Araku Valley, a hill station, and valley in the state of Andhra Pradesh. A valley in the Eastern Ghats inhabited by different tribes.,Known for its lush greenery and mountains, Araku lies 114 kms from Visakhapatnam or Vizag. Located close to Odisha state border the valley is surrounded by lush green forest cover thanks to Anantagiri and Sunkarimetta reserve forest. Araku Valley is connected to all major and minor cities and towns in India by road, rail, and sea through Vizag.
Araku is the staging point to visit Lamsingi or Lambsingi 94 kms away, the only place in South India that experiences snowfall in winter. Lambsingi village is located at a height of over 1000 meters meaning the weather is pleasant throughout the year, thus snow here is a major tourist attraction. the picturesque valley offers peace and tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The charisma attached to this place has been successful in luring tourists from around the globe. Besides coffee, tourists can shop for chocolate, sweets, tribal art, and handicraft in Araku. Tourism in Araku is famous for a place to relax and enjoy nature.
There are a few tourist spots in Araku waiting to be explored including the caves of Borra, Tyda, Katiki Falls, Tribal Museum & Padmapuram Botanical Gardens. Other places worth visiting are Chaparai and Galikondalu viewpoint. The Galikonda hill has the distinction of being the tallest hill in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The scenic beauty of Araku makes it a favorite shooting spot for films. The valley also boasts of growing the first sustainable coffee brand by Indian tribal farmers. Araku doesn’t disappoint adventure enthusiasts either because it’s a trekking and camping even. Traveling through Araku on trains winding through picturesque valleys and tunnels is worth it.
A chance of traveling through the valley on a bike or car draws adventure enthusiasts from all over the world. Hotair ballon is also worth trying. The valley enjoys a pleasant climate all year long, with days being warm and nights cool and crispy. Araku is a must-see when considering a ride to Vizag. Araku is the tagging point for travel to Jeypore, Odisha to visit Duduma waterfalls as well as Jagdalpu, Chhattisgarh to visit the Tirathgarh and Chitrakoot waterfalls 200 kms away. Also worth visiting is the Sri Mahalingeshwara Swamy temple, Anathgiri hills, and Bheemunipatnam beach.
There are a few hotels and resorts in Araku that offer luxurious, mid-range, and budget accommodation to tourists.. The restaurants offer authentic Andhra cuisine. The best time to visit the picturesque valley is in the summer and winter seasons. Araku is also famous for its coffee plantation and India’s first tribal growers’ organic coffee brand. Another attraction of the valley is hanging cottages of Padmapuram Gardens. Araku is well known for its waterfalls namely Katiki waterfall, Tadimada Waterfalls, Chapara waterfall, Sangda waterfall, and Dumbriguda waterfalls. Also, worth visiting is the Borra caves. The tour around the valley with lush green rice fields on both side of the road are mesmerizing..If planning to visit such places. Visit to Araku is a beautiful experience.
