3 weeks ago
Seasonal Waterfalls in Karimnagar Lure Visitors; Facilities Demanded
Rain fell on the hills, making little waterfalls appear.
People from nearby towns came to see them.
There are four popular waterfalls: Raikal, Gourigundala, Pandavalonka and Ramunigundala.
At Raikal, water falls about 200 metres from a hill called Jendagutta.
Visitors walk through mud and climb to reach the falls.
Local people say more visitors would come if the government built roads, toilets and other facilities.
The government planned a road costing ₹2.5 crore, but it has not been built yet.
At Gourigundala, visitors are stopped when the water is heavy because two young people died there a few years ago.
Villagers want the waterfalls to be safer and easier to visit.
Recent rains revived seasonal waterfalls at Raikal, Gourigundala, Pandavalonka, and Ramunigundala, drawing families, youth, and students.
Raikal waterfall, about 42 km from Karimnagar town, drops roughly 200 metres from Jendagutta hillock, fed by the Kotagiriguttalu hillocks.
A 3-km cement-concrete road to Raikal estimated at ₹2.5 crore was proposed after an October 2017 official visit but has seen no progress, according to sarpanch Chada Akhila.
Forest department officials prepared estimates worth ₹50 lakh for a viewpoint, toilets, dressing room, and borewell, but these lack administrative approval.
Authorities bar tourists from Gourigundala during heavy flows after two youngsters died; locals want safety measures and better facilities at all the falls.
- Who
- Visitors including families, youth and students, along with local residents, district collector Sarfaraz Ahmed, sarpanch Chada Akhila, and area MLA and Transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar.
- What
- Seasonal waterfalls revived by recent rainfall are attracting visitors, and locals are urging the district administration to build roads, toilets and other facilities and take safety measures.
- Where
- Karimnagar district and adjoining areas, at Raikal, Gourigundala, Pandavalonka and Ramunigundala waterfalls.
- When
- Recently during the rainy season, when the waterfalls flow for about three months; the district collector's development assurance dates to October 2017.
- Why
- To attract more visitors to the scenic falls, improve access, and ensure safety after two youngsters died at Gourigundala.
More Tourism & Development
Safety & Conservation
Access to Gourigundala waterfall
More Tourism & Development
Tourists should be able to visit freely, and locals want the district administration to build facilities such as toilets and take safety measures so the site can be enjoyed safely.
Safety & Conservation
Authorities do not allow tourists whenever the water flow is heavy, because two youngsters died after falling from the hillocks a few years ago.
Building facilities at the falls
More Tourism & Development
Residents say many more people would visit if the district administration builds minimal facilities; the sarpanch argues there should be no hurdle in laying the road at least over revenue land.
Safety & Conservation
Development needs careful approval and coordination, since part of the Raikal route falls within forest land and the Forest department's ₹50 lakh estimates have not received administrative approval.
Key facts
- District
- Karimnagar (Ramunigundala lies in Peddapalli district)
- Main waterfalls
- Raikal, Gourigundala, Pandavalonka, Ramunigundala
- Raikal waterfall height
- About 200 metres from Jendagutta hillock
- Distance from Karimnagar town to Raikal
- About 42 km
- Proposed road
- 3-km cement-concrete road, six-foot wide with culvert, estimated at ₹2.5 crore
- Forest department plan
- ₹50 lakh for viewpoint, toilets, dressing room and borewell
- Waterfall season
- Around three months during the rainy season
- Water source
- Kotagiriguttalu hillocks, a series of about 30 hillocks
Quotes
Raikal sarpanch Chada Akhila
Local village leader of Raikal
“There should be no hurdle in laying the road at least over the revenue land.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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