Trip to Araku - a refreshing leap into nature

A few months back I happened to go to a really amazing destination in Andhra Pradesh. It was called Araku. Yes, this was during my visit to the Valley of Flowers.

Araku Valley is a pristine hill station and a Mandal in Visakhapatnam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located 112 km from the Vishakhapatnam district, close to the Orissa state border amidst the Eastern Ghats. Araku valley is one of the most beautiful place and peaceful place in india.

Araku Valley makes a wonderful place to visit with an enchanting beauty, bridges, tunnels, waterfalls and thick forest all over. It has got an amazing nature with thick forests surrounded all over. If you prefer rock climbing and trekking it may be a good spot. If you want forests you are sure to find joyous trip into the forests. It was quite refreshing and great.

The hill station is known for its relatively untouched beauty and the surroundings are green and lush. The forests surrounding the hill station are a good place for day trips and for those who are interested in outdoor activities such as rock climbing and trekking, the Araku Valley is a good option. The area of the valley is roughly 36-km and the altitude is between 600 and 900m above the sea level.

Araku Valley is fast becoming a popular tourist destination and is among the most beautiful places in the State. The climate is pleasant throughout the year and can be visited even during the winter months. The natural beauty of this valley comes alive with its rich landscape. Araku Valley is also a host for many Tollywood films like Happy Days, Katha, Darling, and many more.

Araku Valley is famous for the various plantations that can be seen in the area. Araku Vally coffee plantations produce coffee seeds that are used for both domestic purposes as well as export. For every traveller it gives a wonderful and a unique experience.

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. Traveling on train gives you a memorable experience. A total of forty-one tunnels and numerous bridges will greet you on the way.

VISITING PLACES AT ARAKU:

There are some more beautiful places that you can visit during your stay in the valley.

Borra Caves:

Borra Caves are enroute to Araku Valley and it many prefer touching both the places in a single go! The Caves are just 29 Km on road from Araku Valley. Rock at Borra Caves date back to about 150 million years. Situated at 1400 mts above sea level, Borra Caves were discovered by William King George of the Geological Survey of India in the year 1807.

At Padmapuram Gardens, Araku valley

Padmapuram Gardens:

Padmapuram Botanical Gardens is a historic garden located on the Araku Road. Initially, the purpose of this garden was to provide vegetable supplies to the soldiers, who fought in the Second World War.

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. The garden also encompasses a rose garden.

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

Tribal Museum

Tribal museum:

There is a tribal museum on tribal heritage, living system and culture. The Araku Tribal Museum, houses some of the rich artefacts, related to the Eastern Ghats Tribal Culture.

Chaaparai

Chaaparai:

There is one more picnic spot called Dumbriguda Waterfalls ( Chaaparai ). Chaaparai is a well known picnic spot in Araku valley. This spot is only 15 Kms from Araku. A scenic place with water falls and surrounding forest area makes people relax and spend their holiday joyfully. Usually people who visit Araku valley won't miss this place as it is very nearer to the main Araku valley place.

Coffee Plantations On Ananthagiri Hills:

On the way to Araku you come across the Ananthagiri Hills that are famous for coffee plantations. The tall Eucalyptus trees forms thick forest, making home to various species of birds. To be amidst the nature, to enjoy the pleasure and serenity it offers, Araku is listed as the unsurpassed destination.

Anantagiri water falls

Anantagiri water falls:

Ananthagiri water fall is one of the most popular tourist destinations of Araku. Anantagiri water fall is 30 KM from Araku.

Tyda:

Tyda is a small village nestling in the wooded hills of the Eastern Ghats, on the way to Araku from Vizag. This is an eco-tourism project launched jointly by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) and the State Forests Department. The prime highlight of this eco-tourism project is a beautiful forest resort called Jungle Bells situated at a height of 2000 feet above the sea-level. This place is a natural bounty of flora and fauna, It is now home to an enchanting date with untouched nature. The camp provides great view of Eastern Ghats, facilities for trekking, hiking and bird watching in addition to accommodation in log huts amidst serene surroundings.

ACCOMMODATION:

• Cottages and Guesthouses
• Cottages and R & B guesthouse
• A.P Tourism's Mayuri complex.
• There are many other hotels and resorts where we get accommodation in lesser cost even.

TRANSPORTATION

• The valley is connected through both rail and road to the city of Vishakapatnam. There are two railway stations at Araku and Araku Valley on the Kothavalasa-Kirandul railway line of Visakhapatnam division of the East Coast Railway, on the Indian Railways network.
• There is Rail cum Road package ( popularly known as RR package ) of AP toursim is one of the best tour to cover Araku. This exciting train journey along with the return road journey becomes one of the best way to visit Araku and Borra caves. This package of AP tourism includes train journey upto Araku and then return by road including local site seeing at Araku , Borra caves including food and snacks. This tour starts from Visakhapatnam Railway station at morning 6 AM and ends at same day night 8 PM at Visakhapatnam city. All entry tickets for the Padmapuram botanical Garden Araku, tribal museum Araku, Borra Caves are included in the package.
• The Price is Rs 700 /- for adults and Rs 550 /- for kids (during all seasons).

HOW TO GET THERE?

My self, Balaji, Rajesh, Ramesh, and Naresh at Tribal huts

By Air

• The nearest airport is Vishakhapatnam at a distance of 112-km.

By Rail

• Araku has a railhead.

By Road

• Bus service is available from Vishakhapatnam. A.P Tourism also conducts excursion trip from Vishakhapatnam everyday.

Tree top cottages at Padmapuram gardens

MY TRAVEL ITINERARY:

• I plan to travel Araku valley from Hyderabad with my friends Rajesh, Naresh, Ramesh and Balaji.
• We went Visakhapatnam by Falaknuma express, the train reach at 3:40 AM.
• There we catch another train Kirandul passenger to Araku valley. The train starts at 6:50 AM from Visakhapatnam.
• The journey to Araku valley is the most enjoying as the train passes through tunnels, hill sides and greenaries.
• We get down at Araku valley station.
• There we book tribal huts.
• After fresh up and lunch visit the Chapurai, tribal museum and Padmapuram gardens. Overnight stay at Araku valley.
• We got up early morning the next day, after breakfast check out of the resort and return back to Visakhapatnam.
• Enroute visit Ananthagiri coffee plantations, Galikonda view point, Borracaves and finally reach Visakhapatnam to return to Hyderabad.
• You can visit Araku anytime in the year and in the months of winter (October to February) it is better to spend a fort night here after your sweet will.
• I enjoyed each and every moment there with the mesmering nature.
• This surely was one of the best places in India.

CAUTION:

There are only two mobile connectivity - BSNL and AirTel. If you have any phone calls to make, please make them before Araku. Once we reach Araku, there will be no mobile connectivity.