Boat Ride Experience in Pathala Ganga, Srisailam

2nd Oct 2025 - on the day of Vijaya Dasami, we started for a sudden unplanned trip to Srisailam from Hyderabad as it was Dasara vacation. It was just a two-day trip and we were back home on 3rd Oct night. After an early morning Sparsh Darsan of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy and a close darsan of Sri Brahmarambika Devi on 3rd Oct, we enjoyed a boat ride in Patala Ganga.

Well, this was our 2nd visit to Patala Ganga, the 1st visit was in 2008 when we went down to Patala Ganga in a rope way but we did go on a boat ride in our 1st visit. Our bad luck, this time the rope was closed due to some technical problem and it is difficult for us to go down the stony steps. Going down the steps would be fine but climbing up would be too exhausting. So we couldn't dare to go down the steps, however we found that there are some private autos taking the tourists in a long route down to Patala Ganga. I think, it was a temporary service due to the closure of rope way. There were auto on sharing basis charging Rs.150 per passenger. We (myself, my husband and daughter) wanted to take an auto separately without sharing basis but the drivers were not willing to go on non-sharing basis though they said it will be Rs.1200. Anyways, with great difficulty one young boy agreed to take us and finally we our auto ride down the rustic ghat road started.

My goodness, I was too scared as the narrow stony path (not a road) just meant for animals and human walking is being used for auto ride. The narrow road was highly uneven and the auto was continuously wobbling. It was so scary and I was continuously chanting mantras all along till we safely reached the destination. Moreover, the narrow rocky path was two-way and the vehicles had to halt aside to give way. OMG! I never had such a scary experience added with a pinch of thrill and 'pacca local' experience. On reaching Patala Ganga, we were relieved and were literally awed at the beauty of nature at this place which was at Her best. It was more or less like Papikondalu with water flowing in between the mountains. It was a wonderful sight.
The surrounding area is a bit narrow with some food and tea stalls on either side. It gave a pure local ambiance with no western cult and no high tech and it made us really feel so good. In a local stall, we had 'goli soda' which is not to be seen in the present day cities and that too the person pressing the 'goli' with the finger - pacca local style. After refreshing ourselves with a 'goli soda', we stepped down at the 'ghat' where few people are having holy dip in Patala Ganga.
The weather was pleasant and there was continuous cool breeze which was very soothing. We just sprinkled some Patala Ganga water on our heads and did 'Namaskaram' to Ganga Devi. We then purchased boat ride tickets and got into the boat which was ready for a ride. The tourists were given life jackets which is mandatory to wear.
The boat started and moved forward while the tourists including us, were busy capturing nature's beauty in their cams, while some were busy taking selfies. The boat rode slowly so that tourists can enjoy watching the nature which is at her best with the river taking curves in between the mountains - really a spectacular view.
Patala Ganga which is a kilometer away from the main temple, is highly sacred river and is actually the backwaters of Krishna river. Besides boating, there are few round 'theppalu' (basket-like boats) also. A boat ride in Patala Ganga is literally a calm experience amidst the mesmerising beauty of Mother Nature. Due to heavy rainfall this year, there was heavy in-flow of water and may be due to this there was not boat service to AKka Mahadevi caves.
Being a nature-lover, I very much enjoyed the nature-watch and the cool breeze (unpolluted). Just a thought, it would be really nice if the state govt and organisations come forward and take up development activities of this wonderful place and maintain the same. If this place is developed and well-maintained (both by govt / NGO and public / tourists), it would become a potential tourist attraction.
Well after a wonderful experience with Patala Ganga boat ride in Srisailam, we started our drive back to Hyderabad. On the way in the evening we visited the ancient 2nd century temple of Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy.