Araku Valley is hill station in the North Coast region of Andhra Pradesh in Southern India. In 2011, it was home to 57,000 people. It is a coffee plantation, and there is also a honey industry.
Understand.
Araku is blessed with enchanting beauty of the hills and greenery, interspersed with streams and rivulets. The morning fog is particularly lovely here. This area is often referred to as Ooty of Andhra. It is a valley in the Eastern Ghats inhabited by several tribes.
Get in
Train: the railways operate a daily train at 7:05AM from Vishakapatnam Railway Station.
Buses: there are buses that operate from APSRTC that have a daily tour as well as normal operations.
Car: you can also hire a taxi or car for as much as ₹2500 for a round trip and a night stay at Araku.
Get around
Take a walk around the small town in the early morning while the fog is still there to catch the beauty of a hill station.
See
- Greenery, mountains, scenery.
- Padmarao Gardens, Free Water Channel ('chepa raaya' in Telugu).
- The Borra Caves are near this valley.
- Museum of Tribal Arts
- Coffee museum, which is just outside Mayuri Resort (Andhra Pradesh Tourism), is also 1 min walk from the Araku Bus Stand. It covers the history of coffee plantations and also sells coffee.
Do
Eat
Bamboo chicken is a local specialty. Indian, Chinese, Continental and as well as local South Indian dishes are also available here.
Drink
Aruku valley has coffee plantations, and you can taste their coffee at Aruku valley coffee house near to the bus station in Aruku
Sleep
- Andhra Tourism Resort.
- Dhimsa Resorts, Phones: 08936-249555, 08936-249786
- Hill Park Resorts.
- Haritha Valley Resort, Phones: 089362 49202, (free breakfast, Wifi)
- RRK Resort, Phone: 086883 09090
- Tyada (on Araku-Vizag road). AP tourism runs a resort a there, which is the only place to stay there.