Pilligundam waterfall beckons nature lovers in Asifabad

Nature lovers from Thandur, Mandamarri, Bellampalli Mancherial, Asifabad, Kagaznagar and Chandrapur of Maharashtra make a beeline to spend time at the waterfalls.

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Pilligundam waterfall, a lesser known yet scenic natural wonder near Mangi village in Tiryani mandal, once known as a fortress of banned Maoists, is beckoning nature lovers and picnickers.

“The seasonal waterfall comes alive in the monsoon. It flows in full glory between August and October in a year. It is situated in the dense forests and has no road facility. One needs to trek to reach the waterfall by taking a local guide,” Vedma Venkatesh, a social media influencer told ‘Telangana Today.’

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Nature lovers from Thandur, Mandamarri, Bellampalli Mancherial, Asifabad, Kagaznagar and Chandrapur of Maharashtra make a beeline to spend time at the waterfalls. They arrive at the waterfall using motorbikes and auto-rickshaws.

They cook food under the trees and dine along with their friends after taking a dip in the water.

The picturesque spot is about 5 kilometres from Mangi village and 25 km from Tiryani mandal, which is 32 km from the Asifabad district headquarters. One can commute by TGRTC buses till Tiryani mandal centre and then hire a vehicle to reach Mangi, which has no road facility.

Third waterfall in Tiryani
Incidentally, Pilligundam waterfall is the third waterfall in Tiryani mandal. It was not explored till a few years back. Two other popular waterfalls are situated near Gundala and Chintalamadara villages. These two are also seasonal ones and come alive during peak monsoon, attracting nature lovers from different parts of the district.

Connectivity, basic amenities remain issues
The waterfalls in the backward region are crying for attention from officials. They have neither road connectivity nor basic amenities such as toilets, cottages and hotels.

Similarly, safety of visitors goes for a toss at these spots because though there are registered drowning incidents, there are no warning boards or security guards.

Locals demanded the officials to take steps to convert the waterfalls into tourist spots to generate income for the government and employment for locals.

Sidam Arju, an elder from Rompalli opined that Tiryani mandal can get identity if the waterfalls were developed. Locals could also find jobs if the spots were developed, he reasoned.