passengers.
