Is the river town Dindi the new God's Own Country? Find out here! 

Swaying palms, water lilies, authentic Andhra cuisine, unbelievable shades of blue and more - the river town of Andhra Pradesh should be your next holiday destination. 
Is the river town Dindi the new God's Own Country? Find out here! 

The only thing that is constant in life is change, but for some lucky folks who live in the palm-fringed coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, there is another bonus and a constant – River Godavari. Across the 77 km-stretch from Rajahmundry to Dindi (pronounced Dhindi) my vacation destination this season, the meandering water body travelled with me all through. Tall and swaying coconut trees jostle for space next to stodgy and delicate banana plantations in a burst of green on the banks of the river. The reflection of the greenery in the river, which has now turned into a canal next to the highway, was a sight to behold. That my Instagram videos and photographs elicited responses such as ‘Are you in Kerala?’ or ‘Is it God’s Own Country?’ proved that its beauty is no less a match to the South Indian state high on tourism. 



Selfie-sh at Lotus Pond 
When I arrive, the staff at Sterling Dindi Resort welcomes me with a wet towel. Although I did not need it, coastal Andhra’s weather can be hot and humid touching a good 45 degrees centigrade in summer, but only if you venture out between 12 noon and 5 pm. At all other times, Godavari acts as your thermostat, absorbing the heat and giving you fresh, cool river breeze.


Even as the front office personnel was briefing me about my river view room, the breakfast and dinner timing, the magnificent central courtyard of the resort – a true showstopper – caught my attention. Filled with sparkling water, thanks to the sun rays playing hookey with it on that sunny April day, and hundreds of white and pink water lillies floating in the water teleported me into a Baahubalian World. It wasn’t just a small pond for the guests to click pictures, but a gigantic 100x150 sq feet one that holds together the 50-room resort directly on the banks of the Godavari. Every room has a view of the river outside the window or of the pond, but I would say the pond view is better. Explains Resort Manager Tulasiram Gurram, “The Water Lilies, aka Amazonica Victoria botanically, have its roots in the Amazon forest. The lilies have seven feet-long stems with leaves that are eight-feet in circumference. If Baahubali director Rajamouli knew the leaf could hold a newborn (which it does), I am sure he would have used it in his movie,” he quips. The lilies change colour across the day. I knew I had to spend a few hours in the evening just admiring their ability to change colour, not to mention selfies with every change. 

The colour-changing lilies
The colour-changing lilies


My air-conditioned double bedroom had all the amenities one would look for in a resort. My favourite, however, were two glass canisters filled with mango jelly cut in elegant and edible triangles and the other had Andhra savouries Murukulu. I got my first taste of Dindi, but then the manager reminds me a grand lunch awaits me. I am all set. 


Around town
The resort is strategically located within a driving distance of most tourist attractions here. “We at Sterling Holidays believe in the ‘Holiday Differently’ concept. So we do customised itineraries for our guests. From temple trails to river adventures, we facilitate what they want,” explains Peshwa Acharya, Chief Marketing Officer of the resort chain which owns 33 properties across India. He says that the district is an ideal destination across the year. “Summers are humid, but the days are longer. That means you can spend more time by the river bank. The monsoons mean better variety of seafood and Andhra is all about amazing food. The winters are lush with paddy fields and are a sight to behold. There are many festivals between September and February that are rich in the local culture. See, you can holiday here 365 days a year.” Details: 99086-33332 and sterlingholidays.com

A  hammock amidst the palms
A  hammock amidst the palms


Jackfruit leaf idli, anyone?
My day two begins with a special local breakfast called Pottekkulu (Rs. 20 for four), an idli with a difference. The conical-shaped idlis are steamed in jackfruit leaves and these sell like hotcakes at Ganapati Coffee Hotel, a hole-in-the-wall place on the Dindi-Amalapuram road. Incidentally, this is one of the two places that sells this speciality and foodies come all the way from Rajahmundry to have this. Details: 97049-48978.

Jackfruit <em>Idli</em>
Jackfruit Idli


Food trails across the river
As Dindi is almost where the river meets the Bay of the Bengal, it has a rich variety of seafood. Chef Murthy, who has worked on a cruise ship abroad before he joined the resort five months ago, serves me an amazing Andhra thali comprising the best of the local cuisine. On offer was jackfruit biryani served in the core of the jackfruit skin. It was spicy and tangy and lived up to the praise the cuisine gets. Then, of course, was Sterling Dindi’s signature dish Crab Bhurjee with ghee rice, using local Godavari crabs. With the claws as the décor element, and loaded with red chilli, it was a meal to remember. Sterling’s all-day diner Veduka serves a buffet breakfast and à la carte lunches and dinners. Their Andhra Thali is what guests love the most. Chef Murthy’s best sellers are Peethala Iguru (crab curry) and Silavati River fish curry, both seafood specialities that go well with rice or as starters. Details: 88622-26662.



Lighting up lives
Don’t miss the ascent to the lighthouse on the banks of the temple town of Antarvedi as you get to capture a panoramic view of the river embracing the sea. “Can you see the difference in the colours of the water? That’s the Sangam point,” explains Venkat, my guide and driver for the day. We get to see this amazing sight after a flight of 150 steps through a dingy staircase. The lighthouse closes at 5 pm. Details: 98662-23812

An aerial view of the pool and outdoor games at the resort
An aerial view of the pool and outdoor games at the resort


On the way back
While going back to the airport, I get to stop at Sathyadev Nursery, one of the biggest nurseries in the world, near Kadiyapulanka. A 150-acre,  68-year-old nursery which houses over 10,000 varieties of plants, they supply to the entire country. The soil is fertile here and literally, every plant grows here like magic. Note that you cannot get any seeds here but only plants. So air travellers, watch out. 
Details: 94401-78471.



Tailing the Godavari
The river at Rajahmundry is vastly different from the one you meet at Antarvedi. Here, the river is called Vasishta Godavari, named after one of the Holy Saints of India and is much more turbulent, as though she is prepping herself to get into the embrace of the Bay of Bengal. However, you need to get into an 80-minute sunset river cruise to see its true splendour.  I get lucky and get the entire cruise boat (Rs. 4,500 for 90 minutes) for myself. Boatman Narasimha and I set on the mangrove hunt. For some reason, he insists on calling me ‘saar’ as he thinks all people dressed in trousers must be called so. As I hesitantly sit on the stern ledge, he eggs me on to go and stand near the bow and click my videos. Within 20 minutes of our cruise, the sun is already setting. The green mangroves, reminiscent of those at Sundarbans, stand majestically half submerged in water. For kilometres together, I can’t spot a single soul. It was just the drone of the boat, the setting sun, and the mangroves with Narasimha for company. As the Hanuman flag on the boat does a boomerang in the air, fluttering away fast and furiously, I am tempted to go live on social media. But within minutes, as though the river and the sun conspired together, my battery just falls to a meager 7 per cent . I feel the Godavari cocking a snook at me and that I dare not capture her beauty with a mere Samsung phone and show off to the world. And that one needs to take the effort to come all the way to Dindi to see her in her best form. Someday again, dear river. After a quick darshan of the centuries-old Narasimha Swamy temple on the river bank, it’s a wrap. Details: 99494-11191.

Sunset by River Godavari
Sunset by River Godavari


Sweetmeats and something special
The last stop was Atreyapuram, known for its world-famous Pootharekhulu. The former is a light, fluffy layered sweet filled with organic jaggery powder and a hint of ghee. “No other place on Earth can make these thin rice flour paper sheets that are used to make this sweet,” says Rajesh, who mans one of the 100 sweet shops that make and import them across the country and abroad. That they also have their own social media pages and accept orders on WhatsApp and have variations for diabetics shows they are in tune with the times. I got two boxes of them packed. But the fact that I forgot to collect it from the airline security check was truly sweet revenge. I have a reason to visit Dindi again. Details:  91771-65469. 

Making of <em>Pootharekhulu </em>- Andhra Paper Sweet at Atreyapuram
Making of Pootharekhulu - Andhra Paper Sweet at Atreyapuram

The writer was invited by Sterling Holiday Resorts, Dindi

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