Lesser known tourist destination. Review on Araku Valley

Araku Valley

Araku Valley, 115-km from Vishakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh is close to the Orissa State, border. This place lures people with pleasant weather, hills and valleys. The natural beauty of this valley comes alive with its rich landscape. The area of the valley is roughly 36-km and the altitude is between 600 and 900m above the sea level.

The journey to this place on the Ghat road with thick forests on either side is in itself interesting and pleasant. One can have a wonderful trekking trip. 46 tunnels and bridges will greet you on the way, if you are travelling by train. The Ananthagiri hills on the way to Araku Valley are famous for coffee plantations.

Borra caves is located at a distance of above 90-95 km from Vishakhapatnam and 29-km from Araku Valley is a prime attraction of Araku Valley. It is situated at 1400 metres above sea-level, they spread over the Eastern Ghats and occupy an area of 2 sq km. William King George of the Geological Survey of India discovered these caves in the year 1807.

Deep in the caves there is a “Shivalingam” over which there is an idol of a cow “Kamdhenu” and the river Gosthani takes its origin from the udder of this cow. The mercury and halogen lamps lit inside make the interior of the caves colourful and spectacular.

It is better to go to Araku by train and return by road. You can see the local tribal dance if you are on APTDC package tour.

One of the main attraction is tree top cottages located in the middle of green surroundings of Araku valley. These tree huts (hanging cottages) are ten feet above the ground level and one can experience rare swing along with trees. Huts are attached with toilet and continuous water supply.

There is a toy train in the Padmapuram garden for the tourists. There is a tribal museum on tribal heritage, living system and culture. Anantagiri water fall is 30 KM from Araku. There is one more picnic spot called Dumbriguda Waterfalls (Chaaparai ). This spot is only 15 Kms from Araku. Tribal welfare department has one Horticulture nursery cum training center at Padmapuram. It is open from 8 AM to 12.30 PM and again on 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM

There is an AP tourism valley resort PUNAMI available at Araku valley.

TYDA – An ecotourism project This nature camp located at a distance of 75 Km from Vizag is right place for bird watching, rock climbing, trekking and overnight stay. Tyda is being developed with camping facilities at Jungle Bells to provide an enchanting experience in the wilderness to tourists. A home for a variety of wild mammals and avifauna, Tyda is ideal for viewing wildlife and bird watching. Other attractions are rock climbing, trekking and targeting with bow and arrows. There is a rail with road journey package available by AP tourism with same day return or with one night stay.

How To Get There?

By Air

The nearest airport is Vishakhapatnam at a distance of 112-km. The Airport is practically very close to the main city, about 8 kms to the railway station. A new Airport terminal building with all facilities has been opened for traffic last month. It is well connected to Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata. More flights including international are going to be started soon

By Rail

Araku has a railhead. Araku railway station is on the kirandul route from where iron ore rakes are transported to vizag for exports. There is a passenger train which leaves early in the morning from Visakhpatnam railway station. There are two railway stations at Araku and Araku Valley in the Kothavalasa-Kirandul railway line in Visakhapatnam division of East Coast Railway, Indian Railways.

By Road

Bus service is available from Vishakhapatnam. A.P Tourism also conducts excursion trip from Vishakhapatnam everyday. Once can also travel in their own cars or hired MUV's.