Araku Valley

State: Andhra Pradesh

Main Languages: Telgu, English and Hindi

 

History:

 

Araku Valley is located about 115 km from Vishakapatnam district. The town falls in the state limits of Andhra Pradesh. The town has some spectacular sites which leaves the tourists in awe. The town is surrounded by beautiful hills and valleys and also has a very pleasant temperature. The natural beauty of this town has been brought alive due to the amazing landscapes. 

 

Geography:

 

Araku valley is located at 18.3333° N 82.8667° E and has an average elevation of 911 meters or 2992 feet. The valley is close to the Orissa state border. The area of this town is almost 36 km square feet. The altitude is about 600 to 900 meters above the sea level. The journey to the town through Ghat road has thick forests on both sides. There are options of trekking due to the mountain side. There are very famous coffee plantations here on the Ananthagiri hills. There are the popular Borra caves located about 29 km from the valley. The town is locate don the Eastern Ghats of India and is inhabited by various tribes. 

 

Climate:

 

The town has a pleasant weather through out the year but the winters can get colder due to the untimely rains. The summers have pleasant mornings and evenings. 

 

Tourism:

 

The Araku valley is a popular tourist destination. There are plenty of activities to do here. These include outdoor activities like trekking on the mountain sides or exploring the caves. For those who love solitude there are options for long walks in the forest and coffee plantations. There are 46 tunnels and bridges on the way to Araku valley though the Ghats. For those who want to explore the surrounding districts there are plenty of options like the Ananthagiri Hills which beautiful resorts and undulated mountain ranges. The Bheemunipatnam Beach is an ideal get away and is near the valley. The Chandana Yatra in Simhachalam, is a vital religious occasion. Then there are the RamaKrishna Beach & Lawson`s Bay and the Rishikonda Beach which can also be visited in the Vishakapatnam district.

 

Transportation:

 

The valley is accessible through roads and the railways also. The two major railway stations here are the railway stations at Araku and Araku Valley in the Kothavalasa-Kirandul railway line which is in Visakhapatnam division of East Coast Railway. The nearest airport is the Vishakhapatnam airport at 112-km. 

 

Culture and economy:

 

Life in Araku valley has a pace of its own. Due to the strong tribal presence in the area there are a lot of handicrafts and cottage industries. The coffee plants are also an important business. Apart from these tourism and agriculture contribute to the economy of the town. Locals have their own shares of festivals. One of the most popular festivals here is the Dhimsa dance. This is an age-old folk dance of the aborigines. It is still performed here during 'Itika Pongal' which is the famous hunting festival and falls in the month of April.