Houseboat set for launch on Godavari

RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: Tourists and visitors to Rajamahendravaram will shortly secure a new way to experience the scenic beauty of the Godavari, with a houseboat facility similar to Kerala's popular backwater cruises projected to become operational at Saraswathi Ghat within the next 10 days.

Key points

• District Tourism Officer Venkatachalam informed TNIE that the required Tourism Department approvals are anticipated to be completed within a week to 10 days.
• The boat will cruise for regarding an hour during sunrise and another hour around sunset before being anchored concerning 100 metres from the riverbank.
• In another attraction, a floating dining facility, 'Float-In-Dine', has additionally been introduced for families and small groups seeking a candlelight dinner on the river.
• While they can arrange lunch, dinner and other requirements on request, organisers will provide complimentary breakfast to overnight guests.
• A capsule-shaped houseboat equipped with modern amenities has already arrived at the ghat and is ready for operation.

In practice, a capsule-shaped houseboat equipped with modern amenities has already arrived at the ghat and is ready for operation. Though the boat can accommodate up to 15 individuals, authorities initially plan to allow only eight guests at a time.

For context, the houseboat features beds, a mini refrigerator, television, air-conditioning and a bathroom, allowing visitors to stay overnight while enjoying views of the river and its natural surroundings.

Notably, the boat will cruise for regarding an hour during sunrise and another hour around sunset before being anchored concerning 100 metres from the riverbank.

While they can arrange lunch, dinner and other requirements on request, organisers will provide complimentary breakfast to overnight guests. The tariff is projected to be around Rs 7, 500 for 24 hours on regular days and Rs10, 000 on weekends.

In another attraction, a floating dining facility, 'Float-In-Dine', has additionally been introduced for families and small groups seeking a candlelight dinner on the river. The open-sided platform, fitted with solar panels, will be anchored regarding 300 metres from the shore and operate from 7 pm to 11 pm, with one-hour slots. Guests will be taken to the facility by speedboat. The charge is projected to be around Rs 2, 500 per hour on regular days and Rs 4, 000 on weekends.

District Tourism Officer Venkatachalam informed TNIE that the required Tourism Department approvals are anticipated to be completed within a week to 10 days. He remarked Minister Kandula Durgesh had additionally taken the initiative to introduce houseboat tourism on the Godavari.

For now, houseboat set for launch on Godavari remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.