Scenic Araku

One of the best train rides in one of world’s largest Railway Networks, comprising of 115,000 km, is the trail through the beautiful forest of lush green Eastern Ghats, leading to the Valley shrouded in mist and silence, located amidst Araku town, some 115km north of Vizag. The area is home to isolated tribal communities and known for its tasty organic coffee and charming emerald countryside, which can offer you a lifestyle of solace and tranquility and delight for your sight. The most popular transit to the valley is the railway, 58501 Visakhapatnam Kirandul Passenger train that leaves Vizag in the morning. 58502 the down-train, which returns from Araku to Vizag, reaches by afternoon. Hourly bus and taxi day trip services are also available from Vizag. There are varied tours that include tribal dance performance and a visit to the million-year-old limestone Borra Caves, 38km before Araku.

At Araku town explore the culture and tradition in the Museum of Habitat, next to the bus station, and further 2km east of the train station, the extensive exhibits of eastern Andhra Pradesh's tribal people; hark for you to explore the indigenous habitat, including mock-ups of hunting, ceremonial and other acts. Around the exhibit area, enjoy the local coffee and chocolate-covered coffee beans at Araku Valley Coffee House, and browse through tribal crafts at Araku Aadiwasi Arts & Crafts. On Fridays you may mingle with the village crowd into Araku for the weekly market. A stark contrast to this beautiful place, is the oddly unfriendly Hotels, are halfway between the train and bus stations. You can have clean, reasonably-sized rooms, serving good Indian meals.

Araku Valley is a tantalizing picturesque hill station in the district of Vishakhapatnam in the southern state of India, Andhra Pradesh. Famous for its expanse of coffee plantation, the valley is surrounded by green hills, lush valleys in different shades of avocado, so exiting and cajoling to the senses that it will absorb you in its wilderness of virgin forests around, the moment you visit Araku. Located in the country’s Eastern Ghats, it is at an average altitude of 911 meters above sea level and is at a distance of 115 km from the humdrum of the city of Vishakhapatnam to give you the perfect location to have an escape from the mundane life.

Although, it is mainly about the natural beauty of the place that attracts people around India and abroad, but it is not all that you see. The journey to the valley creates an equally enthralling impact to the senses that, while passing through dense forest and scenic hills and valleys, imaginations will tumble down your mind like honey from a tub. When you are at about a distance of 29 km, the Borra caves will greet your sight, with its famous million-year old stalactites and stalagmites. These natural wonders will mesmerize you under the spell of the inexplicable nature at its best.

Detour to the Ananthagiri hills, which is known for its coffee plantation. This will rather take you to the Araku Valley. Apart from coffee plantation, the hill itself is popular for its forests, lovely orchards and the serene environment, which will bring the much-required solace to your soul that rather surrounded by gizmos and gadgets of our modern living. It has also been a preferred destination for the nature lovers and adventure seekers, as it is perfect for trekking trips in the beautiful view of the landscape around. Spot the streams and waterfalls that will surprise you with all its beauty, drifting down the lofty meadows, wild hills and deep woods. They add to the beauty of the place. The Sangda waterfall is one of such beautiful waterfalls; you would never want to miss. In fact, Araku is a bouquet of love from nature that anyone would embrace and experience the touch of God.

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