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Longing for a hill station holiday in the lesser-explored Eastern Ghats? The magical Araku Valley calls out to you! Araku Valley in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh is still relatively untouched by commercialization and tourism. Offbeat travelers, make haste! The best time to visit Araku Valley is right now. Araku is a small place with rich offerings such as sprawling coffee plantations, reserved forests, gorgeous waterfalls, and a vibrant cultural legacy. It is a location so picturesque that several Tollywood movies have been shot here.
In 2007, Araku held the distinction of producing the first organic coffee brand grown by Adivasi farmers in India. Araku Valley is home to some of the finest coffee plantations in the county and the world. This is the place to be for those who will go anywhere for a divine cup of joe.
The best time to visit Araku Valley is in the winter from December to February. The Valley is doubly enchanting amid the magic of the winter air. With pleasant days and cool nights, all sightseeing activities are best done during this time of the year.
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The finest coffee in all the land, we must add! Araku Valley’s rich coffee plantations are a sensory delight, whether you’re a coffee drinker or someone who appreciates a great view. Endless rows of squat, green coffee bushes are surrounded by majestic oak trees and neat little paddy fields lie in the distance. These blissful vistas are infused with the intoxicating aroma of fresh coffee beans.
The Andhra Pradesh government formed the Girijan Co-operative Corporation (GCC) in 1956. It endeavored to provide dignified livelihoods to the tribes of Araku Valley, by engaging them in coffee cultivation.
The Araku Valley coffee plantations are home to an award-winning coffee blend called the Araku. But there’s something more special brewing here. Indeed, this wondrous blend is transported from the Araku Valley all the way to the swish neighborhoods of Paris. But journeying with it are the incredible stories of the Adivasi farmers in Araku – master creators and caretakers of the Araku blend.
The best way to enjoy a brew is to slowly savor it. The Coffee Museum in Araku Valley offers visitors the chance to do just that while perusing the splendid history and science of coffee.
Follow the trail and signature aroma from the Araku bus stand, from where a short walk brings you to the museum. The Araku valley is famous for the finest Arabica coffee in the country and internationally. The museum also houses different types of coffee, including the famous Kopi Luwak from Indonesia. Tasty treats such as chocolates, mousses, and tarts (all coffee-flavored, naturally) promise added kicks to your java dose. The winters are the best time to visit Araku Valley and enjoy its famous brew.
History geeks will love the Sampoorna Coffee Gallery – a one-stop destination wonderfully documenting the history of coffee, from its discovery in Ethiopia to how it came to bloom in the Araku valley.
One of the most popular places in Araku is the splendid Araku Tribal Museum. Araku Valley is home to more than 19 tribes, whose rich cultures and ways of life have coexisted peacefully with the land.
The Araku Tribal Museum was established in 1996 by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation. Its mission was to generate awareness on the lives and histories of tribal societies in the Eastern Ghats. The museum’s design reflects architectural styles used by the tribes to construct their homes. Within this building is a vibrant and layered chronicling of their lives from attire, houses, jewelry, weddings, festivals, to everyday items. One can also pick up mementos from the shopping arcade at the museum.
Adrenaline seekers can enjoy a subterranean adventure at the mysterious Borra Caves in the Araku Valley. The caves are considered to be one of the largest in the country at a height of 705 meters approximately. The Borra Caves are made of limestone and contain dazzling formations of stalactite and stalagmite.
Colorful lights illuminate most sections of the Borra Caves. The lights help mitigate the general eeriness associated with Spelunking. But it’s hard to remain spooked once inside. Being in the midst of ecological history going back 50 million years ago outweighs any phobia! The caves of Borra are located at a distance of 35 km from Araku Valley.
The Padmapuram Botanical Garden has a relatively inconspicuous name for a garden central to Araku Valley’s history. It was built during the Second World War to provide vegetables for soldiers fighting the war. The Garden now houses a rich horticultural nursery with some of the most exotic flowers and trees. A visit to the Padmapuram Botanical Garden with its beautiful tree huts, a toy train winding its way through the green, and blooming rose gardens is a must. Tree-top huts are available on rent and can be booked in advance.
Tyda Park is an eco-tourism project jointly developed by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and the State Forests Department. The wilderness of the Park is ideal for bird watching, trekking, and camping! Tourists could also try rock climbing and target shooting with bows and arrows.
Spend quality time with learned naturalists and guides in the Park for a more in-depth understanding of the forest. Learn how to piece the stories of the forest together – from animal calls and pug marks to interesting anecdotes of the flora and fauna across the Eastern Ghats. Visitors can also book a stay in log huts or tents set in a rural environment. The best time to visit Araku Valley’s Tyda Village is from October to February.
Attention adventurers, road-trippers, romantics at heart, and nature lovers! June to September is the best time to visit Araku Valley for that signature monsoon magic. The greenery in the valley takes on lusher hues and the waterfalls are at their abundant best. The monsoons in Araku Valley are ideal for a quiet getaway since there aren’t as many tourists at this time of the year. However, it is worthwhile to exercise caution while driving in some areas since landslides due to the rains are common occurrences.
Katiki Waterfalls is located in Katiki, around 4 km away from Borra Caves. This beautiful waterfall is 50 ft high and surrounded by soothing tree cover. The waters of Katiki Falls come from the Gosthani River. This location is popular among tourists for trekking and sightseeing.
The untouched beauty of Araku Valley makes it one of the most beautiful hill stations in Andhra Pradesh. Visit the Chaparai Waterfalls for a rejuvenating day out. The waters of Chaparai are enclosed by beautiful forests on all sides. Since rock formations block the water’s path now and then, there are natural water slides all around. Enjoy the views of this cascading beauty over a picnic lunch. The Chaparai Waterfalls are located at a distance of 5 km from Araku Valley.
The quintessential beach person need not worry when in Araku Valley. Drive a short 2 hours away to an idyllic beach called the Bheemunipatnam Beach or Bheemili Beach. This quiet beach contains wonderful remnants of the trade history between the English and the Dutch. It was once home to trading ports for both the East India Company and the Dutch East India Company.
Visit a sacred pool called Matsyagundam to experience a water body of a different kind. Matsyagundam is the site of a centuries-old temple called Sri Matsyalingeswara Swamy Temple. Mythologically, it was also the site of a great fight between the Snakes (singaraju) and the Fish (matsyarajulu). It is said that the Mother Fish summoned all the fish here from a place called Gemmili for protection from the Snakes. Ever since, the pool has been home to schools of varying types of fish, believed to be under the protection of Lord Matysyalingeswara Swami even today. As a sign of reverence, the villagers here do not eat or hunt the fish.
If places of worship aren’t your thing, simply soak in the beauty of the pristine surroundings. One can also visit the Sangda Waterfall nearby, which is easily accessible from the Sri Matsyalingeswara Swamy Temple.
Summer begins from March to June in Araku Valley with temperatures going up to a staggering 45 degrees. Since, there are almost no tourists around in the summer, making conditions ideal for a pocket-friendly and peaceful stay at the valley.
Some of the popular restaurants in Araku Valley are Star Annapurna Restaurant, Amantran Bengali Restaurant, Vasundhara Restaurant, and New Spicy Restaurant.
The Araku Valley Coffee House is your best bet for desserts and the famous Araku coffee.
Keep a lookout for food stalls displaying bamboo stalks outside while driving across Araku Valley. The bamboo stalks contain a wonderful Araku delicacy inside called the Bongulo Chicken. Bongulo Chicken is a dish of the tribes in Araku, where chicken is cooked without oil inside a bamboo stalk. Chicken pieces are marinated with local herbs and spices, stuffed inside the bamboo stalk, and then cooked in an open flame. The delicious and healthy Bongulo Chicken is a must-try in Araku Valley.
Round off your gastronomical adventure in Araku Valley with the sinful Madugula Halwa or Teepi Avakaya (sweet mango pickle).
By Air: The closest airport to Araku Valley is the Vishakhapatnam Airport
By Train: Araku Valley is connected to major cities in the country via the Araku Railway Station (ARK)
By Road: There are regular buses to Pachipenta, not far from Araku Valley. For those traveling by car, Araku Valley is 3.5 hours from Visakhapatnam and 9 hours from Hyderabad.
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April 15, 2024 
