APTDC rolls out Karthika special pilgrimage tours

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) is introducing special pilgrimage tour packages for devotees during the auspicious Karthika Masam, T S Veeranarayana, general manager (tours and marketing), said in a statement on Thursday. He said the tours had been designed to help devotees visit prominent pilgrimage centres across the State comfortably and enjoy a spiritual experience. The APTDC will organise the Pancharama pilgrimage tour every Monday during Karthika Masam and the Vijayawada–Vadapalli–Vijayawada pilgrimage tour every Saturday throughout the year.

The tours will be operated using 12-seater mini AC buses to ensure safe and comfortable travel for devotees. Under the special Pancharama package, devotees can visit all five sacred Pancharama temples in a single day. These include the Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple at Amaravati, Kumararama Bhimeswara Swamy temple at Samarlakota, Bhimeswara Swamy temple at Draksharamam, Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy temple at Palakollu and Someswara Swamy temple at Bhimavaram.

The tour will be conducted on November 16, 23 and 30, and December 7. The journey will begin at 5 am from the APTDC Central Reservation Office, located beside Lemon Tree Hotel in Vijayawada, and the bus will return to the city at around 10 pm on the same day.

The package has been priced at Rs 2,370 for adults and Rs 1,920 for children. However, darshan tickets, food and other personal expenses will have to be borne by the travellers.

The APTDC will also operate a special pilgrimage package from Vijayawada to the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Vadapalli every Saturday throughout the year. The package will enable devotees to visit the temple and return to Vijayawada on the same day.

The fare has been fixed at Rs 1,350 for adults and Rs 1,100 for children. Darshan tickets, food and other personal expenses will be borne by the passengers. Veeranarayana said the APTDC aimed to promote spiritual tourism in Andhra Pradesh while providing devotees with safe, comfortable and hassle-free pilgrimage facilities.

He appealed to devotees to make use of the special packages being offered during Karthika Masam and visit the sacred temples.

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The Hans India