HYDERABAD: Presenting more quick-getaway options for tourists in the city is the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation which will kick-start the Punnami Orvakal Festival, the first-ever full moon festival to be held at Orvakal, near Kurnool, in Andhra Pradesh. While the department is conducting this three-day festival for the first time, it will be made an annual affair.
Orvakal, which is 20 km away from Kurnool and around 215 km from Hyderabad, is popular for its rock formations that date back to three million years. “The festival, which will commence on June 9 amidst the rock formations, will provide a one-of-a-kind experience for tourists. We have tents pitched up and the experience of staying under the full moon is going to be unique,” said G Gopalakrishna, regional director of APTDC.
Around 200 acres of government land around the rock formations has been set aside for the festival along with a number of fun-filled activities that include live performances by award-winning singers besides hot-air balloon rides, rock climbing, indoor bungee trampoline and rappelling.
Tickets for the event are priced between Rs 5,000 and Rs 15,000 including food and accommodation for two days for four persons. Tourists can also drive to a number of other locations like pre-historic rock paintings at Ketavaram, Belum Caves and Gandikota Fort which are within a two to three hour drive.
“Currently, we are targeting tourists from Bengaluru and Hyderabad who look for short, weekend getaways. We will soon make it an annual affair and then target tourists from other states too. With approximately 2 million tourists visiting Andhra Pradesh during the summer months and tourism contributing to 10 per cent of the GDP, we will be enriching the tourist experience,” said Gopalakrishna.
The state’s tourism department is expecting at least 10,000 tourists for the moonlight festival.