Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan To Launch Akhanda Godavari Project To Bolster Spiritual Tourism In Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and MP Daggubati Purandeswari will lay the foundation stone of ambitious Akhanda Godavari tourism project on 19 June, TNIE reported.

The Akhanda Godavari tourism project, a Rs 97 crore initiative under the Centre’s Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) 2024-25 scheme, is set to transform key towns along the Godavari River into vibrant cultural and spiritual hubs.

The project encompasses development works in Rajamahendravaram, Dowleswaram, Kadiyam, Kovvur, and Nidadavolu, focusing on infrastructure enhancements ahead of the 2027 Godavari Pushkaralu. 

A central feature is the modernisation of the 127-year-old Havelock Bridge, which will include attractions such as waterfalls, a glass bridge, gaming zones, a space theme park, a hologram zoo, a time-travel experience, a rail museum, and aquarium tunnels.

Adjacent to the bridge, Pushkar Ghat will be developed into a spiritual destination, integrating it with nearby temples to promote year-round spiritual tourism.

Additionally, the Sri Kota Sattemma Temple in Thimmarajupalem, Nidadavolu Mandal, will undergo beautification, including the modernisation of its Rajagopuram and the addition of pilgrim accommodations.

The Akhanda Godavari Project is part of a broader government strategy to connect 21 major pilgrimage sites across Andhra Pradesh, inspired by the spirit of the Kumbh Mela. 

The initiative also includes the development of tent cities to accommodate tourists and the modernisation of other key destinations such as Gandikota in Kadapa district, billed as the “Grand Canyon of India,” and Suryalanka Beach in Bapatla district, which is set to become a national tourism hub with central government support.

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