Araku valley, a quaint hill station in the Eastern Ghats, is one of the blissful locations to take a breather from the fast-paced lifestyle. At the end of the day, a nature trip is what we all crave, isn’t it? So, plan your trip to this beautiful valley in the lap of nature and check out these 6 places to visit in Araku Valley.
Best Experiences to Have in Araku Valley
Regarded as the Ooty of Andhra Pradesh Araku Valley is a nature lover’s heaven. The enchanting beauty of the Araku valley, abundantly gifted with lush mountains, waterfalls, streams, undulating coffee fields, and old caverns, is more experienced than articulated! Book your flights to India right now! Spend your vacation at Araku, taking in the quiet surroundings, good weather, and traditional tribal culture.
Araku Valley Tourism: 6 Best Places to Visit in Araku
- Galikonda View Point
- Borra Caves
- Katiki/Katika Waterfalls
- Chaparai water cascades
- Galikonda View Point
- Tribal Museum
- Padmapuram Gardens
Galikonda View Point:
Perched at an altitude of 4320 feet above sea level, Galikonda View Point is the highest point in Visakhapatnam. Visiting the Galikonda View Point is the most recommended thing to do in Araku Valley, as we wouldn’t want you to miss the bird’s-eye view of the entire valley. Revel in the heavenly vistas of the verdant valleys, misty mountains, rivers, streams, railway tracks, hillocks, and cottages! Click instagram-worthy shots of the valley from Galikonda View Point, a must-visit spot for photography enthusiasts.
Borra Caves:
Borra caverns, one of nature’s wonders, are one of the best sites to explore in Araku Valley. Borra caverns, located in the Ananthagiri hills at a height of 705 m, are India’s deepest caves, reaching to a depth of 80 m! They were known locally as Borra Guhalu and were unknown to the outer world until William King George of GSI found them in 1807. These million-year-old caverns are said to have developed as a result of a chemical reaction produced by the passage of the Gosthani River in this limestone area.
Exploring Borra caves is truly a remarkable experience – the irregular speleothems (whose shapes vaguely resemble different animals, human body parts, Gods, etc.) stir up your abstract thinking abilities. The kaleidoscopic effect of the artificial lights adds to the mystical beauty of Borra caves!
Katiki/Katika Waterfalls:
This is a fantastic site to explore in Araku valley, around 4-6 kilometers from the Borra caves. To reach the foot of Katiki waterfalls, one must hike through beautiful woodlands up a hill hidden deep in the jungle. Although it is just a 20-30 minute walk, the difficult terrain both exhilarates and exhausts you. There are various food shops along the path that are fantastic places to stop and try the famed Bamboo Chicken! The breathtaking sight of the silvery-white waterfall against the green canvas of nature quickly boosts your spirits and relieves fatigue. Tourists may even swim in the refreshing waters of the pool at the bottom!
Chaparai water cascades:
The Chaparai waterfalls, also known as the Dumbriguda waterfalls, are one of the top Araku sites to visit! Chaparai water waterfalls are a continuous torrent of water sliding over the slippery surface of broad rock formations surrounded by deep green trees. The spectacular beauty of the scenery lures many travelers to this prominent Araku Valley destination. It is also a popular picnic location for residents. Move slowly on the slick rocks and let the gentle flow of water tickle you as you enjoy the cool wind!
Tribal Museum:
If the tribal culture of the area interests you, check out the Tribal Museum! It is the best place to visit in Araku Valley to get an insight into the tribal lifestyle, customs, and traditions. The traditionally designed two-storied building displays fascinating artworks and artifacts of the tribal people such as hunting tools, jewelry, kitchen utensils, musical instruments, etc. There’s also a section where beautifully created human models depict tribal dances called Dhimsa and Mayur. After exploring the museum, go paddle-boating in the artificial pond located within the museum complex.
Padmapuram Gardens:
Padmapuram Gardens is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Araku Valley. Originally built in 1942 to provide vegetable supplies to the soldiers of World War II, today’s reformed botanical garden sprawling 26 acres is a top tourist place in Araku. Besides the exotic varieties of plants, rose gardens, and impressive sculptures, the major attractions of Padmapuram Gardens are its treetop huts (also called hanging cottages) and Araku Express toy train ride. You’ll love experiencing the random swaying motion of the hanging cottage induced by a heavy breeze!
