Songs of the Earth

It’s a busy day at work. The sun is shining relentlessly, its sharp rays piercing through the window, making the office annoyingly bright. You are thankful that it is cool inside and that the air conditioner is working at keeping the heat at bay. What’s definitely not cool is your head, fretting that because of work, you are stuck once again in Hyderabad’s heat. Cheer up, help is at hand. All you need is a weekend — to get away from this hothouse of a city — to the green, pastoral valley of Araku.

This beautiful hill station with its picturesque scenery, lush grasslands and amazing weather is 112 km away from Visakhapatnam. It is perfect for a short holiday, to unwind and relax. Araku Valley spreads over an area of 36 sq. km and at a height of 900 metres above sea level. A train journey to the Valley is a memorable experience. It is also connected by road to Visakhapatnam. Coffee plantations, waterfalls and tunnels greet you on your way there.

There are many interesting places to visit in the vicinity. The Borra Caves, which are located 29 km away, are a great attraction, with their incredible stalactites and stalagmite formations. The Anantagiri Hills are well-known for their coffee plantations. Other attractions include the Padmapuram Botanical Gardens, Araku Tribal Museum and Government Silk Farm and Mulberry Gardens. From the Damuku viewpoint, you have a spectacular view of the whole valley spread out in front of you.

Araku has something for everyone. Adventure freaks can roll out their tents and camp here. The terrain is perfect for trekking. You can take your kids to the Tyda Park, giving them a taste of wildlife viewing and birdwatching. The Bheemunipatnam beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the Eastern coast.

It is safe for swimming and its serene, calm beauty will definitely take your breath away. Even If you are not in the mood to do anything at all, just sit back and relax. Let the beauty of the valley weave its magic on you.

PIT STOP
The Araku Tribal Museum offers a unique gastronomical delight. After treating your mind to the amazing world of different tribal lifestyles, you can treat your taste buds too by indulging in a hot serving of Bamboo Chicken. The chicken, a tribal speciality, is an equivalent to the ultra-popular tandoori chicken. Hollow bamboo stems are stuffed with chicken and cooked over an open fire. It is ideal for health freaks as no oil goes into the dish. Besides, no salt is added to the masala as the bamboo renders enough salt for the chicken. You can have half a plate of chicken for Rs 130 and a full plate for Rs 500.

TRIVIA
The Araku Valley area is famous for its coffee plantations. The coffee produced here is exported not only to different parts of the country, but abroad as well. After the importance of this region was recognised, the Coffee Board started a “brown revolution” here to encourage the tribal farmers to practise environmentally-friendly methods of cultivation while helping them adopt better farming techniques and marketing to cater to the demands of developed countries desiring to import the coffee.

CURIO STOP
The Araku Tribal Museum houses artefacts related to the Eastern Ghats’ tribal culture. It gives us an insight into the lifestyle of the ancient tribes of the region by means of statues and installations. There is also a stall where one can purchase handicrafts produced by the tribals who continue to inhabit this area. You can buy dolls and small statues of animals here that are indigenously made out of moulded metal and carved wood.