The 5,000 plus visitors that the famous Kuntala waterfall in Adilabad is attracting on weekends, like it did on July 17, is an indication of the scope for development of water tourism in the district. There are at least 30 minor and major waterfalls on the numerous hill streams here but two thirds of these remain to be explored which can constitute the essence of water tourism.
There are at least half a dozen waterfalls in a radius of about 35 to 40 km from the scenic picnic spot in Neredigonda mandal. These wonders of nature can make for a water tourism, or waterfall tourism, in this district.
The first waterfall that visitors coming from Hyderabad can see is the one near Kortikal (B) village in Neredigonda mandal just by the side of the NH 44 Nirmal bypass. The typical rock structure makes it an alluring sight for visitors who can watch water cascade from the high level bridge on the Wankidi stream itself.
ADVERTISEMENT
The second one called Devula Gundam is a fall on a small local stream and is near Roll Mamda village, also in the same mandal, and is not known to many outside of the village. It is about 2 km ahead of Neredigonda mandal headquarter, 500 metres on the road to Gutpala from Roll Mamda.
The Pochera waterfall, located in Boath mandal, is as famous as the iconic Kuntala but there are less footfalls here as it is much smaller. This is the place where all facilities of a tourist centre can be developed. Further, down the NH 44, a road branches to Tarnam village from the Kupti bridge where the majestic Gatatri gundam is located. While Tarnam, also in Neredigonda mandal, is about 2 km on a motorable road, one needs to walk for about 3 km to reach the spot where water drops from a height of over 50 metres. In Bazarhatnoor mandal, about 30 km from Neredigonda, close to where the Kadem stream originates, are located the Kankai and the Cheekati Gundam falls. To reach these falls one needs to walk for about 2 km from the main road.
The picturesque Kuntala also needs to have adventure tourism facility for the benefit of the hundreds of adventurous visitors. An experiment in different types of adventure sports was done here about 4 years back but nothing more was heard of it.
ADVERTISEMENT