About Araku Valley

Country: India | State: Andhra

Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days

Nearest City to Araku Valley: Vizag (112 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Araku Valley: September to May

Peak Season: September & March to May

At a distance of 112 km from Vizag, 432 km from Vijayawada, 85 km from Vizianagaram, 26 km from Anantagiri and 635 km from Hyderabad, Araku Valley, popularly known as Araku, is a scenic hill station in the Vishakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. Often referred to as Andhra Ooty, it is one of the most famous places to experince Andhra Pradesh tourism and is one of the top attractions you must include in Vizag tour packages.

Located on the Eastern Ghats at an altitude range of 900 to 1400 meters above sea level, Araku Valley is home to a number of tribal communities. Spread over an area of 36 sq. km, Araku is a perfect tourist destination with pleasant climate, lush greenery, waterfalls and streams. It is popular for its famous coffee plantations.

Araku has some interesting places to visit including Borra caves, Tyda, Katiki Falls, Tribal Museum & Padmapuram Botanical Gardens. Besides, these the coffee plantations are a must visit for those who want to indulge themselves in the flavors of nature. The tourists can see tribal folk dances like Dhimsa and Mayuri. The Araku Tribal Museum houses rich tribal tradition and number of artifacts and displays related to Eastern Ghat Tribal Culture.

The Anantagiri Reserved Forest and Sunkarimetta Reserved Forest are part of the Araku Valley. This valley is surrounded by mountains like Galikonda, Raktakonda, Sunkarimetta and Chitamogondi. Jindhagada Peak, the tallest peak in Eastern Ghats and the tallest in Andhra Pradesh is situated near Araku. The Anantagiri hills on the way to Araku Valley are famous for coffee plantations. The hill is also popular for its forests, lovely orchards and the serene environment. The valley is also a perfect place for trekking and it offers several interesting trails. Most known and popular trekking trails go through dense forests to the summit but a few adventurous trails go through many streams and are ideal to view breathtaking waterfalls like the Katiki waterfall.

The train journey from Vizag to Araku is a memorable experience with 46 tunnels, several bridges through lush green valleys. Araku is famous for the mustard flowers that change the landscape of the valley from green to yellow in the months of November & December. Several accommodation facilities are available here. AP Tourism runs very good resorts in Araku, called Valley Resort (also called Yatri Nivas).

Vizag airport is the nearest airport, which is about 107 km from Araku. Araku valley is connected through both rail and road to the city of Visakhapatnam. There are two railway stations at Araku on the Kothavalasa-Kirandul railway line of Visakhapatnam division of the East Coast Railway. Shimiliguda railway station is located at an altitude of 996 m above mean sea level. It is well connected to Vizag and Kirandul. Araku has frequent buses from Vizag and Vizianagaram.

The best time to visit Araku Valley is from September to May while the peak season is September & March to May. Usually it takes 1-2 days to visit all the places in and around Araku Valley.

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Average
STD Code: 08936
Languages Spoken: Telugu, English, Hindi
Major Festivals: Details Not Available
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Araku Valley

By Air

Nearest Airport: Vizag - Vizag Airport (107 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Araku Railway Station (0 Kms)
Vizag Railway Station (112 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Araku Bus Station (1 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Araku Valley

#1 of 20 Places to Visit in Araku Valley

At a distance of 36 km from Araku, 88 km from Vizag & 662 km from Hyderabad, Borra Caves are one million year-old limestone caves and the deepest caves in the country. Situated in Anantagiri hills of Andhra Pradesh, the caves are situated at an altitude of 1400 m and occupy an area of 2 sq.km. Borra Caves is one of the best places to visit in Araku Valley as part of Vizag packages.

These natural caves were discovered in 1807 by William King George of the Geological Survey of India. According to locals, once a cowherd lost his cow while grazing. He soon realized that his cow had fallen down. While searching for the cow, the cowherd found these caves and came across a Linga inside it. The Linga is considered synonymous to Lord Shiva, who saved the cow. After this, a small Shiva temple was built right outside this cave.

The caves are filled with fascinating stalagmite and stalactite .....

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#2 of 20 Places to Visit in Araku Valley

At a distance of 26 km from Araku, 85 km from Vizag & 660 km from Hyderabad, Anantagiri is a lovely tiny hill station between Vizag and Araku Valley. It is one of the top tourist places to visit in Araku Valley and is also among the top hill station in Andhra Pradesh apart from being a popular weekend getaway from Vizag city.

At an altitude of 1168 meters, Anantagiri is famous for extensive coffee plantations and numerous waterfalls. There is a view point on the way to Anantagiri on main road that offers excellent views of the deep valleys on one side and coffee plantations on the other side.

Anantagiri Hills are well known for its scenic beauty and charming weather. It is a perfect gateway to spend some time amidst the lap of nature. Anantagiri is paradise for coffee lovers and nature enthusiasts. The village is surrounded by coffee estates that emit the rich aroma of coffee and .....

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#3 of 20 Places to Visit in Araku Valley

At a distance of 13 km from Araku Bus Stand, Chaaparai is a beautiful water cascade situated on Paderu - Araku Road in Vishakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. Also known as Dumbriguda Waterfalls, it is a scenic place surrounded by forests and is one of the popular Araku Tourist Places.

Chaparai Waterfalls is a popular tourist attraction, with its endless streams that cut across big rock formations of Araku Valley. The area around the waterfalls has become a popular site for picnicking, owing to the presence of the beautiful stream flowing through wide rock formations. Smooth slanting rocks interrupt the stream, making a huge natural water slide. This waterfall is highly attractive and allures lots of tourists. This waterfall is one of the preferred locations for Telugu filmmakers.

One can experience the beauty of water gushing through natural rocks. Bathing is well possible when the water flow is not really heavy. It is recommended not to enter into the water in monsoon .....

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#4 of 20 Places to Visit in Araku Valley

At a distance of 200 m from Araku Bus Station, Araku Tribal Museum is a wonderful place which explores the tribal culture of Eastern Ghats. It is one of the top tourist places to visit in Araku Valley.

The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation established this museum in 1996. Araku Valley boasts of 19 tribes that live in the vicinity of the town. The purpose of the museum is to create awareness about tribal culture and lifestyle. Araku Tribal Museum is not a historical place but offers information about the tribes that currently live here.

Araku Tribal Museum is spread over two levels, built with mud and real metals to portray tribal life. The museum has been designed to showcase tribal lifestyle in motion, starting with a kitchen that displays utensils made of iron and mud. A series of 10 photographs capturing the wedding ceremony of the tribal is very interesting at the entrance. The passages within the museum that connect various sections are constructed of mud .....

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#5 of 20 Places to Visit in Araku Valley

At a distance of 7 km from Borra Caves, 39 km from Araku, 90 km from Vizag & 665 km from Hyderabad, Katiki or Katika Waterfall is magnificent waterfall situated near Borra Caves in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the best waterfalls in Araku and also among the top places to visit in Araku.

The name of the falls is derived from the name of the village nearby. Katiki waterfall is formed by the Gosthani River and it cascading down from a height of 100+ feet. The pond at the bottom of the waterfall is an excellent place for taking a bath after a tough trek to the place. It has to be reached by 20-30 minutes trek (one way) through lush forest and upwards to mountain top from the nearest motorable road. Cooking and camping are also permitted at this place. This is also a good place for trekking.

To reach Katiki falls from Araku, you have to take Borra Caves road at Mulyaguda junction between Araku and Visakhapatnam (around 30 km from Araku, after Anantagiri). .....

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#8 of 20 Places to Visit in Araku Valley

At a distance of 17 km from Araku Valley Bus Stand, Galikonda View Point is a stunning vantage point situated in Araku, Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the must-include places in Araku Valley tour packages.

Perched at an elevation of 4,320 feet in the scenic Araku region, Galikonda Viewpoint stands as the highest point in the Visakhapatnam district and the second highest peak in the Eastern Ghats. This viewpoint is celebrated for its stunning panoramic vistas that encompass the surrounding hills, valleys, rivers, streams, railway tracks, and hillocks.

Visitors to the viewpoint are treated to a sweeping landscape that highlights the verdant foliage and undulating hills characteristic of the Eastern Ghats. Many travelers prefer to visit during the early morning hours when a veil of mist envelops the hills, creating an enchanting ambiance. As dawn breaks, the scenery bursts into a vibrant array of colors, providing an excellent .....

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#9 of 20 Places to Visit in Araku Valley

At a distance of 100 m from Araku Valley Bus Stand, the Coffee Museum is a unique museum located in Araku. It is one of the must-include places in Araku honeymoon packages.

The Araku Coffee Museum offers an insightful exploration of the history of coffee within the stunning Araku Valley. Established in the 1950s by Prakash Rao, a migrant to the region, the Araku Coffee House began as a catering venture. Over time, it evolved into a small museum known as the Sampoorna Coffee Gallery, which opened its doors to the public in 2006. The museum invites visitors on a historical journey, detailing the discovery of coffee and its development across various cultures. From its origins in Ethiopia to its extensive cultivation in India, the exhibits are both educational and captivating.

Coffee enthusiasts will find it particularly rewarding to discover the diverse methods of coffee cultivation, harvesting, and processing .....

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#10 of 20 Places to Visit in Araku Valley

At a distance of 14 km from Araku Valley Bus Stand, Sunkarimetta Nature Trail, or Sunkarimetta Wooden Bridge is a serene places located near Sunkarimetta village, Araku. It is one of the must-include places in Araku Valley honeymoon packages.

The Sunkarametta Nature Trail, located in Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh, features a nature walk, eco-friendly bridges, and a coffee trail. This 3 km nature walk, which traverses a narrow wooden bridge, meanders through coffee plantations and mango trees. Tourists can easily navigate and closely observe the plantation area while strolling along the bridge.

Concealed within the lush expanse of Anantagiri's coffee plantations, the wooden bridge beckons visitors to immerse themselves in nature. Known as Aranya, this 120-meter-long wooden bridge, constructed by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation, serves as more than just a pathway; it offers a unique experience. .....

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#11 of 20 Places to Visit in Araku Valley

At a distance of 22 km from Araku, Araku Coffee Plantations are the sprawling coffee plantations situated at Ananthagiri near Araku. It is one of the must-include places in Araku Valley family packages.

Coffee plantations situated on the Ananthagiri Hills are an essential destination, particularly for those visiting Araku, among the top places to visit near Vizag. As you approach the Araku Valley, the captivating hills of Ananthagiri unfold, revealing extensive stretches of coffee estates. The invigorating scent of freshly ground coffee permeates the air, awakening your senses as it drifts through the valley.

These plantations are deeply rooted in the history of the tribes residing in the Araku Valley. The introduction of coffee to Araku in 1920 by the British marked a significant turning point, providing the tribes with a means to integrate into .....

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#6 of 20 Places to Visit in Araku Valley

At a distance of 2.5 km from Araku Bus Station, Padmapuram Gardens is a popular botanical garden situated in Araku. It is one of the well-known places of sightseeing in Araku Valley.

The garden was built in 1942 on a 26-acre plot to supply vegetables to the soldiers who fought in World War II. After the War, it was converted into a Horticultural Nursery cum Training Center where orchards, rare species of flowers and trees, tree houses and stone sculptures greet the eye.

A pleasurable way of seeing the gardens is to get on to the Araku Express toy train, popular with visitors to the gardens. Along with the toy train, the garden also contains tree top huts, which can be booked by the tourists. These tree huts, also known as hanging cottages, are ten feet above the ground level. It is a thrilling experience to stay in a hanging cottage and one can experience a rare swing as the tree sways to a heavy breeze. A beautiful rose garden and exotic varieties of plants form the chief .....

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