Two weeks after cyclone Hudhud badly battered the city, including several iconic tourist spots, tourists have started trickling in. Sunday saw a few families visiting the ancient Buddhist site of Thotlakonda.
“This is the first time since cyclone Hudhud hit the city that we have seen tourists visiting the site,” said Appa Rao, a tourist guide from the State Archaeology Department.
A family from West Bengal, who came here on Friday on a short trip, said, “We have a long association with the City of Destiny and come here once every two years on a holiday. It is sad to see the places like Kailasagiri, Thotlakonda and Rushikonda in such a state. The city’s beauty and spirit may have got affected temporarily but it cannot be wiped out so easily. We can see the trees sprout new leaves and that itself is an encouraging sign.”
Andhra Pradesh as a whole attracts over 200 million tourists every year and a significant number of them visit Vizag.
“Normally during the Karthika Masam, this place is teeming with tourists on weekends. At least 30 to 40 families come here. This year, situation will be different. But it is heartening to see some tourists this weekend,” said Appa Rao.
Bangalore-based Ravi Jain’s family extended their Diwali vacation in the city to go around the places and see the damage done by cyclone Hudhud.
“I first went to my school Visakha Valley. I was heartbroken to see the school canteen damaged by a big tree that had fallen on it,” said Ravi. He along with his cousins came down from across the country to get together and support their relatives in the city. “I am amazed to see the way the city has come back after the massive devastation. People talk greatly about the spirit of Mumbai in times of crisis. But the Vizagites have stuck together and fought back and their spirit soars way above any other city,” he added.
Saplings plantedApart from tourists, a team of members from Buddhist Society of India planted saplings at Thotlakonda on Sunday in an effort to revive the greenery.
