Tourists flying over the forests and rivers of Telangana could soon be more than a postcard fantasy. Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao on Friday said that heli-tourism services in the state will begin shortly, connecting Hyderabad with Somasila through the temple town of Srisailam. The project is being rolled out in collaboration with travel platform EaseMyTrip.
Telangana Begins Heli-Tourism
According to The New Indian Express, the announcement came as Krishna Rao broke ground on a string of projects worth more than ₹68 crore in Somasila, Nalamma, Amaragiri Island and Eagalapenta. The most ambitious among them is a ₹45.84 crore wellness retreat on Amaragiri Island, designed to bring together spiritual getaways with eco-tourism.
At Somasila, a boating point and VIP ghat will be upgraded at a cost of ₹1.60 crore. Work on these developments, he said, is expected to finish within the next year.
The minister was clear about the larger goal, that Telangana wants to shift from being a stopover state to a destination in its own right. He said that they wish to run a wide campaign to attract foreign visitors. In this way, infrastructure will grow and jobs will follow. He added that they aim at pushing water sports and adventure tourism as well.
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All You Need To Know
For tourists, heli-tourism is set to be the headline attraction. Instead of a long road trip, passengers will get a bird’s-eye view of the Nallamala forests, the Srisailam dam, and stretches of the Krishna river before landing at Somasila. The partnership with EaseMyTrip is expected to take care of bookings and travel logistics, making the service accessible beyond the luxury niche, as stated by The New Indian Express.
Officials believe that the heli-tourism plan with its mix of helicopter rides, wellness retreats and spiritual circuits, will redraw Telangana’s tourism map. For areas like Somasila and Amaragiri, which have long been under-visited despite their scenic and cultural wealth, the projects could be transformative. Locals are also hopeful of more business in hospitality, transport and adventure sports once the plan is all set for launch.
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The government has set itself a target of lifting both domestic and international tourist numbers. But as the heli-tourism project and the wellness resorts come together on time, Telangana could soon be marketing itself as more than heritage sites and temples. It could be a state where adventure, spirituality and comfort all share the same itinerary.
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