Araku Valley

Araku Valley is a hill valley at about 900 m in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, roughly 115 km inland from Visakhapatnam. Araku Valley is known for its cool climate, green terraced hills and coffee: arabica grown here by Adivasi farmers, many working through cooperatives, is sold under the Araku name and has reached specialty cafes abroad.

Coffee was introduced to these hills in the colonial era and expanded after independence with support for tribal growers. The valley is home to Adivasi communities such as the Konda Dora, Bagata and Valmiki, whose Dhimsa dance is performed at festivals and for visitors. For many people the journey to Araku Valley is the highlight: the railway from Visakhapatnam climbs through dozens of tunnels and over many bridges, and glass-roofed Vistadome coaches now run on the route.

What to see

• Borra Caves, huge limestone caverns about 30 km before Araku
• The Tribal Museum, covering Adivasi life, crafts and the Dhimsa dance
• The Araku coffee museum and plantations where you can taste local coffee
• Padmapuram Gardens, an old botanical garden with tree-top huts
• Galikonda and Ananthagiri viewpoints over the Eastern Ghats

What to wear

Araku Valley is cooler than the coast, especially from December to February, when mornings can drop close to 10 degrees Celsius, so bring a fleece or sweater. Wear comfortable walking shoes with grip for the wet floors of Borra Caves and the plantation paths. A rain jacket helps in the monsoon. Local Adivasi women traditionally wear draped sarees with heavy silver jewellery, and the Dhimsa dancers perform in bright matching costumes.

Local food to try

The dish to try in Araku Valley is bamboo chicken (bongulo chicken), marinated chicken packed into bamboo and slow-cooked over coals, sold at roadside stalls near the Tribal Museum and on the road to Borra Caves. Vegetarians can try Andhra meals with pappu (lentils), gongura pickle and rice. Finish with a cup of Araku coffee, or buy chocolate and coffee beans at the coffee museum shop.

Good to know

• Best from October to March; the monsoon from June to September turns the valley green but brings landslide risk
• The valley is open all year; most sights run roughly 9am to 5pm
• Small entry fees apply at Borra Caves, the museums and gardens
• Allow one full day from Visakhapatnam, or stay overnight
• About 115 km from Visakhapatnam: 3 to 4 hours by road, or a longer scenic train ride
• Book the train's Vistadome coach well ahead, and ask before photographing Adivasi villagers

Nearby places

Most visitors base themselves in Visakhapatnam and walk RK Beach in the evening. Odisha's Chilika Lake is about 300 km north-east along the coast, and the Jagannath Temple in Puri lies beyond it, roughly 400 km away.