Araku Valley, A Must Visit Destination in Andhra Pradesh

Araku Valley is a popular hill station located in the Vishakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh.
Placed at a height of about 3,200 ft above sea level, the hill station is blessed with immense natural beauty and scenic surroundings. The place is mainly known for its captivating waterfalls, coffee plantations, stunning gardens, streams and valleys that is dotted with dense lush green forests. Located at a distance of about 112 km from Visakhapatnam, the place is inhabited by about 19 tribes.

Attractions

Ananthagiri Hills- The hills is a popular tourist destination of the region, situated at a distance of about 6 km from Vikarabad and falls on the route to Araku Valley from Visakhapatnam. The hills are located at an altitude of about 1,168 m above sea level and are mainly known for its coffee plantations. Apart from this, you will also find mango grooves and alluring waterfalls at this place. 

Borra Caves- The caves form a part of the Ananthagiri Hills and are regarded as one of the prime tourist attractions of the region. The caves of this place are drained by the Gosthani River and they comprise substances like stalagmite and stalactite. Placed at an altitude of about 705 m above sea level, the caves were initially discovered by William King George in 1807, during the Geological Survey of India. There is a small Shiva temple outside the caves.

Bheemunipatnam Beach- The beach is regarded as one of the top tourist attractions of the region. The beach includes blue captivating waters and is abounded by tall coconut trees. Located at the confluence of the Gosthani River and the Bay of Bengal, you also find the ruins of the 17^th century fort ad cemetery at this place. Tourists come to this beach to enjoy swimming and various other water activities.

 

Araku Tribal Museum- The museum is placed at the center of the Araku Valley and is regarded as a major attraction of the hill station. The museum reveals information about the lifestyle and cultures of the tribal communities living in the Eastern Ghats. The museum exhibits items are such as tribal clay figures which demonstrates the tribal people occupied in their daily works, jewelry, kitchen utensils and hunting tools that are related to the various tribal communities.

Best Time to Visit

The hill station can be visited throughout the year as it experiences pleasant climate all around the year. However, the residents from the plainer areas surrounding the place visit the hill station during the summers, in order to escape the scorching heat of the plainer areas. Still, the most appropriate time to visit Araku Valley is during the winters, which falls between the months of October to February. The winters at this place is also a perfect time for trekking, hiking, sightseeing and other outdoor activities.

Accommodation

The Araku Valley has no luxury hotels but it is dotted with plenty of budget hotels, resorts and cottages. The place also has government run lodges close to the Araku railway station that provide accommodation at affordable prices. Mid-range hotels and resorts are mostly dotted along the road that connects Araku to Visakhapatnam along with a few near Araku railway station. 

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport to this hill station is Vishakhapatnam airport, located at a distance of about 115 km. The airport is well linked with places like major cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Patna, Tirupati, Bengaluru, Delhi and Bhubaneswar. The airport also receives flights from Dubai. Local and hired taxis are available from the airport to get to the place.

By Train: The Araku railway station is connected with the station in Vishakhapatnam, which in other hand is well linked with places like Delhi, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Alappuzha, Chennai etc. Regular local buses and taxis are available from the station to the main town. 

By Road: The place is easily accessible by road from Visakhapatnam, located at a distance of about 112km. The place receives regular government buses from Visakhapatnam and other major cities in the state. The valley is connected by regular private buses from places like Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai etc.