Araku Valley

About Araku Valley

Araku is a tribal coffee valley at 900 m in the Eastern Ghats, 110 km inland from Visakhapatnam. The way you get there matters: the Kirandul passenger line climbs through 58 tunnels and 84 bridges, and the stretch past Borra caves and the Anantagiri hills is one of the most scenic rail journeys in the country. Once there, it is coffee plantations, the tribal museum, Chaparai water cascade and Katiki falls — and the enormous limestone chambers at Borra on the way back. **Getting there.** Overnight train or bus from Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam (11–12 hours), then the morning Kirandul passenger up to Araku. About 1,000 km from Bengaluru, so it is mostly a Hyderabad departure. **Where to stay.** Haritha resorts and homestays in Araku town; tribal-style cottages near the coffee museum.

Things to do

• • Kirandul line train ride through the Ghats
• • Borra limestone caves
• • Coffee plantation and tribal museum
• • Chaparai water cascade
• • Katiki waterfalls jeep trip
• • Sunrise at Galikonda viewpoint

Best time to visit

October to March; the valley stays cool year-round and the monsoon greens it completely.

How to reach

Overnight train or bus from Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam (11–12 hours), then the morning Kirandul passenger up to Araku. About 1,000 km from Bengaluru, so it is mostly a Hyderabad departure.

Where to stay

Haritha resorts and homestays in Araku town; tribal-style cottages near the coffee museum.

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