Araku Valley Hill Station

When you reach Araku Valley, you find a cool green hill station hidden in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. Coffee plants grow on the slopes, clear streams run through the valleys, and tribal villages dot the hills. The train ride from Visakhapatnam to Araku is one of the most beautiful in India, passing through many tunnels and over high bridges. If you want a calm hill holiday away from the crowds, Araku makes a lovely choice for your family.

Araku Valley is a hill station in the Alluri Sitharama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh, close to the border with Odisha. It sits at a good height in the Eastern Ghats, so the weather stays pleasant through the year. The valley is famous for its coffee gardens and for the rich culture of its tribal communities. It lies about 115 km. from the port city of Visakhapatnam. You reach it by a very scenic road and railway that climb slowly through the hills.

October to March

The Borra Caves are the star of the area. These large natural limestone caves show amazing shapes formed over thousands of years, and soft coloured lights make them glow. The Coffee Museum in Araku tells the story of local coffee and lets you taste a fresh cup. The Tribal Museum shows the life, art and dance of the hill communities in a simple and warm way. Together they give you nature, coffee and culture in one trip.

Several tribal communities have lived in these hills for a very long time and call Araku their home. Their colourful Dhimsa dance, their music and their simple way of life are the soul of the valley. In recent years their coffee has won fame across India and even abroad. When you visit and buy from them, you support these hill families in a kind and direct way.

Araku is a good place to taste simple hill and tribal food. If you eat non vegetarian food, bamboo chicken, cooked inside a bamboo stem, is a local favourite. Pure vegetarian meals of rice, dal and vegetables are easily available. Do not leave without drinking the strong and fresh Araku coffee, grown right on these hills. The food here is honest, warm and full of local flavour.

Araku is the place to buy pure coffee. You can pick up packets of Araku coffee powder and beans straight from the growers. Tribal handicrafts, honey, spices and small bamboo items also make good and honest gifts. The market near the Coffee Museum is the easiest place to shop. When you buy here, you help the hill families in a direct way.

The most loved way to reach Araku is the train from Visakhapatnam, which climbs slowly through green hills and many tunnels. By road it is a lovely drive of about four hours. The nearest airport is at Visakhapatnam. Within the valley you travel by taxi or auto, and hiring a car for the day is the easy way to cover the sights, which lie spread out across the hills.

Padmapuram Gardens is a pretty park with a small toy train and hanging cottages. Chaparai is a shallow stream where you can sit and dip your feet in cool running water. The Katiki waterfall, reached by a short walk through the forest, is a fresh and quiet spot. These easy places suit families and elders who want beauty without a hard climb.

Borra Caves (about 30 km.): The famous limestone caves. Ananthagiri (about 40 km.): Coffee hills and an old Shiva temple. Visakhapatnam (about 115 km.): The coastal city with beaches, a submarine museum and the Simhachalam temple. Many travellers join Araku with Vizag to enjoy both the hills and the sea on one trip.

Araku stays cool in the mornings and evenings, so carry a light sweater even in summer. The roads twist and turn, so if you feel car sick, take the train instead. Please respect the tribal villages, ask before you take photos of people, and buy directly from local sellers when you can.