Srikakulam Part 1---Journey to Srikakulam from vizag on honda activa

Route: Vishakapatnam (MVP colony)-Srikakulam

NH-16 & NH -5

Vehicle: Honda Activa

Trip members: 2

Date of travel:  09^th June 2016 (Wednesday)

Trip plan!!!

To cover Arasavalli, Srikurmam, Srimukhalingam & Tekkali Endala Mallikarjuna Swamy

Journey from Vizag to Srikakulam on Honda Activa!!!

We started at around 7:30 am from MVP colony had our Tea at nearby Tea stand and then filled up petrol for Rs.150/- and with in no time we were on NH-18 which leads to Srikakulam. The roads were absolutely good for the drive; surprisingly there was not even a single pothole. We were praying god for a favorable climate. The journey could have been horrible if had the climate been too hot or with a downpour, which we came across the previous day. You come across Vizag Zoo on the right hand side on NH-18.

The climate was too favourable to us & the beauty of the black tar roads with lush green trees surrounded on both sides of road was mesmerizing.In the middle of journey we crossed so many tiny villages where usually these men sell coconuts on their cycles which were costing 10/- but the coconut water  was not so tasty may be because of the ground water  mixed with sea water gives you a different taste by the plants grow up in this soil..

Another pathetic condition here in Vizag or Srikakulam is we feel too  sultry & our skin becomes too oily which would not go even after bathing, because of water here in & around.

At roadside for every now and then we see sunglasses vendors who sell for NH riders. My friend took one which was Rs.110/- he wasn’t satisfied with those glasses as the air gushes in from the sides into eyes.

On the sauve NH16!!!!!

No worries about the road because we were on one of the best & busiest highways in the country. According to our schedule we had to reach Arasavalli by 10:00 am & we were on time.

Beauty of NH-16!!!

The sun was not peeping due to the black clouds spreaded over him,anytime rain can be expected.NH16 was not much crowded.The drive was through hills& rocky areas ,the landscape undoubtedly was awesome.I never thought this part of Andhra Pradesh and srikakulam was so rich in scenic beauty.

 We are crossing river Nagavalli bridge,at one point of view we need to get on to Srikakulam highway NH5.After about one kilometer, we should go through a small village that leads to Arasavalli (it is about 5kms from highway) on the way in the village we have seen big Ganesh idol which is very colourful on village market roads.

Finally at Arasavelli!!!!

After finishing with our Darsan and without wasting any more time we started our trip to Srikurmam which is about 18kms from Arasavelli. We had some confusion in going to Srikurmam, at one point of time we were heading to Kalingapatanam. We missed the gateway arch of Srikurmam which was under construction, we thought this to be something else and we headed to Kalingapatnam.

Kalingapatanam!!!

I was always fascinated by hearing the name Kalingapatanam, which takes me back to the legendary king Ashoka Era, we were almost near to the border village of Andhra &Odissa, it was a great moment when we cross the border to Odissa but we did not cross the border village unfortunately. Coming out of this thought suddenly, my friend sensed that we are on wrong route, we have to go to Srikurmam.

Srikurmam!!!

He asked some locals and they insisted us to go back for about ½ kilometer, where we came across the archway again which lead us to Srikurmam, the archway was under construction and we took a muddy road which was just beside the under construction archway.  After about 200 meters, we reached the village tar road, which leads us to Srikurmam. Quite shockingly even these roads were very well maintained. Heavy downpour started for about 15 minutes after darshan at Srikurmam. That moment I thought that our journey ended here. But we were fortunate, raining stopped & we continued as per plan. The roads were pretty well even after rain, there was no water to be seen on roads. Now we headed towards Srimukhalingam at around 01:00 pm. The drive is about 46kms from Srikurmam, where we should take the road that leads back to Arasavelli-Srikakulam road. After travelling for about one kilometer from Srikurmam Archway,at one point we see shop vendors at small village Junction from here we should take a right which leads us to narrow road in to a village. 

Here at small village junction, we enquired about srimukha lingam route,one old lady in the shop explained with gestures not opening her mouth i.e it is a journey of 10kms village drive and later NH5 hits and arouind 11kms highway drive and again into village a 25kms drive. I wondered how clearly without any sound she explained route with  her hand gestures. she explained very clearly,proved village people are more educated then us.

As per her guidelines we entered into narrow road, a tiny village with 50 houses hardly, and later crossed the village and entered  in to the route where we come across with  lush green farm fields and middle black tar road.The road was very narrow but to my surprise even lorries were moving in this route.

Finally we hitted  NH5 from here drive towards Palasa.we see here & there  Palasa mile stones which indicates the distance to palasa which is 58kms.Meanwhile we have seen river Vamsadhara bridge but it had no water.A huge Hanuman Idol is under construction near to Vamsadhara river.Again another toll gate .After crossing toll gate (for 2 wheelers no payment) at Narasannapeta Junction we should take left to go to srimukhalingam and straight NH leads to Tekalli which is 26kms away.  

On the way to srimukhalingam !!!!!

The drive from Narasannapeta Junction to srimukhalingam is 25kms which  leads us  purely to a  remote village when we wont  even  see a single animal or any man to some extent of drive.Later a tiny village hits us after seeing them I felt happy by seeing the people of samekind. Until then I was feeling I was on some other planet  where,me ,my friend & our Honda active were the aliens to other planet.All is well !!!! the drove was not scary because it was noon but not finding any human of our kind something mysteric.

We were crossing tilaru junction at this area we could find a smaller  station of tilaru railwaystation .Drive was very comfortable ,no tiredness,climate was favouring us.

The drive from Narasannapeta Junction to Srimukhalingam is 25 kilometers which leads us through a remote village, where we can’t see a single animal or any human being to some extent of drive. After driving for some extent we crossed Tilaru junction while  we were crossing this area  we could find a smaller  station of tilaru railwaystation .

While passing to Srimukhalingam we come across number of small villages and the drive is on the side of river Vamsadhara.Later a tiny village hits us ,here I felt happy by seeing the people of samekind. Until then I was feeling I was on some other planet seems like me ,my friend & our Honda active were as the aliens to the other planet.All is well !!!!  the drove was not scary because it was noon but not finding any human of our kind is something mysteric.The drive was awesome passing through local farms with coconut trees, men wearing palm hats and women wearing typical ornaments & anklets.Then comes Jammu Junction (main junction) , Rana Junction & finally reached Challavanipeta village. From Challavanipeta village, Srimukha Lingam is about eight kilometers.

It was a u-shaped road drive where the road was formed without disturbing the farms. Drive was very comfortable ,no tiredness,climate was favouring us and there was bright greenery all around.

Here we are at Srimukhalingam , very ancient temple,it was not under government control !!!!! SrimukhaLingam!!!

After finishing our darshan at SrimukhaLingam at about 03:00 pm, we headed back to Narasannapeta again towards NH-5(same route); from NH Tekkali is about 18 kilometers straight towards Palasa. The road was good & so was climate. After a long drive we reached Tekali around 05:00 pm, from here we enquired about Ravivalasa Shiva Linga temple. Locals guided us with the route situated in tiny village and in between we crossed railway crossing and entered into the village surrounded by farms. To our surprise even on this narrow route RTC buses were running.

Tekkali Endala Mallikarjuna Swamy/Ravivalasa Shiva Linga temple!!!

First we crossed an archway with Siva Linga on it, we thought this was the entrance and we are nearer to temple but it looked like a never ending road. Then after some enquiry locals guided us and we found another archway, after travelling about a kilometer from the archway in the midst of farms we found the temple.The drove was awesome ,no tiredness for me but I was not aware of the Honda rider.Finally the Journey ended here of the trips of srikakulam.

Drive back to Vizag crossing NH-5 &NH-16!!!

It was 5:30pm ,the sun was getting off his duty,the climate horrified us with its darker clouds,we just prayed god to favour us for the rest of our  journey  .Our agenda was to get back to vizag  city by 9pm.


Enroute we took a break for pula ice (Ice-bar) on NH-5,. We crossed Vamsadhara Bridge and took a deviation at a place where the road is divided into two ways one towards NH5 and that leads to Srikakulam and the other that leads to NH16 to Vizag.

At a distance of about 110 kilometers from Vizag, we took a small Tea break and Bajjis. All the locals were starring at us like some aliens entered into there locality and moving around them . 

As it was long drive ,the drive for the last 25 kms was very lengthy.we were just  watching the mile stones how the distance was cutted off,but once it was showed us 25kms again it shown us 26kms to vizag by seeing this we were dozed off,with all this mesmerizing moments we are back to vizag safely by 9pm.

25kms, Big deal!!!!!

Cruicial drive was last 25 kilometers as it was one of the longest drives ever by us on a two wheeler, the drive seemed to be never ending. We were looking at milestone after milestone to know the distance but we felt as if it was the same, at last we reached to Vizag safely by 9pm.

Dozzed off for the day!!!!!!!

Total journey of about 400kms up & down on a two-wheeler Honda Activa sounds something crazy.

The total credit honoured to my friend as he was the rider and always enjoys my craziness.