{
  "id": 13005003,
  "title": "Araku Pinery: New experiences at the community-led eco-tourism retreat",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/araku-pinery-new-experiences-at-the-community-led-eco-tourism-retreat",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-09T02:29:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
    "slug": "the-hindu-sci-tech",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/travel/araku-pinery-new-experiences-at-the-community-led-eco-tourism-retreat/article71558325.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Araku Pinery, a pine-lined retreat in the Araku Valley, offers visitors a unique community-led eco-tourism experience. Recently, pottery has joined the list of activities available at the site, enabling guests to create their own clay crafts to take home. This addition aligns with the broader expansion of experiences at the Pinery, which includes camping tents, wooden decks, a tree deck, seasonal gardens, a strawberry patch, and soon to be ATV rides, as part of a community-led eco-tourism initiative. The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department is collaborating with the Van Sanrakshan Samiti of Shanti Nagar village to transform the 27-acre pine plantation into a vibrant destination. Visitor numbers have surged, with 1.79 lakh visitors recorded in 2025-26, marking an 80% increase from the previous year. The Pinery's revenue for the financial year amounted to ₹1.06 crore. With 49 families directly benefiting from the activities surrounding the destination, the Forest Department plans to allocate 40% of the generated revenue towards village development in the next fiscal year. The plantation's history dates back to 1975-76 when tropical pine trees were introduced, creating the distinct landscape visitors enjoy today. Following Cyclone Hudhud in 2014, which caused significant damage, the Forest Department initiated an eco-tourism project in 2023, receiving support from the Central Warehousing Corporation through its CSR initiative. The project has introduced landscaped areas, visitor facilities, decks, camping spaces, a cafeteria, and spaces for community activities. Sustainability is a key aspect of the Pinery, with a plastic management system in place. Visitors are required to declare plastic water bottles at the entrance, receive a refundable ₹20 deposit, and return the bottles at the exit. The Pinery also encourages the use of reusable and glass bottles inside its premises. In the coming season, additional attractions include two All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) rides and the development of mud houses. The Pinery showcases agriculture through niger plant fields, which will bloom with a vibrant yellow in November and December, and a strawberry patch that promises a harvest from November to February. The location offers numerous Nature-based experiences, such as a wooded deck, tree deck, camping area, cafeteria, sunset point, and the serene Ekantaha zone. Its picturesque setting has also attracted several photography, pre-wedding, and film shoots in 2025-26, contributing to the destination's revenue.",
  "summary": "With pottery, camping, adventure rides and seasonal farms joining its pine-lined attractions, Araku Pinery is preparing for a busy tourist season",
  "key_points": [
    "Araku Pinery offers pottery workshops for visitors to create clay crafts.",
    "Visitor numbers surged 80% in 2025-26, reaching 1.79 lakh.",
    "40% of Pinery's revenue allocated to village development in next fiscal year."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The addition of pottery and other activities at Araku Pinery solidifies its position as a thriving community-led eco-tourism hub, directly benefiting local families and fuelling village development.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Araku Pinery: New experiences at the community-led eco-tourism retreat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/araku-pinery-new-experiences-at-the-community-led-eco-tourism-retreat-13007368",
        "published": "2026-10-09T02:29:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}