Lambasingi, a tiny tribal hamlet tucked amid the picturesque Japanese Ghats of Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitarama Raju district, has been attracting numerous vacationers over the previous few years, not solely due to its scenic magnificence, however attributable to its Kashmir-like local weather.
Situated at about 120 km and a three-hour drive from the coastal metropolis of Visakhapatnam, which is understood for its sultry climate and dusty environment, Lambasingi presents a totally completely different image with misty mountains, dense forests, picturesque valleys, and waterfalls.
In contrast to the opposite hill stations in South India like Ooty or Kodaikanal, that are well-liked vacationer locations throughout summer season, Lambasingi, has changed into a sought-after vacationer vacation spot throughout the winter. The mercury right here drops right down to as little as 2°C and sometimes even information as much as 0°C (as recorded in December 2012), due to which it’s also known as Andhra Kashmir.
The chilly local weather at Lambasingi remains to be a thriller, although the scientists on the Regional Agriculture Analysis Station (RARS) at Chintapalli, about 5km away from Lambasingi, attribute the identical to its location — at a peak of 1,025 metres above the ocean degree, the best level within the area.
“There are numerous different hills in and round this place that are positioned at nearly the identical peak, however in some way, Lambasingi presents completely completely different weather conditions, notably in December and January,” stated an everyday customer Pavan Kumar from Visakhapatnam.
Owing to the chilly local weather, the native tribals additionally discuss with the place as ‘Korra Bayalu’ in native parlance, which suggests a stick within the open – indicating that if an individual stays exterior the home, he’ll freeze like a stick.
“Throughout this season, one can’t see daylight even until 10am and by 3 to 4pm, your entire space turns darkish and the temperature of the world begins dropping,” Kumar stated.
Vacationer influx disturbing pure local weather
Officers, nevertheless, say that the heavy vacationers’ influx over the previous few years — on a mean, almost 2,000 vacationers a day throughout the winter, in comparison with the 300 to 400 throughout the regular days — has been disturbing the weather conditions in Lambasingi.
“In 2022, there was a gentle improve of vacationers for the final two weeks, making the local weather somewhat hotter,” Dr M Suresh, environmental scientist and affiliate director of analysis, RARS stated.
He stated that the bottom night time temperature recorded this season at Lambasingi was solely 4.5°C, as in opposition to the common minimal temperature of two°C, recorded up to now. “At current, the minimal temperature is hovering round 10-13°C, which is somewhat alarming,” he added.
He additionally attributed the growing temperature throughout the winter to the “current cyclonic storms in Bay of Bengal”, aside from a rise within the vacationer movement. “Going by the change in weather conditions, I don’t assume Lambasingi will ever witness zero or sub-zero temperature,” Suresh stated.
Former tribal welfare minister of Andhra Pradesh Pasupuleti Balaraju, who had earlier represented Paderu meeting constituency which covers Lambasingi, additionally expressed regrets that the growing vacationer movement has broken the pure fantastic thing about the world.
“Throughout my childhood, Lambasingi used to have a serene environment with dense forests and wild animals. The water within the streams was clear. However the space has been nearly plundered, notably within the final three years,” Balaraju stated.
He stated there was a rise in vehicular air pollution within the space. “Because the space turns very chilly throughout the nights, vacationers want to return solely at the moment. They put up tents, camp fires and open bars and barbecues. Since there are not any rest room amenities within the space, they resort to open defecation. No official bothers to look into these points,” the previous minister lamented.
The locals, too, have began exploiting the scenario to make cash throughout this season.
“A number of bar and eating places have come up within the final couple of years, providing liquor and bamboo hen to the vacationers. One can witness plastic water bottles and meals packets strewn throughout the world,” Balaraju stated.
“The pathway to the best level has not been developed and one has to stroll on rocky terrain to succeed in the perspective. All alongside the route, vacationers throw water bottles and leftover meals, making the world soiled,” a neighborhood NGO activist Raja Rao stated.