Lambasingi – The Kashmir Of Andhra Pradesh Where It Snows In South India

Did you know that apart from parts of north India, there has been a place in the south of India where it has snowed? That’s right. Unbelievable as it might sound, Lambasingi is one such place that has seen the snow despite being located in the southern (read tropical) part of the country. This happened around 4 years ago, on the 15th of January 2012, when due to extreme weather conditions, the place experienced snowfall. Since then, it has been the talk of the town! Lambasingi is gaining popularity in the world of tourism for being a special place down south with a unique kind of climate as snowfall in Lambasingi is quite famous.

Let us take a look at some facts related to Lambasingi and why it should be on your list of places to be explored:

Lambasingi location

Lambasingi is a small village located in the Chintapalli Mandal of Visakhapatanam district in Andhra Pradesh. It is situated at the height of around 1000 meters above sea level.

Lambasingi weather

This quaint village is known for its chilly weather as the temperatures can go down to -2 C during the months of December and January. The mornings and evenings are freezing as compared to the daytime. Lambasingi is also known for getting beautifully draped in a blanket of fog and white mist during the wee hours of the day and late evenings. Lambasingi snowfall is a major tourist attraction in Andhra Pradesh.

Why should you visit Lambasingi?

This place gives you a feeling of being in north India due to its cold and foggy climate. It is a beautiful blend of perfect weather and scenic beauty as the place has plenty of apple orchards and coffee plantations around it. This place is a photographer’s delight with plenty of photo ops in and around Lambasinghi.

Best Time to Visit Lambasingi

Lambasingi Andhra Pradesh best time to visit is no doubt the winter season – from November to early January.

If you plan to visit Lambasingi Andhra Pradesh, points to be kept in mind are:

• The preferred time to visit Lambasinghi is during the winter season as it bears a misty cold climate around that time, and it is nothing short of a paradise.
• Lambasingi does not have hotels or motels. However, you can contact the villagers for a homestay. Most of the houses offer a homestay facility with food, and that too at nominal prices.

• Another form of accommodation is staying at Narsipatnam which is around 32 km from Lambasingi and 70 km from Visakhapatnam. If you choose to do so, you can leave Narsipatnam at around 6 in the morning and reach Lambasinghi to enjoy the weather and scenic beauty. It is believed that the fog stays till 10-11 a.m.
• You may also choose to trek and set up your own camps in Lambasingi to avoid the hassle of traveling from some other place.

• It must be noted that Lambasingi does not have any ATMs. Therefore, you should be well equipped with cash or you can go to Araku or Paderu (nearby) in order to get cash.

Things to do in Lambasingi

• Go overnight camping with friends, and enjoy a barbeque, or bonfire in the chilly weather during winter.
• Visit Susan garden to relax and witness the beauty of some exotic flowers. The garden offers a spectacular view of the sunset.
• Embark in adventure activities like rock climbing, rappelling, trekking, and many more.
• Walk through coffee plantations as the main occupation of the inhabitants here is coffee and pepper farming.
• Visit the Historical Bojjannakonda if you are a history buff. The place dates back to a time between the 4th and 9th century A.D., the place is among the ancient Buddhist establishments in India.
• You can also indulge in photography.

Places to visit in Lambasingi

1. Kotahpalli Waterfalls

The beautiful cascading waterfall was discovered only a few years back by a young boy and ever since then, it has become a tourist attraction. Located around 28kms from Lambasingi, the waterfall is an ideal picnic spot and the best time to visit is during the monsoons when the water is abundant.

2. Thajangi Lake

It is actually a reservoir and is located around 6 km from Lambasingi. Another ‘photographer’s delight’, this place has perfect scenery with lush green hills as the backdrop and a gorgeous lake in the front. You can spend a couple of hours here and relax, soaking in the serenity of the place.

3. Uppada Beach

In contrast to the chill of Lambasingi, Uppada beach lets you relax in a warmer environment but amidst the cool sea breeze. The beach is situated in Kakinada, is around 2 hours from Lambasingi, and is a perfect place to witness the diversity of nature.

4. Hope Island

If you are looking for a photo op, this is the place you would want to visit. This small island can be reached by a private boat or by pre-booking a boat with APTDC for around 200/- Rupees per person. It is advisable to take food items with you as there is no availability of any kind of eatables on the island as it is not inhabited.

How to reach Lambasingi

By Air – Visakhapatnam is the nearest airport and is around 107 km from Lambasingi. You can take a bus/cab to reach Lambasingi from there, which is around a 2-hour drive.

By Road – You could also drive down into Lambasingi from Araku valley, which takes about 3 hours. If you wish to travel by train, you can take a train to the nearest railway station which is Chintapalle.

It is believed that APTDC is planning to open a state-run resort in Lambasingi and develop the place as a tourism hub. It would be interesting to see if that would have any impact on the uniqueness and natural beauty of this place touted as the ‘Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh’.

Such places, which remain untouched and maintain their old-world charm and originality, are few. It is highly recommended to explore such places while you can, and before they get commercialized.