Araku valley & Borra cave & Ananthagiri hills &

[Sujatha]

Araku valley- Borra Caves



From Bhubaneswar we started our journey by Vishaka express in the morning. The train reached Vishakapatnam by evening 1600 hrs. That was last week of December. Almost 90% of the hotels were full. Somehow, we got a hotel room on Bouthara road near railway station, after an hour of search hiring an auto. On that evening, we rounded the places of Vishakapatnam. I will tell those stories latter in my next topic.

On the next day morning 0630 hrs, we went to AP Tourisms CRO (Central reservation office). CRO office is inside the RTC complex at Vishakapatnam, centrally located. The city bus charge from railway station to RTC complex is just Rs2.





EASTERN GHAT MOUNTAIN ROAD

Our tourist bus started at 0700 hrs. The tour was road cum rail package. Most of the passengers were Bengali holidaymakers. At about 0830 hrs we were given packed breakfast with mineral water. At one point, the bus route entered the Ghat section. Araku valley is at Eastern Ghats.

The bus was going ahead slowly. The main point of attraction is the rail route that also follows road side by side. You can see the railway tunnels from the roadside. The great rail route was constructed to carry Iron ore from the Kirandul mines at Madya Pradesh to the Vishakapatnam port. Somebody said that the railways give more priority to the goods trains than the passenger trains over that route. On the way, we came to the area called Jungle bells. As such, there are no bells over there. It is an ecological project. Finally, we reached the famous BORRA CAVES.



BORRA CAVES

We reached Borra caves at 1130 hrs. tourism guys gave us one-hour time for seeing the caves.

There is a restaurant and AP Tourisms hotel. For public they charge Rs25/- as entry fee. However, if you go with AP Tourism it is free. This is a very big and tortuous cave in the mid jungle. The beautiful river Gosthani flows by the side of the cave. There is a display board warning the tourists, not to swim because of whirlpools. Above the Borra caves the railway track runs. We entered inside the Caves. They have placed high beam lights inside the cave. We can move easily. There were No hassles. The guide showed so many naturally formed rocky sculptures. Water was leaking from the stone. However, in the middle of the cave the scene was horrible. Many many bats were hanging over the roof and were making huge noises. We were moving with little fear. At one point, you have to crawl through a narrowest point. Beyond that, you can climb up to a small tribal Shiva temple. A young tribal priest was sitting there. The guide told us that on specific festival day of the year thousands of tribal people come here from all surrounding villages. We came at around 1230 hrs. There was a big traffic jam outside the cave complex. Literally there were hundreds of tourist vehicles were blocking the road. Our bus had a tough time. Bus climbed up once again.



ARAKU VALLEY AND COFFEE PLANTATIONS



These hills are named as ANANTHAGIRI hills that are a part of Eastern Ghats group. Our bus was travelling through the coffee plantations. We saw plenty of tribal women walking along the roadsides. They were carrying water in peculiar vessels. We could see more tribal women picking coffee leaves in the plantations. Beyond coffee plantations, there were beautiful Oak trees on the roadsides. We could see many church activities over there. May be the Christian missionaries are trying to convert all the tribes. Finally, we reached the Araku village, 3500 feet above sea level.



ARAKU VILLAGE AND TRIBAL DANCE

We had our quick lunch at AP Tourism restaurant at Araku village. The lunch was ok. Then we came to the Tribal museum. Tribal museum gives you all the statistical details of all Dravidian tribes living in the hill ranges. There were huge number of tribal weapons and fancy items had been exhibited over there. There is notice board “PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT ALLOWED.” However, nobody cares this advice. Then we came to another important attraction. On nearby ground there were few tribal women and tribal musicians. They are in fact semi tribal. They have taken the modern day influences. Our guide squabbled with the tribal women on some money issue. They could talk in Telugu. Then the dance started. Groups of about 20 women move in groups. They just walk in forming a circle. They were doing rhythmic movements. We gave them Rs20/-. Everybody contributed some amount. After that, we came to the Araku gardens. I purchased some tribal made, hand made, handbags and fancy items. Then we quickly came to the Araku railway station.



RAILWAY JOURNEY

The famous Kirandul to Vishakapatnam passenger arrived at 1530 hrs at Araku railway station. The AP Tourism people gave us snacks and tea. The railway journey is wonderful. We crossed 54 railway tunnels. We could see waterfalls on the hillsides. One practical tip I need to give you. When you travel from Araku to Vizag please sit down on the left side facing the engine. Because you can see more and more sceneries. We saw the railway station by name SIMLIGUDA enroute. This is the highest Broad gauge railway station in India. Of all the tunnels, the 13th tunnel from Araku is 896 meters. It is one of the longest in my observation. We could see groups of railway tribal labourers working in shivering cold. It was pathetic to see.



We ended the journey with memories of Araku .

[san]

You forgot to mention the monkies at Borra caves. We even saw one eating crips from a packet!

[Just Another Human]

Araku valley- Borra Caves

From Bhubaneswar we started our journey by Vishaka express in the morning. The train reached Vishakapatnam by evening 1600 hrs. That was last week of December. Almost 90% of the hotels were full. Somehow, we got a hotel room on Bouthara road near railway station, after an hour of search hiring an auto. On that evening, we rounded the places of Vishakapatnam. I will tell those stories latter in my next topic.
On the next day morning 0630 hrs, we went to AP Tourisms CRO (Central reservation office). CRO office is inside the RTC complex at Vishakapatnam, centrally located. The city bus charge from railway station to RTC complex is just Rs2.


EASTERN GHAT MOUNTAIN ROAD
Our tourist bus started at 0700 hrs. The tour was road cum rail package. Most of the passengers were Bengali holidaymakers. At about 0830 hrs we were given packed breakfast with mineral water. At one point, the bus route entered the Ghat section. Araku valley is at Eastern Ghats.
The bus was going ahead slowly. The main point of attraction is the rail route that also follows road side by side. You can see the railway tunnels from the roadside. The great rail route was constructed to carry Iron ore from the Kirandul mines at Madya Pradesh to the Vishakapatnam port. Somebody said that the railways give more priority to the goods trains than the passenger trains over that route. On the way, we came to the area called Jungle bells. As such, there are no bells over there. It is an ecological project. Finally, we reached the famous BORRA CAVES.

BORRA CAVES
We reached Borra caves at 1130 hrs. tourism guys gave us one-hour time for seeing the caves.
There is a restaurant and AP Tourisms hotel. For public they charge Rs25/- as entry fee. However, if you go with AP Tourism it is free. This is a very big and tortuous cave in the mid jungle. The beautiful river Gosthani flows by the side of the cave. There is a display board warning the tourists, not to swim because of whirlpools. Above the Borra caves the railway track runs. We entered inside the Caves. They have placed high beam lights inside the cave. We can move easily. There were No hassles. The guide showed so many naturally formed rocky sculptures. Water was leaking from the stone. However, in the middle of the cave the scene was horrible. Many many bats were hanging over the roof and were making huge noises. We were moving with little fear. At one point, you have to crawl through a narrowest point. Beyond that, you can climb up to a small tribal Shiva temple. A young tribal priest was sitting there. The guide told us that on specific festival day of the year thousands of tribal people come here from all surrounding villages. We came at around 1230 hrs. There was a big traffic jam outside the cave complex. Literally there were hundreds of tourist vehicles were blocking the road. Our bus had a tough time. Bus climbed up once again.

ARAKU VALLEY AND COFFEE PLANTATIONS

These hills are named as ANANTHAGIRI hills that are a part of Eastern Ghats group. Our bus was travelling through the coffee plantations. We saw plenty of tribal women walking along the roadsides. They were carrying water in peculiar vessels. We could see more tribal women picking coffee leaves in the plantations. Beyond coffee plantations, there were beautiful Oak trees on the roadsides. We could see many church activities over there. May be the Christian missionaries are trying to convert all the tribes. Finally, we reached the Araku village, 3500 feet above sea level.

ARAKU VILLAGE AND TRIBAL DANCE
We had our quick lunch at AP Tourism restaurant at Araku village. The lunch was ok. Then we came to the Tribal museum. Tribal museum gives you all the statistical details of all Dravidian tribes living in the hill ranges. There were huge number of tribal weapons and fancy items had been exhibited over there. There is notice board “PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT ALLOWED.” However, nobody cares this advice. Then we came to another important attraction. On nearby ground there were few tribal women and tribal musicians. They are in fact semi tribal. They have taken the modern day influences. Our guide squabbled with the tribal women on some money issue. They could talk in Telugu. Then the dance started. Groups of about 20 women move in groups. They just walk in forming a circle. They were doing rhythmic movements. We gave them Rs20/-. Everybody contributed some amount. After that, we came to the Araku gardens. I purchased some tribal made, hand made, handbags and fancy items. Then we quickly came to the Araku railway station.

RAILWAY JOURNEY
The famous Kirandul to Vishakapatnam passenger arrived at 1530 hrs at Araku railway station. The AP Tourism people gave us snacks and tea. The railway journey is wonderful. We crossed 54 railway tunnels. We could see waterfalls on the hillsides. One practical tip I need to give you. When you travel from Araku to Vizag please sit down on the left side facing the engine. Because you can see more and more sceneries. We saw the railway station by name SIMLIGUDA enroute. This is the highest Broad gauge railway station in India. Of all the tunnels, the 13th tunnel from Araku is 896 meters. It is one of the longest in my observation. We could see groups of railway tribal labourers working in shivering cold. It was pathetic to see.

We ended the journey with memories of Araku .

Thanks a lot for the elaborate information u r giving us sujata bhai



Even though I have never been to Araku, heard a lot about it and want to go there in the next few months. Let's hope that I will be there soon

[Sujatha]

You forgot to mention the monkies at Borra caves. We even saw one eating crips from a packet!

Ya Ya Ya I agree.I too saw army of monkeys over there. Infact I forgot to tell that. When I went there I was empty handed. So I had no problem.



All young guys should make some time to go these calm, simple, pleasant areas.



AP Tourism is doing excellent job now a days.



They have recently activated the Nagarjunasagar trip also.

[Just Another Human]

You forgot to mention the monkies at Borra caves. We even saw one eating crips from a packet!

Ya Ya Ya I agree.I too saw army of monkeys over there. Infact I forgot to tell that. When I went there I was empty handed. So I had no problem.

All young guys should make some time to go these calm, simple, pleasant areas.

AP Tourism is doing excellent job now a days.

They have recently activated the Nagarjunasagar trip also.

the job of putting monkies there



(j/k)