TravelArk 2.0

On the banks of the Krishna

Tuesday, February 03, 2015
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India
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The first few days of a road trip are always the same. Long hours in the saddle. Put the hammer down. Clock up the kilometers to reach some place from where the trip really starts.

Today was exactly such a day
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. I have to go a long way to reach my starting point. So heads down to put some distance. Some 650 kms later, I am on the banks of the Krishna - in the town of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. I hope to cross many of India's great rivers in this trip, and this is the first one. Krishna, alas, like probably many of the great rivers, has no water anymore. Its just a dry sand bed with a small pool here or there. That's what happens when our population reaches 1.2 billion !

Vijayawada, a small town, by Indian standards was a surprise. Right next to my hotel is a swank 5 storey mall that can compete with the best in Bangalore or Hyderabad. MG Road, the heart of the town is a six lane road (Bangalore eat your heart out). If this is what is happening in small town India, then India is really shining.

The badminton nationals are currently going on in Vijayawada. So, very obviously, I picked a hotel close to the stadium (ha ha). I went and watched a few games. Couldn't stay too long unfortunately, for I have an even longer day tomorrow. Many many miles to go ..........
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Comments

Vincy Joseph
2015-02-03

650 kms in a day, good going Ramesh. havign never been there, its impressive to hear about this place. Yes India is shining in more ways than one.

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indigoite
2015-02-03

@Vincy - Clearly Andhra is a prosperous state. You can see it around.

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Kotla R
2015-02-04

Hi Ramesh, you are in my town :-). Hope they are treating you well. I am sure you will be going next to Rajahmundry (for Godavari). Godavari Pushkaram is in this year, govt planning to spend crores of rupees for that. But bit later in the year.
Enjoy your stay in divided Andhra Pradesh.

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indigoite
2015-02-04

@ Kotla - Ah ! I didn't know you were from Vijayawada. Very impressed with your town - its quite nice.

Yes crossed the Godavari today - see next post. Mahanadi tomorrow. Many a river to ford :)

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Groaner ;)
2015-02-04

You mean "many a river to Hyundai" ... muahahaha ;)

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indigoite
2015-02-05

Now that is a real Groaner :):):)

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Suja
2015-02-05

You're travelling along the route that my family and I would take every year by train. Krishna, Godavari, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry....ah, makes me nostalgic!

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indigoite
2015-02-05

@Suja - Really ?? How come those parts ?

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Suja
2015-02-09

@Ramesh - We lived in Kolkata from my age zero to 9. Every summer my mom would pack us two girls, two steel trunks with knobbly looking decorations and a gigantic godrej lock, two tiffin cariers with puliyodarai, thayir sadam, bisi bela, appalams, vadams and set off on our annual 2 month visit to Chennai to my grandma's. We would board one night, spend all of the next day and then on the third day morning arrive at Chennai. I used to love those journeys! And to answer your question, the Cal-Madras train (as they used to be called then) passed those towns.

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Vinod
2015-02-10

Super cool to know the development at Vijayavada. I have done the same route that Suja has quoted - on Coromandel Express - Howrah/Chennai. Incidently I spen tfirst 10 years on my life in Kolkatta too! Travel in Summer by train across the vast expanses of Andhra was dreary with dull towns pasing by.Guess thats changed.
Looking forward to reading the Godavari and Mahanadi updates well. I am catching up with you on your journey, will be with you soon.

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indigoite
2015-02-11

@Vindo - Oh you are a Calcuttan too ?? Surprising how "Bongs" are everywhere :):)

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