ARAKU VALLEY TOURISM | TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT & TRAVEL GUIDE TO 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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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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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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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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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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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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At a distance of 30 km from Araku, 3 km from Anantagiri village, Tadimada waterfalls, also known as Anantagiri Waterfalls is a charming waterfall situated near Anantagiri town in Vizag district of Andhra Pradesh. It one of the best waterfalls in Araku and also one of the top tourist attractions in Araku.

With a height of about 100 feet, Anantagiri falls offer best views in monsoon season. The best way to reach these waterfalls is by walking / trekking from Anantagiri. The falls is about 1-2 km away from the main road between Anantagiri and Araku Valley (after about 1.5 km from Anantagiri). The approach road from main road is very narrow and bumpy. Only SUVs can manage well on this road. It's advisable to walk to these falls from Anantagiri - Araku main road which takes about 20 minutes. The road is almost flat and anyone can manage to walk easily.

The rocks near the falls are very slippery and should be careful while getting on to the rocks. Though swimming is possible, water .....

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At a distance of 35 Kms from Araku Valley, Masthyagundam, also called as 'fish pool' is an interesting pool on the Machkund River near the village of Matham (15 kms from Paderu)

A barrier of rocks runs right across the river and the stream plunges into a great hole and vanishes beneath this to reappear again at about 100 yards lower down. Just where it emerges under the barrier, it forms a pool which is crowded with fish of all sizes. Now, steps have been formed and one can straight go up to the pool. These are wonderfully tame and feed fearlessly from one's hand. They even let you pat their backs. Here, the tribal and other people venerate the fish. There is a small Siva temple on the bank of the river.

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At a distance of 70 Kms from Araku, Duduma Falls (also known as Matsya Tirtha) on Machkund River is located in Orissa state close to Munchingiputtu village of Visakhapatnam District. With a height of 520 feet, this is one of the most popular waterfalls in Orissa state.

The tourism department has started focusing on this destination and can see some facilities here going forward. Nearby Jalaput Dam on Machkund River offers spectacular views.

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At a distance of about 3 km from Padmapuram Gardens and 6 km from Araku Bus station, Araku Waterfalls, also known as Ranajilleda falls is lovely and little known waterfalls situated near Ranajilleda Village near Araku.

At a height of over 60 feet, Araku Waterfalls is one of the best waterfalls in Araku Valley. Named after Ranajilleda village, this falls is located on mountain peak and about 10-15 minutes trekking is required to reach the falls from nearest motorable road.

To reach the falls, one has to drive straight from Padmapuram Gardens till Ranajilleda village from where the falls can be reached by trekking the summit. Best time to visit these falls is the post monsoon season.

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