Araku Valley

About 110 kms from Visakhapatnam, most of it covered by ghat road, lies the pleasant valley that is approachable by rail as well as road from Visakhapatnam. Nature-loving visitors are wont to take a train up to Araku and the railway line, an engineering marvel, passes through a number of tunnels and affords a splendid view of the ghats and waterfalls enroute. The train journey, touching the highest rail point in Asia and (Shimliguda) is a memorable experience. Araku and its environs are inhabited by 17 colourful tribes and the hill people can be seen often in the small town.

Dhimsa is the most popular traditional dance and its performed in almost every hamlet to the chant of women and the beating of tribal drums. A herbarium there has a number of exotic plants and an additional attraction is a trek to Borra caves some 15 kms away. Mid-summer rain gives a touch of romance to the atmosphere. Araku is a valley in the Anantagiri Hills at an altitude of 975 metres and is watered by the perennial Zilda waterfalls.