Monday, November 11, 2024 Visakhapatnam experienced a surge in visitors on Sunday as locals and tourists celebrated ‘Karthika Masam’ by flocking to the city’s picturesque spots. The festivities brought a vibrant atmosphere to popular attractions, with some of the highest visitor numbers recorded this season, especially in scenic areas like Vanjangi. The city’s most frequented sites, including R.
K Beach, Tenneti Park, Kailasagiri, VMRDA Park, Rushikonda, and Bheemunipatnam, were bustling with activity. Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) alone saw 6,509 visitors, generating ₹5.10 lakh in revenue in a single day.
The stretch along Beach Road from Rushikonda to the Naval Coastal Battery experienced notable traffic congestion, as crowds took part in organized games and events, with selfie-taking and scenic photography among the day’s highlights. At Vanjangi, also known as ‘Meghala Konadalu’ in Paderu mandal, early morning hours saw around 3,500 visitors drawn to its renowned sunrise views. Trekkers set out in the pre-dawn hours, some choosing to camp overnight at the hill’s base for the best views.
This year’s ‘Karthika Masam’ celebrations have set a record in visitor numbers for Vanjangi, signaling the site’s growing popularity. In the wider Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district, the cooler climate has been a key attraction for visitors. With temperatures dipping to between 15°C and 18°C, tourists have been flocking to high-altitude spots like Chintap.