It is a non-tourist area, but of incredible beauty, important for coffee plantations, pepper or for being a filming place for Tollywood movies (Telugu movies, the language of the region). To the furthest extent that your eyes can go, you will see every last bit of land in Araku Valley covered with vegetation. It is probably the best spot to visit in Vizag for nature enthusiasts.
Araku Valley is a hill station in Andhra Pradesh, which is surrounded by mountains and rain forests. As the climate here is cool, so it's an excellent place to visit in summer. It's best to visit here in March, as it's spring season and there are also many festivals. The famous attractions are the Araku valley caves and Bhairavakonda Wildlife Sanctuary.
1. Araku Valley
Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh is not so popular as a tourist site, but definitely worth to see. In the region there are some wild tribes living in the mountains (you can see them in the city sometimes). The place is a famous Tollywood movie shooting location, with quite a few waterfalls and the impressive Borra cave.
Do not forget to enter the Borra caves, which are one million years old, with splendid stalagmites and stalactites. The city is surrounded by ancient Buddhist centers, most of them recently discovered. The list includes places such as Thotlakonda, Bavikonda, Sankaram, Pavuralakonda and Gopalapatnam. Nagarjunasagar has a rich and interesting past.
It is also known for the coffee plantations and the views are just so beautiful!
It is a famous hill station located at a distance of 120KM from the city. It is famous for it's scenic beauty and it's wonderful atmosphere. October to March is said to be the best time to visit this tourist attraction. One may reach through train or by road. Through both the ways the journey is pleasurable. And, if you are a foodie and a chicken lover don't miss the famous delicacy of Araku Bongulo chicken which means chicken cooked in bamboo.
The train ride to Vishakapatnam along the Araku Valley was promising because it takes place in wild landscapes and impressive peaks but because of the world on the train I did not manage to find place of the side advises by the guidebook. So I did not see much of this valley that made me dream on the map.
After the non-linear journey to Araku and having found a guesthouse shaped like a hut to make it look tribal, which is bogus because the Adivasis live in rectangular houses, I looked for adivasis and their local instruments. I bought small flutes and a bat-stick, as well as some memories.
2. Tribal Museum
Go to the Tribal Museum in Araku. It is very well presented, although a little dusty, but there is very little explanation written and none on the music part.
3. Borra Caves
Borra caves are about 1,000,000 years old. The caves are too interesting as they are illuminated by floodlights of all colors. Inside, there are also two small temples. For history lovers, Borra caves are probably the best spot to visit in Visakhapatnam. Set in the midst of the Ananthagiri Hills in Araku Valley, it is viewed as perhaps the biggest cave in the country and is situated at a height of around 705 meters.
The caves were found way back in 1807, and from that point onward, they've become a famous vacation spot. Made of Karstic limestone, explorers can observe the genuine magnificence of these designs when the natural sunlight clears its way in. Being multicolored in nature, sightseers can likewise appreciate the cryptic magnificence of evergreen woodlands, grand scenery, and the amazing perspectives that encompass the Borra caves.
4. Katika waterfalls
Katiki Waterfalls is one place that should be on your Visakhapatnam touring list. Gosthani River is the primary source of this waterfall. This beautiful waterfall is around 50 feet, and is encircled by lavish vegetation in Araku Valley. Travelers can go around places close to the waterfall. This is one of the places of interest that you can consider as a real part of the visit to Araku. This is among the most wonderful waterfalls close to Vizag.
It is located at 7 KMs distance from Borra caves. This waterfalls has formed by Gosthani river and cascades down at a height of 100+ feet. The pond at the bottom is an excellent place for taking a bath. And it is also a good place for trekking.
