Here I’m again to tell you our another exciting & breathtaking trip which we did when we were in college; And for the weekend we decided to go for a long drive. And that time we went for a road trip to one of the most amazing roads of India; The Araku Valley.
Araku Valley is a hill station in the southeastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It’s surrounded by the thick forests of the Eastern Ghats mountain range.
Foreword
We embark on an unforgettable journey of Araku valley. A hidden gem in the Eastern Ghats of India. What we experienced from this road trip to Araku Valley was the weaving of nature, rich cultural heritage, and thrilling adventures along the winding roads.
Not just the destination, we enjoyed the journey what we embarked, it’s not just about reaching the Araku Valley; it’s about appreciating every moment, flavors and each moment of our life.
We are canvasing our life with our experiences.
If you are in Visakhapatnam or in Jagdalpur or nearby places to Araku valley you should definitely make a plan for the weekend.
Araku valley is known for its lush greenery, coffee plantations, waterfalls, and tribal culture. We explored the picturesque landscapes, including dense forests, misty hills.
It’s a popular destination for nature lovers, travel enthusiastic and photographers.
Day-1
Jagdalpur to Araku distance
Jagdalpur-Jeypore-Araku( distance-184km )via NH63
Pictures of our experiences
Jeypore, Odisha
We went to araku from Jagdalpur by road on our first bike trip we covered 184kms, it took a bit longer time to reach because we anchored at various places in between.
Firstly at Jeypore, Odisha (we had to cross odisha to reach Araku which is in the state Andhra Pradesh); we had our lunch at Daawat Restaurant ( we had amazing lunch over here, they do serve good food specially fish; which he liked the most though. We ordered Chicken biriyani, chicken fry curry & fish fry; you must try.)
After that we headed to peek at Jeypore Amusement park. It was refreshing & relaxing at the same; to rest & gaze at the beautiful site.
Kolab Dam
After an hour we again started our journey. We headed our journey towards Araku via kolab reservoir.
The Kolab Reservoir generates Hydro Electric Power sitting at an altitude of about 914.4 m (3,000 ft) above sea level on river Kolab, it is a tributary of Godvari river.
The distance we covered from jeypore to kolab ( Still in odisha) was amazing we choose the hill road to be in Kolab via Rock Garden view point, it was amazing and was another thrilling & mind blowing experience for us as the road towards the upper colab mountain view was another picturesque landscapes; what we captured through our eyes were beyond any words.
Patraput bridge
It is the suspension bride signifies the beauty of architecture & designed at such a way to carry tons of roller. It is located in the Indian state of Odisha, on the way to Araku from Jeypore. The bridge crosses the Mahanadi River near the town of Jeypore.
After crossing the sceneric view of the bridge we headed towards the Kota junction.
Kota junction
Kota junction is a famous chowk for refreshing snacks selling by local vendors. They sell freshly cooked sweet corns ( our favorite ) , varieties of freshly cut fruits (you can also buy it a whole), sugarcane juice , roasted peanuts or grams; we had it all.
We both decided and always believe on embracing each moment, learning from experiences and cherishing the memories along the way.
As we moved forward we took another breather at:
Padua lake
Padua lake which is 57kms from Patraput bridge. It comes under the Jalaput reservoir, it forms the boundary between Andhra Pradesh & Odisha. For over 48kms the river runs nearly north along a meandering course through the Padua Valley.
As we drove along this picturesque route, each bend in the road reveals a new vista, inviting us to pause and drink in the beauty of nature’s masterpiece.
Thereafter we travelled another 33kms to reach our destination: The Araku Valley.
The Araku Valley
We arrived at Araku Valley in the evening, just as the sun was starting to set & painting the sky with beautiful hues & we decided to wander around for a bit, soaking in the serene atmosphere and exploring the charming surroundings.
And then we began our search for accommodation, aiming to find a cozy place to stay for the night. As we wandered around, we came across various accommodation options, including tent houses and hotels, each offering its own unique experience. We weighed our choices before deciding on where to stay for the night.
Finally After considering our options, we settled on a hotel that suited our preferences and needs.
We stayed at: Home Prakruthi Resorts, they offered us great stay, camp firing at the site & rooms were comfortable, cosy & clean.
As it was my special day so he brought a small cake to celebrate and we ordered and packed our food from Star Annapurna restaurant. The food was good, I would recommend to have a dinner over here.
Jot Down: It is wise to book early, the hotel or rent house wherever you would like to stay, especially for popular destinations like Araku Valley.
DAY-2 in Araku Valley
We started a little early, the place where we stayed was surrounded by fog all around, it was like waken up directly into the living heaven.
We went towards the Valley side in the early morning hours. Araku Valley transforms into a surreal landscape veiled in mist, with the lush greenery and rolling hills & mountains covered in a delicate fog.
The cool, crisp air carries the scent of earth. As the sun rises higher in the sky, the fog gradually disappear & revealing the scenic beauty of the valley in all its glory. It was a magical time to be in Araku Valley, where nature’s beauty unfolds before your eyes in a mesmerizing display.
Borra Cave
Then we headed towards the Borra Cave; near it we had sweet corn & sugarcane juice for breakfast.
Borra Cave is one of the largest caves in India, stretching over a kilometer long and descending to a depth of about 80 meters.
It’s believed to be millions of years old and is formed by the action of water flowing through limestone deposits over centuries.
Must try..!!
Borra cave and Araku Valley is incomplete without having Bamboo chicken. Bamboo chicken is a must try thing whenever you visit araku valley or Borra cave.
Bamboo chicken is a traditional dish originating from the tribal regions of India, particularly seen over Araku region. They stuffed Bamboo with chicken which they marinate with spices and herbs, stuffing it into bamboo stems along with aromatic ingredients like onions, garlic, and curry leaves, and then they cooking it over an open flame or hot charcoal.
The bamboo gives a unique flavor to the chicken as it cooks slowly, resulting in tender and flavorful meat. Can be taken alone or with rice or bread.
Hope you would enjoy the same as we did while having it, the earthy taste and the experience of cooking and serving it in bamboo stems, it is beyond any words.
Spots at Araku Valley
While returning from Borra cave we anchored at the Galikonda view point, from here we over look the entire valley the spectacular view of the high reaching green mountains.
It is the second highest peak in the Eastern Ghats which is 4320ft above sea level.
After sinking into the allure we headed towards the coffee plantations area which is in the valley.
Here in Araku we encountered many coffee plantation but the one which is made for tourist is the Wooden Bridge Araku coffee plantation. Here they made Wooden bridge through which tourist can easily explore and watch closely the plantation area.
The Wooden bridge take us up the hills and we enjoyed a serene walk along the bridge, captured panoramic views of the coffee plantations and the surrounding landscape.
On our return we enjoyed the coffee at the base of the hill.
After that we ended our journey and lastly visited the CMB Church, Sunkarimetta near the checkpost which is situated in another hill and was built on 1939, from here it not only offers a panoramic vista of mist-laden peaks, lush green valleys, and winding roads disappearing into the horizon but also the place offers a sense of peace, hope, faith, love, assurance that he made the world beautiful; He made us beautiful.
Gallery
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