VISAKHAPATNAM: VISITORS to Lambasingi, the coolest place in Andhra Pradesh, need not worry about their night halt in the tribal hamlet as the Tourism department, to cash in on the upcoming winter season, is holding talks with the locals to set up temporary huts for tourists. With the proposed facility, visitors can stay inside the huts/houses by paying minimum price to the locals to get a feel of the thick fog and bone-chilling weather.
As the APTDC’s plans to construct resorts in Lambasingi seem to be hanging fire due to various legal issues, the officials and locals have decided to take up the project to give wonderful experience to the tourists. There are some locals at Lambasingi, who provide beds in small rooms on a rent of `700 to `1,000 a night unofficially. This idea led the Tourism department to make it official with their support. It will encourage tribals too to arrange temporary shelters with washrooms.
“We would ask the tribals to arrange shelters with restrooms. A small thatched house with traditional hearth will give better and unique experience to the visitors. The Tourism department will extend all help and the tribals could rent it with reasonable tariff,” said a senior APTDC official.
A number of tourists, especially youngsters as well as families from various parts of the state and India, reach Lambasingi to experience the chill. Tourists are discouraged due to lack of accommodation and stay near agricultural fields and vacant places with a bonfire. Most of the people who make a night halt are youngsters who have booze parties, while families return after dusk due to lack of accommodation. Tourism officers say that the tourists start arriving at Lambasingi from October itself, and this idea will solve the issue temporarily.