Surrounded by dense forests of the Eastern Ghats, Araku Valley is a luxuriant hill station replete with forests, streams, lush valleys, and is the greenest patch of land in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The region is known for its deep-rooted social and cultural heritage, contributed by numerous indigenous tribes, ethnic to the region.
- Why travel from Vizag to Araku?
- Travelling from Vizag to Araku by Car
- Best time to take a road trip from Vizag to Araku by car
- How to Reach Araku By Train
- How to Reach Araku By Flight
- Places to eat along this route
- Other means of traveling
- Attractions in Araku for Sightseeing
- Savaari recommends – Popular places to eat in Araku
- Hotels and Resorts – Accommodation in Araku
Why travel from Vizag to Araku Valley?
With lush green valleys and rolling hills, Araku Valley is one of the best nature spots in Andhra Pradesh. Primarily known for its tribal heritage, the forests and hills of Araku make for a refreshing holiday in the lap of nature and is the perfect getaway from Visakhapatnam. But the best way to experience the natural beauty of this region is to take a road trip from the nearest city of Vizag. By booking a Vizag cab with Savaari, you can customize your entire trip, make interesting stop-overs and quick breaks and turn your drive from Visakhapatnam to Araku Valley into a memorable trip.
Travelling from Vizag to Araku Valley by Car
The road from Vizag to Araku Valley is one of the most scenic stretches of the state. Avail a car rental from Vizag to Araku and enjoy the scenic drive through the winding roads and hilly terrain of the Eastern Ghats. With our completely customizable Vizag to Araku Valley trip packages, you can also explore the sightseeing stops on the way. Along your way, you will encounter some small towns and villages like Kothavalassa, Lakkavarapu Kota, Bowdara, and the famous Ananthagiri Mountains. When you book a Savaari cab service from Visakhapatnam to Araku, you can stop at any of these places, or at designated spots on the mountain range for views and photo ops.
Important Highway Information about Vizag to Araku
| Highway Name | Vizag to Araku Highway |
| Alternate Name | State Highway 39 |
| Highway Number | SH-39 |
| Distance | 115 Km |
| Starting Point | Visakhapatnam |
| End Point | Araku |
| Highway Quality | Excellent |
Best Time To Visit
Araku Valley experiences classic tropical hilly weather with warm and humid summers and chilly winters. The best time to do a road trip from Vizag to Araku is in the colder months, when the days are pleasant and nights are cool, so you can easily do sightseeing and explore outdoors comfortably.
Quick Facts about Vizag to Araku
| Road Distance from Vizag to Araku | 115 Km |
| Aerial Distance from Vizag to Araku | 80 km |
| Travel Time for Vizag to Araku | 3 hours 32 minutes |
| Travel Time for Vizag to Araku by Train | 3 hours and 50 minutes |
| Best Routes | Vizag to Araku Via Araku-Visakhapatnam Road |
| Best time to visit | June and September |
Popular Routes from Vizag to Araku Valley
Route 1: Distance and Time taken from Vizag to Araku Valley via Araku-Visakhapatnam Road
This is the shortest route and the best way to travel between Vizag and Araku Valley. It is also the fastest because the Vizag to Araku Valley traffic on this route is regular and you can avoid road closures. The distance between Vizag and Araku Valley on this route is somewhere around 114 KM and takes roughly 3.5 hours. Always check live maps and instant traffic updates for the latest information on the road conditions from Vizag to Araku Valley.
Here’s the basic route map –
| Vizag > Valimeraka > Tumikapalli > Gangubudi > Bowdara > Araku Valley |
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Popular sights/monuments that you will encounter along this route:
- Thatipudi dam watch tower – A locally popular dam with a watch tower, known for panoramic views, boat rides, and picnics.
- Damuku Viewpoint – Scenic viewing point on the highway overlooking the hills and valleys of Ananthagiri.
- Borra Caves – More than a million-year-old naturally formed limestone caves located within the Ananthagiri Hills.
- ·Katika Waterfall – Situated near the Borra Caves, this waterfall is fed by the Gosthani River and is one of the most magnificent falls of Andhra Pradesh.
- Galikonda View point – A scenic hilltop with breathtaking views of the highest point of the Ananthagiri Hills.
Places to eat along this route:
- Adithi Restaurant, Kothavalasa – Standard roadside eatery serving fast food and meals, good for groups and late-night stops.
- Hotel Mumtaz Family Restaurant – A casual, cozy diner on the Araku-Vizag Road, this eatery serves all meals all day.
- Quality Inn Restaurant, S.Kota – Local budget eatery serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian flair, good for families.
- Restaurant APTDC – This family eatery on the edges of the Ananthagiri Hills, serves good breakfast.
Vizag to Araku Valley Road Condition via route 1:
The road conditions on route 1 from Vizag to Araku Valley are excellent. It is the fastest route, has tolls, and no road closures.
Route 2: Distance and Time taken from Vizag to Araku Valley via Bhimasingi Srugarapukota Rd and Araku – Visakhapatnam Rd
This is an alternative route for travelling from Vizag to Araku Valley. It is also a longer route and takes an hour more than the previous route. This road also has tolls. The distance from Vizag to Araku Valley on this route is about 133 km and takes about 4.5 hours. Before or while traveling, always use live maps to check for road closures or other traffic updates.
Here’s the basic route map from Vizag to Araku Valley along this route:
| Vishakapatnam > Sontyam > Jami > Alugubilli > Anantagiri Mountain Range – Bishnuguda – Araku Valley |
|---|
Popular sights/monuments that you will encounter along this route:
- Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary – A densely forested region serving as a wildlife reserve of rare vegetation like the Indian screw tree, and fauna like leopards, pangolins, and exotic birds.
- Punyagiri Temple, Jeelugulapadu – Punyagiri Temple Vizianagaram is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is an ancient temple located in the hills of Punyagiri in the Eastern Ghats.
- Thatipudi Reservoir, Jadderu – Tatipudi Reservoir was built in 1963 across the River Gosthani, and it’s where you can go for boat rides or bird-watching.
- Ananthagiri Water Falls, Vikarabad – With a height of about 100 feet, Anantagiri falls offer best views in monsoon season.
- Borra Caves, Ananthagiri Hills – More than a million-year-old naturally formed limestone caves located within the Ananthagiri Hills.
- Galikonda View point – A scenic hilltop with breathtaking views of the highest point of the Ananthagiri Hills.
Places to eat along this route:
- Hotel Muntaj Family Restaurant – Locally popular Mughlai food joint serving meat dishes and biryani on a budget, good for late night and quick stops.
- Araku Aroma Coffee, Bowdara – Small local coffee chain serving local coffee and fast food, good for breakfast and quick meals.
Vizag to Araku Valley Road Condition via route 2:
The road conditions on this route from Vizag to Araku Valley are good as of date. But it is a longer route and can have some traffic.
Vizag to Araku Valley Best Route
With interesting pit stops along the way, both the above routes are good for travelling from Vizag to Araku Valley. But distance and time wise, the first route seems to be the best option, since the second route takes longer than the previous one.
Other means of travelling from Vizag to Araku Valley
By Train
You can also travel from Vizag to Araku Valley by train. The nearest stop is at Araku Railway Station, which is only 1.7 km away from the center of the town. There are three other railway stations nearby – Araku Valley station, Shimiliguda, and Gorapur. There is one train that runs between Vizag and Araku Valley on a weekly basis.
The fastest train is VISAKHAPATNAM JAGDALPUR SPECIAL (08516), which takes about 3 hours and 50 minutes to reach Araku Valley from Vizag. For train booking, you can visit any online travel portal or check the Indian Railways website to get the best deals. For the latest and most accurate information on Vizag to Araku Valley train timings, always check the timetables of IRCTC before you book.
| Train Name | Departure | Arrival | Duration |
| 08504 – VISAKHAPATNAM RGDA PGRSP | 06:45 AM | 10:55 PM | 4 hour and 10 minutes |
| 08525 – VISAKHAPATNAM ARAKKU SPECIAL | 11:00 AM | 02:00 PM | 3 hour |
| 18551 – VSKP KRDL PGRSP | 06:45 AM | 10:55 AM | 4 hour and 10 minutes |
By Flight
There is no airport in Araku Valley and the nearest airport is in Vizag, about 115 km away. This means that there is no flight service between Vizag and Araku Valley. The only way to reach Araku Valley from Vizag is to take a train, bus, or book a cab to travel comfortably. If you are traveling from any other city to Araku Valley, you can always fly to Vizag.
For all your Vizag flight booking, visit any online travel portal or check with the airline’s direct website. From there, you can book a Vizag airport taxi or rent a private car to reach Araku Valley from Vizag.
Attractions in Araku Valley for Sightseeing
With plenty of natural and cultural wonders to explore, the small hamlet of Araku makes for a rejuvenating holiday in the heart of nature. Visit the Ananthagiri Hills known for forests and coffee plantations, visit the uniquely formed Dumbriguda Waterfalls, the Padmapuram Botanical Garden, Araku Tribal Museum, or the natural fish pool of Matsyagundam on the Machkund River, or spend a day at the Tyda Tribal Village to experience the ethnic culture. Check out this comprehensive travel guide detailing out the best things to do in Araku Valley.
- Ananthagiri Hills – This tiny hill station surrounded by mountains, forests, and coffee plantations. It is a popular weekend getaway in Araku Valley. Sitting at 1168 meter from the sea, the hills offer excellent views of the surrounding valley and forests
- Chaaparai– Also called Dumbriguda Waterfalls, these unique cascades crisscross across a plateau-like rock and cascade down rocky slopes.
- Padmapuram Gardens – A botanical garden spreading across 26-acres of land with orchards, rare flowers, trees, tree houses, and stone sculptures.
- Araku Tribal Museum – Run by the APTDC, this museum preserves history and heritage of 19 ethnic tribes and showcases tribal handicrafts and artifacts.
- Masthyagundam – Also called ‘fish pool’, this waterhole on Machkund River is swarmed by fishes of all species and sizes.
- Tyda Village – About 40 km outside Araku, this is a small tribal village, nestled in the woods and offers eco-tourism.
Savaari recommends – Popular places to eat in Araku Valley
As quiet and quaint as it is, Araku Valley is wrapped in its ethnic culture and history, which influences its food culture. The local cuisine is largely dominated by regional tribal recipes, with a touch of modern flair to suit the urban palate. Check out these top-rated places to eat in Araku Valley and sample traditional flavors –
- Hill Shine Garden Restaurant, Opp. IOC petrol bunk
- Paradise Kalinga Restaurant, 8VCJ+H6G
- Royal Darbar Restaurant, Main Road, beside MPTO Office
- Annapurna Restaurant, SH 39
- Adaivasi Bamboo Chicken, 8VFH+JR5
Hotels and Resorts in Araku Valley
| Place Name | Address | Phone Number |
| Ushodaya Resorts | Padmapuram, Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh 531149 | 094911 93311 |
| Nature’s Nest Araku | Main road Araku ,Ravvalaguda, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531149 | 089198 67675 |
| Casa Holiday Resorts | Araku – Visakhapatnam Rd, Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh 531149 | 089778 88999 |
| Haritha Hill Resort | Near to RTC Complex, Tribal Museum, Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh 531149 | 089362 49204 |
| Pickurstay Holiday resort Araku | Ravilaguda village, Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh 531149 | NA |
Download the Savaari cab booking app today and enjoy a hassle-free ride to your destination from all major transport hubs. Whether you’re chasing adventure or craving relaxation, this road trip promises an experience you’ll never forget.
