Tourist surge in Visakhapatnam and agency areas ahead of Dasara holidays
The festive season has brought with it a sharp rise in tourist activity across Visakhapatnam and its surrounding agency areas. From the city’s popular parks and museums to the misty hills of Lambasingi and the age-old formations of Borra Caves, visitor numbers have swelled in the past week.
According to Tourism Department data, nearly 22,000 visitors were recorded between September 22 and 29 at major sites. Kailasagiri led the pack with 7,584 tourists, followed by NTR VMRDA Park with 6,634. The iconic Submarine Museum drew 4,708 visitors, while YSR Central Park registered 2,219. Heritage attractions such as Thotlakonda, the World Telugu Museum and the UH3 Helicopter Museum together saw more than 1,700 tourists.
In the agency areas, the flow of visitors has been equally striking. Lambasingi, often dubbed the “Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh” for its cool climate, has been recording 4,000 to 5,000 visitors daily. “With the Dasara holidays approaching, we are expecting the numbers to cross 10,000. Bookings are already picking up fast,” said site manager Appala Naidu, pointing to the rush seen in the last few days.
Borra Caves, meanwhile, continues to receive close to 3,000 visitors a day despite ongoing development work. “The caves remain a huge attraction, particularly for young people. Even with the infrastructure yet to be completed, tourists are making it a must-visit spot,” said manager Gowri Shankar.
The tourism boom has spilled over into the hospitality sector. “Star hotels are running full or at 80 to 90 per cent occupancy. This is one of the best seasons we’ve seen in recent years, thanks to favourable weather and the festival mood,” said Vijay Mohan, president of the AP Tourism Forum. Smaller hotels and homestays are also reporting high occupancy, with some operators fully booked well into October.
Private tour operators are benefiting from the surge as well. “Trips to Araku are in strong demand, especially among families and groups. A day trip costs ₹5,000 for a four-seater and ₹8,000 for a seven-seater. Overnight stays add another ₹2,000,” explained Ramana, a local travel operator. “Within the city, the rates are ₹13 per km for the first 100 km, and ₹15–18 beyond that. Even with the higher rates, bookings have not slowed down.”
For visitors and operators alike, the next two weeks promise to be some of the busiest in recent memory. With Dasara holidays drawing closer, the region’s attractions appear set for another round of heavy turnout.