BEST OF 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 .....

At a distance of 8 km from Araku Valley Bus Stand, Araku Pinery is an eco-tourist place situated at Anjoda. It is one of the most prominent places to visit as part of the Araku Valley luxury packages.

Araku Pinery represents a new eco-tourism venture launched in 2023 by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, and is managed by the Van Sanrakshan Samiti of Araku. This unique governmental initiative is situated on a picturesque pine plantation that overlooks the valley, developed at an investment of 1.06 crore. Formerly recognized as Anjoda Silk Farm, the site has rapidly gained popularity for pre-wedding and film shoots since its opening.

Spanning an area of 27 acres, Araku Pinery is one of the few locations showcasing the towering tropical pine trees that were initially planted in 1975-76 by the Research and Development wing of the Forest Department as part of a trial project known as Pinatum. Nestled within .....

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 .....

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 .....

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. .....

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 .....

At a distance of 28 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 .....

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 .....

At a distance of 65 Kms from Vizag, 55 Kms from Araku & 632 Kms from Hyderabad, the Tatipudi Reservoir is located near Srungavarapukoda (also called S Kota) town situated between Vizag and Araku Valley in Vizianagaram district.

The Reservoir was built in 1963 across River Gosthani to provide drinking water facility to the Vizag City. This location is very beautiful with lush green mountains on all the sides. Boating facility is available. Several migrant birds make this reservoir their home in the months of April/May.

The Reservoir is about 10 Kms from S Kota and can be reached via Kothavooru and Krishnapuram (while coming from Vizag), or via Tennuboddavara and Tadupudi village (while coming from Araku). Private vehicles can be hired by S Kota town to reach this place.

This place can be visited while going to Araku or during return to Vizag with 1-2 Hours additional effort .....