Beach, Sunbathing, Sarees & More – A Road Trip to Chirala

Alongside the Bay of Bengal lies a town, tranquil and hushed, amidst the beauty of nature and away from the boisterous urban life; sounds like a perfect weekend getaway to me! So here I was in Hyderabad, all set to explore the bylanes of this beautiful town of Chirala. But why Chirala? Simply, to add colour to the many stories I had heard about the place, the tempting beaches, the famous hand-looms, the culinary delights, and so much more. I opted to take a road trip instead of flying down, for one, to allow myself to be captivated by this hidden coastal beauty, and two (more importantly), Chirala did not host an airport. Needless to say, I booked a Savaari cab from Hyderabad to Chirala.

[Image source: www.tripoto.com]

With my playlist ready my cab arrived on the dot and I took off from the city on this solo adventure. I chose the Vijaywada highway, which is about 387 kms from Hyderabad, through Nalgonda, Miryalaguda and Narasaropet to reach my destination. I started at 6:30 am in the morning with the sole intention of enjoying the morning breeze and soaking in the afternoon sun. Luckily there wasn’t much traffic on the highway and the cab driver was an expert, guiding me on the way and narrating to me the unknown tales about Chirala. What an entertainer I must say! Starving for breakfast, we came to a halt at Highway 7, Suryapet. With Ulavacharu Biryani, Masala Dosa and Filter Coffee as my companions, I enjoyed the lush greenery and the ambiance around this restaurant. A big thumbs up to the hospitable staff members for maintaining the hygiene and cleanliness of the entire space.

With our stomachs full, we continued with our expedition, while the cab driver expressed to me the unforgettable taste of the Nuzividu mangoes, popular around the Vijaywada area. His sensuous description of the popular fruit brought me to the conclusion that this delicacy was not something to be missed. So our next stop was a small stall on the highway, where a family of three was selling this local wonder. Relishing the mangoes with soulful music in the background and a breathtaking view of the endless roads & bowing trees is something, which will remain one of the highlights of the trip. Continuing my little expedition, it was around 10:30 am when the cab driver took a little detour towards the well-known, 11th century, Sri Sakshi Bhavanarayana Swamy Temple situated near the Ponnur district. An architectural marvel, just like the many others in Southern India, it was a visual treat to witness the carvings on the temple. Post this 20 minute halt, we headed towards our final destination, Chirala.

At 11:30 am in the morning, the mesmerizing town of Chirala greeted me with the fragrance of sea salt and the warmth of a countryside town. We headed straight towards the Palm Coast Beach Resorts, located on the Ramapuram Beach Road. I was enjoying every bit of this change in landscape and with my beach shorts on, I was all ready to hit the beach and soak in some of that sun. Walking alongside the shore, the untouched beauty of this beach was unique and comforting, especially since this is India where there are hardly any virgin beaches anymore. Tanned to my heart’s content, I headed towards the local market on foot, taking in everything that this town had to offer. The local market at Chirala was decorated with a display of handloom sarees on both the ends. Excited to know more about the craft, I entered a shop owned by two brothers. They introduced me to the famous 7 yards saree, a fabric so fine, it can even fit in a matchbox; this is the level of craftsmanship in Chirala. Surprised and proud, I left the market with 3 sarees and a tanned body! Later that evening, I enjoyed the amenities of the resort and the amazing seafood that the small town had to offer. The itinerary for the next morning was to simply roam around the town, meet the locals and learn about the culture of the place. The clock struck 4 and sadly, it was time for me to take my leave and return back to Hyderabad. The Savaari cab was reliable and affordable and the cab driver was extremely helpful and went above and beyond to make this trip confortable.

Leaving the place with a heavy heart and the awful sensation that precedes the return to city life, I could not have chosen a better place than Chirala to relax and unwind. Cannot wait for the next expedition!

About the author

Hey! My name is Seema Gurnani , and am 23 year old solo travel blogger who loves to travel and explore new places and try delicious foods. And of course, I love pandas as well that's why my blog is named pandareviewz :) Read more

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