Araku Valley
A hill valley in the Eastern Ghats about three hours inland from Visakhapatnam, known for its coffee plantations, its tribal museum and the railway line that climbs to it through dozens of tunnels.
Borra Caves
Limestone caverns on the Araku road
A million-year-old limestone cave system in the Ananthagiri hills, lit for visitors and reached by steps down from the road. On the way to Araku, so most trips take in both.
The caves are among the deepest in India and were formed by the Gosthani river cutting through limestone. Inside, the formations are lit, and the walk through takes under an hour at an unhurried pace.
The approach is a long flight of steps down and back up again, which is worth knowing in advance if anyone in the group would find that difficult.
What to know before you go
It is on the Araku road, so adding it to an Araku trip costs very little driving. Cameras are usually allowed; a ticket is bought at the entrance.
What to see
- The lit limestone formations
- The Gosthani river, which cut the caves
- The Ananthagiri hills around the entrance
Other destinations
Lambasingi
A village in the Chintapalli hills that records the lowest temperatures in Andhra Pradesh, sometimes near freezing on winter mornings. Apple and strawberry plots, pine stands and a reservoir at Thajangi nearby.
Annavaram
One of the most visited temples in Andhra Pradesh, on Ratnagiri hill above the Pampa river, about two and a half hours down the coast road from Visakhapatnam.