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.
Simhachalam
The hill temple above the city
The Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple on Simhachalam hill, inside Visakhapatnam itself. A short drive from anywhere in the city, and the usual first stop on a temple itinerary.
Simhachalam is an eleventh-century temple on a hill in the north-west of the city, and one of the few places in Visakhapatnam that is both a major pilgrimage site and fifteen minutes from the centre.
The approach road winds up the hill; there are also steps for those who want them.
What to know before you go
Because it is inside the city, this is easy to add to the start or the end of a longer trip without adding a day.
What to see
- The Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple
- The view over the city from the hill
- The Kappa Stambham in the temple complex
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.
Borra Caves
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.