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Araku Valley

Araku Valley

hill station · Andhra Pradesh

State
Andhra Pradesh
Type
Hill Station
Best season
Winter
Things to do
2+

Araku Valley is a lush coffee-growing hill region in the Eastern Ghats near Visakhapatnam, reached by one of India's most scenic train journeys through tunnels and viaducts. Known for tribal culture, coffee plantations, waterfalls and the Borra Caves, it is Andhra's favourite hill escape.

When to go

Best visited October to March; summers can be hot.

Why visit

The train up from Visakhapatnam is the reason to come — hours of tunnels and viaducts on one of the highest broad-gauge lines in the country. Borra Caves and the tribal-grown coffee are what you do after you arrive.

Cultural notes

Home to several Adivasi tribes, Araku is known for its tribal Dhimsa dance, coffee cultivation and a strong indigenous culture showcased at its tribal museum.

How to reach

Reached by a famously scenic train ride or road from Visakhapatnam (~115 km), the nearest airport and major rail hub.

2 days in Araku Valley

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Day 1

Day 1

Scenic train from Visakhapatnam

Scenic train from Visakhapatnam

Borra Caves

Day 1

Borra Caves

Million-year-old limestone caves with dramatic stalactite formations.

Day 1

Coffee Museum & plantations

Coffee Museum & plantations

Day 2

Day 2

Tribal Museum & Dhimsa dance

Tribal Museum & Dhimsa dance

Day 2

Katiki waterfall

Katiki waterfall

Day 2

Padmapuram Gardens

Padmapuram Gardens

Day 2

Bamboo-chicken lunch

Bamboo-chicken lunch

Araku Valley guide & itineraries

Araku Valley is perfect for

naturecouplesfamilyadventure

What & where to eat

Araku coffee

Estate-fresh tribal-grown coffee

Roasted corn

Roadside bites

bamboo snacks

Roadside bites

Bamboo Chicken (Bongulo Kodi)

Chicken cooked inside bamboo, an Araku specialty

Tribal millet meals

Millet and forest-produce dishes

rice

Simple, warming hill meals

Rajma

Simple, warming hill meals

Nearby getaways

Visakhapatnam

~3.5 hrs

Lambasingi

~3 hrs

Frequently asked questions

How do I reach Araku Valley?
A scenic 3-4 hour train or drive from Visakhapatnam through the Eastern Ghats, past tunnels and Borra Caves.
What is Araku known for?
Tribal-grown coffee, the Borra Caves, waterfalls and the scenic railway from Vizag.

Things to do

How to spend your time in Araku Valley.

Coffee plantations & museum

Tribal coffee country and the coffee museum

Vizag-Araku train ride

Scenic railway through tunnels and the Eastern Ghats

Katiki & Chaparai waterfalls

Forest waterfalls

More to explore in Andhra Pradesh

Other places worth pairing with this visit — tap a mood to reshape the list.

Manikyamba (Bhimeswara) Temple
Spiritual

Manikyamba (Bhimeswara) Temple

Manikyamba (Bhimeswara) Temple in Draksharamam, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh is one of the Shakti Peethas, the sacred shrines of the Divine Mother in the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. According to tradition, this is where the **left cheek** of Goddess Sati fell when Lord Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra divided her body. Here the Goddess is worshipped as **Manikyamba**, and her guardian Bhairava (a form of Shiva) as **Bhimeshwar**. It is counted among the eighteen Ashtadasha Maha Shakti Peethas — the most revered of all the seats of the Goddess. Shakti Peethas are among the holiest pilgrimage sites for devotees of the Goddess, drawing pilgrims especially during Navratri and Durga Puja. Each is tied to the legend of Sati, whose body parts fell across the Indian subcontinent and beyond, sanctifying the ground where they landed.

Details
Yarada Beach (Vizag)
Attraction

Yarada Beach (Vizag)

Details
Srikalahasti
Spiritual

Srikalahasti

Details
Rishikonda Beach (Vizag)
Attraction

Rishikonda Beach (Vizag)

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Srisailam (Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga)
Spiritual

Srisailam (Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga)

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Chandragiri Fort
Culture

Chandragiri Fort

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Puruhutika (Kukkuteswara) Temple
Spiritual

Puruhutika (Kukkuteswara) Temple

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Kondapalli Fort
Culture

Kondapalli Fort

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Amararama (Amaravati)
Spiritual

Amararama (Amaravati)

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Bhramaramba (Mallikarjuna) Temple
Spiritual

Bhramaramba (Mallikarjuna) Temple

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