Araku Valley in Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam as many refers to ‘Vizag’ is one of the most sought-after tourist spots in southern India with its varied culture and offerings. Right from the RK Beach to Dolphin’s Nose to Araku Valley, it forms a perfect blend of a city with commercial as well as simple sights.
Overview of Araku Valley
A renowned hill station that attracts a lot of tourists every year is Araku Valley. A beautiful valley with varied tribes and not being as commercial as other places in and around the city in the Eastern Ghats adds on its purity and pristine sights.
The Araku Valley which comprises reserved forests like Anantagiri & Sunkarimetta is rich in its bio-diversity, surrounded by mountains like Sunkarimetta, Raktakonda, Chitamogondi, and Galikonda. Araku Valley stands as an unexplored valley located 120 km from Vizag city.
A scenic place with waterfalls and streams flowing on the lines of the roads and train tracks. With the train tracks going through various tunnels, hillsides & streams, the journey to Araku Valley becomes a joyous one.
Places near Araku Valley
There are various tourist spots in and around Araku valley which could be visited in a few hours like Chaparai, Borra Caves, various Coffee plantations & Galikondalu viewpoint. “Araku Emarald” is one of the famous coffee brands sold globally.
Borra Caves is located in Araku Valley and is spread over an area of 1 sq. KM with River Gosthani’s Waterfalls origin flowing through the district. Beautiful Landscape, thick dense forest, fauna & hilly terrain are a visual feast.
There is another waterfall known for its serene sights which could be visited by rugged jeeps as they are the most convenient in those muddy pathways. Chaparai is another scenic place with waterfalls with surrounding forests very near to Araku Valley and is suggested to be not missed.
The tree-top cottages in Padmapuram Garden located in the green lush valley are another main attraction. Few other picnic spots are the Dumbriguda Waterfalls & Katiki Waterfalls along with Thatiguda & Chaparai amongst a few.
Weather in Araku Valley
The Weather is generally cooler as compared to Vizag however not similar to a hill station. It does have its own maximum temperature of 42 Degree Celsius with 12-14 Degree Celsius during summers and winters respectively. The typical tropical weather of the city and Araku Valley makes it a pleasant destination all time of the year.
Transport to Araku
There is only one train going from Vizag to Araku i.e. the Vizag-Kirendul passenger train or you could make the trip on road. The road drive is with various twists, turns, and hairpin bends giving an enthralling experience to adrenal junkies.
Araku Valley is the most charming and fun to be with during summers however some might agree that it has its reasons to be visited across seasons. A must-visit to all the tourists as it provides ensemble reasons for us to have a joyous holiday.