Maredumilli

What to expect on your Maredumilli trip:

This hiking trip is a truly enjoyable one. All you need is one weekend and you can go on a camping experience. We will carry our utensils, cook up tasty food, put up tents, and meet tribal people. It’s going to be almost like a picnic but deep within nature, away from civilization! We will use public transportation to go and attend to nature’s call amidst nature. It’s a mostly fun trip with only a slight sprinkle of adventure. And yes, all of you can help us cook nice food by cutting vegetables or adding the spices, and also help us in pitching the tents – we would really like you to do that! This trip is all about nature and you experiencing it’s magic. Maredumili has thick forests and gushing streams making this hiking and camping trip absolutely splendid.

Driving to Maredumili from Hyderabad:

If you want to go on a forest drive with your family, you can do so too, especially if you are from Hyderabad or Nellore. If you live in Hyderabad, you can do a six hour drive from Bhadrachalam. This will be the starting point of your trip. From Nellore, you will be there in eight hours. There are hotels where you can check-in for a night. Restaurants are available too for having lunch or dinner. Bhadrachalam is a pilgrim town by the river Godavari and religious people like to take a dip in the river when they are here. You can go to view the river too. It will make you feel hopeful somehow. After visiting the riverfront, you can continue with your drive the next morning after staying at a hotel.

Adjectives will fall short when you would want to describe how the drive from here was. The myriad beauty of nature is going to make you stunned. You will realise how beautiful nature can be when you will be driving on the Bhadrachalam-Maredumilli road. The ride will take you through a place which has been mentioned in our epic too, and that is Dandakaranya. The road is so scenic that you will want the drive to be endless. As you move ahead, you will be driving over the hills, through thick forests and cross rivers and rivulets.

The experience is going to be even more beautiful if you visit just post-monsoon. You will hear water flowing under the bridges as you cross them. If you feel curious enough to see how the water is flowing into the thick forests, you can climb down the side of the bridge. You will enter a different world instantly, with the forests being eerily calm, the stony path on which the water flows. You might see tiny fishes too.

From Bhadrachalam, the distance till Maredumili is 117 kms but the landscape after reaching a few kilometers would compel you to make multiple stops to click some amazing photographs of nature. The different views of the forests and the Godavari river will keep you amazed throughout the way. What adds to the driving ex[erience is the good condition of the roads.

Sokuleru Viewpoint:

The rivulet that you will see will be your companion through a large part of the ride. At one point, you will reach the Sokuleru viewpoint. Yes, the marvellous rivulet which has been your travel companion is called Sokuleru. There is a sign board by the road marking where the Sokuleru viewpoint is. That is the best position to marvel at the beauty of this gurgling river. You must have seen that image in painting books where a river flows in the middle of hills in your childhood? See that very scene come alive here. Even if the sun shines brightly, the sight of this river with its relaxing flowing sound will cool you down.

Now as you drive ahead, you will find the forests becoming deeper and darker. This is a sign that you are near Maredumilli. Dandakaranya is the forest of exile in Hindu mythology and you will wish you could pose an exile on yourself, so that you could spend a peaceful life in the middle of this forest, as you hike by streams and rivers and look at the hills.

Maredumili is a small village which is situated at the side of the forest. There is an eco-tourism resort run by the forest department, named Vana Vihari. If you do not want a typical picnic, you can check in to the resort and enjoy lunch here too. The long drive with multiple stops will surely leave you very hungry when you finally reach Maredumilli. You can explore Maredumilli after having your lunch.

The top places to visit in Maredumilli:

If you have been looking for a place to go with friends or family over the next weekend, Maredumilli is one of the best places for it. Waterfalls, bamboo trees and lush forests make it an ideal destination for nature lovers. If you love eating non-veg food, especially chicken, and like trying out new dishes, Maredumilli is a good place too. The place is known for bamboo chicken.

The closest place to Maredumillli is Rajahmundhry and is about 85kms away from it. For a one day road-trip or as weekend destinations, people from nearby areas like Hyderabad, Bhadrachalam and Vijayawada keep visiting this place. Hills, tall trees, pleasant weather, waterfalls and just the natural beauty forms the highlight of the trip.

Some of the places that you must visit when in Maredumilli are –

1.Gudisa Hill Station

This hill station in Maredumilli is great for both relaxing and for adventures. This is also a place where people from nearby areas come by on bikes and cars to see nature’s beauty. If you want to camp for a night, you might hire a tent as well. You can also light a bonfire at the top of the hill. It will take you two hours to reach Gudisa hill station from Maredumilli as it is only 40 kms away and from Rajahmundhry, it is 120 kms away.

The village located on the Gudisa hill station is spread over an area of 32 acres and there are only around twenty houses in this area. The total headcount of people who stay here is approximately a hundred.

While going to Gudisa hill station, do not forget to carry your own food and drinking water as you will not get food over there. Or you can have a picnic there and for that you can carry cooking requirements like a stove, sticks and all the required ingredients and tools.

2.Amruthadhara Falls

In between Rajahmundry and Bhadrachalam, there is a beautiful waterfall which is situated at a distance of about 15kms from the Maredumilli bus stop. This is a place which you should not miss out on  no account when you are visiting Maredumilli.

There is an entrance gate, and you will have to do a proper one kilometer hike to reach the waterfalls. You will have to climb more than but not less than an hour before you get there. The trail is quite slippery and you have to be very careful while trekking here. We would recommend this trek to every young tourist but advise tourists to stay away if they are older. If you are a nature-loving adventurous person, you must trek to Amruthadhara Falls.

The waterfall is open to tourists from 8 in the morning to 6 in the evening. You will have to pay a fee of ten rupees for entering. November, December and January are the ideal months to be here.

3.Bhupathipalem Reservoir

This reservoir is also an important part of the Maredumilli tourism. You should definitely check this place out if you have been thinking of visiting Maredumilli. The reservoir project is only about a 1.5 hour drive from Rajahmundry. You will find coniferous and fine forests surrounding the reservoir. There is also an island in the project area which gives a magnificent view of the mountains and trees. Paddle-boating facilities are also available, so it will be fun for any family. The reflection on the mountains fall on the water which will get you to click many photos.

Bhupathipalem reservoir is an earthen dam and it is 4kms away from the Rampachodavaram bus stand. The dam is near Rampachodavaram town in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district which makes it a great Maredumilli tourism place.

4.Jalatarangini waterfalls

If you are going with friends or family or a combination of both, this stunning waterfall must be paid a visit by you all. It is not difficult to go to this waterfall. Tourists love clicking photos here and there are rocks of various shapes and sizes here. We are sure you would like to get clicked here too for your social media profile photos!

This waterfall is about 7 kms away from the Maredumilli bus stop and 85 kms away from Rajahmundry. From the entrance, you will only have to walk for a 100m to reach the waterfall. But as the rocks are slippery here too, one has to be careful while walking.

Be careful if you plan to cook or eat something here as there will be a lot of monkeys in this area. The entry fee for seeing this waterfall is twenty rupees. This waterfall is also open from eight to six and November to January is the best time for going there.

5.Polluru waterfalls

This waterfall is situated at a distance of seven kms from Mothugudem village, from Maredumilli the distance is 65 kms, and from Rajahmundry it is about 150 kms away. This is also a good place which deserves a visit on a weekend with family and friends. The speciality of this waterfall is that this waterfall never dries up and can be seen throughout the year, even in the summer months.

This is also known as the Mothugudem waterfall and its water is believed to be pure. The water here is crystal clear. It is so clear that if you drop something like your sunglasses or hat in the water, you will clearly see them under water and pick it up if you are quick. You can take a bath under this waterfall to feel energized. The fishes and the colourful stones under the water will make the kids in the group very excited.

If you are someone who loves to trek, the huge rocks near the waterfall and also the hills nearby are great places to go trekking. There is no availability of food here, so you might buy the bamboo-chicken biryani if you love non-veg food from Maredumilli. Otherwise  you can get the necessary things and cook your food at the empty spaces near the waterfall.

You must be aware that no kind of public transport, private or public is available here. So you should have a vehicle with you. There is a single line road which leads to the entrance of the waterfall but the roads leading here are in excellent condition. The road from the entrance is muddy and you have to walk a few meters.

The waterfall is mostly safe for swimming but there are boards put up by police marking the dangerous spots. Kindly avoid going to those spots. Even if you feel like staying for a night there, it is not possible as there are no accommodation places. You will have to go back to Maredumilli, which is 65 kms away, if you want a place to stay.

The entrance charge is ten rupees and tourists are not allowed to be here after five in the evening.

6.Manyam viewpoint

This viewpoint allows tourists some exceptional views of the landscapes and valleys. Manyam Viewpoint is located somewhere in the middle of Jalatarangini and Amruthadhara waterfalls. It is only a thirty-minute drive from Maredumilli bus stop and the distance between the two is thirteen kilometers.

For this Maredumilli viewpoint, the Andhra Pradesh state tourism department has constructed a special platform. People who are here on Maredumilli tourism, can stand on this platform and enjoy the panoramic scene from here. The tall trees, vast valleys and landscapes form the perfect background for taking some photos. This is one of the best spots, if not THE best spot of Maredumilli trip.

7.Rampa waterfalls

It will take ten minutes to reach the Maredumilli waterfalls from Rampachodavaram village as it is only 3.4 kms away and 28.4 kms away from Maredumilli itself. This cascading waterfall falls from a height of fifty feet which makes it one of East Godavari district’s best waterfalls.

This waterfall is also a great one to visit with family members and friends. It will take you about twenty to thirty minutes to reach the falls as you will have to trek on rocks and also climb steps built by the Andhra Pradesh tourism department.

There is a Shiva temple here which is hundreds of years old and has been naturally formed. It is believed that Alluri Sita Rama Raju had prayed here during his visit. Villagers believe that Shiva answers to prayers of his devotees here. A dance festival is arranged here during Shivaratri and local people dress up in colorful costumes.

We would recommend you to hire a minibus or a car if you want to come here in a big group. The ride will be comfortable as the roads are in good condition. There is a parking space allotted for keeping your cars. The entry charge for the waterfalls is ten rupees.

8.Sokuleru Vagu Viewpoint

We have already described this Maredumili viewpoint earlier and it is situated at about 30 kms away from Maredumilli. It’s a place where you must stop to capture some breathtaking views, which are going to be etched in your memory forever. The unique platform built by the tourism department makes it easy for people to enjoy the views of the valley and the flowing water of the river through it.

If you are planning to come from places which are a little far like Hyderabad and are thinking about places to stay in Maredumilli, some of the best hotels or properties available for accommodation are the Vanavihari Eco-tourism center, Birds’ Nest Resort and Tourism,Jungle Star Eco-camp and Aranya Eco Resorts.

Obviously the climate and weather here will be dependent on the season. But if you want to know which is the best time for a Maredumilli trip, the ideal time is between July and December. The peaceful ambience in the green forests and near the waterfalls is going to soothe your tired soul and body. If you are someone who goes on off-season tours to avoid the crowd and can stand very hot weather, then you can come here between February and May.

How can you go to Maredumilli?

You can go to Maredumilli in any mode of transport you prefer- whether it is by road, by train or by flight.

By road – After arriving at the Rajahmundry bus station, you can hire a bike or a car. Or you can get on a bus.

By train – Many cities have direct trains to Rajahmundry. From Rajahmundry station, hire a cab or bike to cover the 2.5 hours distance.

By flight – Board a flight which comes to Rajahmundry. Then you can avail a bike, a cab or a self-drive car. Maredumilli is 70 kilometers from the airport and you will reach there in two hours.

But the easiest way is to book a package with us in advance and let us take you to Maredumilli comfortably!