Despite being in close proximity to the State capital – hardly 50 km and an hour’s drive away from Hyderabad – Medak district has failed to explore its full potential in exploring tourism.
The several tourism destinations in the district can be divided into three circuits: one covering the Narsapur forest area, Yedupayala, Medak church, Medak fort and Pocharam Abhayaranyam. The Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple at Nacharam and the Saraswati temple at Wargal could also be part of the tourist itinerary.
The second circuit comprises Sangareddy and surrounding areas like Rajarajeswari temple at Chitkul, the Durga temple at Ismailkhanpet, the Balaji temple at Sangareddy and the museum at Kondapur.
Ketaki Sangameswara temple at Jarasangam and the Vinayaka temple at Rechintal could be clubbed in third circuit as they are located near Zaheerabad, 60 kilometres away from Sangareddy town.
Save a few, like the newly-established accommodation at Jarasangam and a tourism hotel on top of the fort at Medak, the district’s tourist sites have been largely ignored by the administration. Streamlining tourism circuits can increase the revenues of the district.
On the occasion of World Tourism Day on Saturday, Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao will inaugurate a banquet hall with a capacity of 300 people, and a hotel at Komati Cheruvu in Siddipet.
Due to various reasons, the administration has so far failed to appoint a Tourism Officer, with one of the senior district official being entrusted the job as an additional responsibility.
“We need an officer focusing on the subject and promoting tourism. But somehow, the government has not made any effort in this direction so far,” said a senior officer.
