Nestled in the heart of Andhra Pradesh, the stunning Araku Valley is one of the most beautiful tourist stopovers near Visakhapatnam. Bordered by towering mountains and lush forests, the valley makes for an ideal spot to relax and nourish your soul. Located at a height of 2,990 ft, the mountain ranges of the Eastern Ghats make for a great escape for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. The most popular attraction in the valley is Chaparai Waterfall, also known as Dumbriguda Falls. It is situated at a distance of 5 km from the valley and serves as a popular picnic spot. Tourists visiting the valley can also visit Araku Tribal Museum, which gives a detailed insight into the lives of the people of Araku Valley by taking you through their rich history.
There is a railway station at Araku Valley and a passenger train leaves daily from Vishakhapatnam railway station for Araku Valley. The journey takes about seven hours. After reaching the railway station, you can hire a cab, a bus or any other means of transport to reach your destination or go sightseeing.
The best suggested time for visiting Araku valley is between September to February. It gets quiet cold here after December and the temperature often goes as down as 4 degree Celsius. That said, many tourists prefer visiting Araku after August, mostly just after the monsoons. There is a charm about driving through its lush green fields, with the familiar smell of wet soil and the yellow surface layer of the washed harvest till horizon.
Araku Valley is a comparatively unexplored hill station mostly visited by locals as a weekend getaway and is situated some 120 kilometres away from Vishakhapatnam. If you're a tourist looking for exclusivity and tranquillity, Vistadome train leaves Vishakhapatnam at 6.50 AM, making way through 58 tunnels and passing over 84 bridges making way through the breathtaking landscape to reach Araku in approximately in 5 hours, go, catch that!
Located in the gentle hills of Eastern Ghats, Araku Valley is also home to a number of tribes as well. This valley is also home to a few tribal caves and the Museum of Tribal Arts, which are an experience in their own right. This destination is quite famous for its exquisite coffee, whose subtle aroma will have you craving for a cuppa. In addition to being a beautiful vista point, you can also try your hand at a number of adventure sports here, which include trekking and swimming as well. If a holiday to the hills is your call but you think you've seen it all, maybe you should to wait till you visit this one.