Araku Valley – One of The Best Ways Of Getting Closer to The Nature

On my final day of trip to Visakhapatnam, I was a little bit exhausted. After all, I had spent almost a week in this city, exploring its beautiful beaches, magnificent temples, mysterious caves, and peaceful ashram. But, it is widely said that all is well that ends well. With this thought in mind, I planned about taking a tour of the Araku Valley Visakhapatnam. Well, it is a Hill Station.

Araku Valley Scenic View | Image Resource : wikimedia.org

Nevertheless, it was quite far from the city of Visakhapatnam.  More or less, the distance between Rushikonda and Araku Valley is 120 Kms. Since I was in a no mood to spend my night in the wilderness of this beautiful valley, for this reason I had pre-booked a cab for this new destination.

I must say that I you don’t like the hot weather of Visakhapatnam or other cities close by, Araku Valley provides great respite in this case. After all, it is a dense forest and the average elevation of this valley is 911 meters or 2,989 feet. As a matter of fact, the valley is located close to the Andhra Odisha border. No doubt, I was prepared to go miles in search of some tranquility and fresh air.

Araku Valley | Image Resource : aptdc.gov.in

I remember, it was 5 in the morning when I woke up and got myself prepared for the adventure ride. By 6:30 AM, I checked out from my hotel room, leaving behind the luggage at the reception’s desk. They didn’t mind; quite hospitable and helpful they were. Starting early certainly helped me as by 9 AM I was finally at my destination, the Araku Valley.

Araku Valley Visakhapatnam | Image Resource : nativeplanet.com

I was absolutely left mesmerized by the splendid beauty of this hill station. The natural beauty of this place explains why it is one of the most visited tourist spots in the entire Andhra Pradesh. Be it the coffee plantation or the strikingly beautiful waterfalls, you will start falling in love with each and every thing about this place. After spending the entire day at the valley, the chauffer took me back to the hotel, from where I collected my luggage, cleared the dues and headed towards the railway station to catch the train.

Borra Caves – A True Marvel Of Nature

There are very few travel destinations that offer sea, hills and caves at the same time. Luckily, Visakhapatnam is one such place. The very mention of caves ignites the wildness in you. Caves, the abode of the early stone man and also a geological marvel that make you wonder over the great architecture of nature.

Borra Caves | Image Resource : lakshyaworld.com

Located in the Ananthagiri hill which is a part of the Araku Valley, Borra Caves happens to be one of the largest caves in India mounted at a height of 705 meters. It has beautiful cave formation that exhibiting different shapes and sizes of stalactites and stalacmites. With a depth of 80 meters in its karstic limestone structures, Borra Caves happen to be the deepest caves in India.

As per the local myth, there is a stone inside the caves that resembles the Lingam and above that is a stone in the shape of a cow. It is believed that the source of Gosthani River that flows through Visakhapatnam is at the udder of this cow.

Lingam at Borra Caves | Image Resource : wikimedia.org

The Borra caves are situated amidst the forest which has a rich reserve of flora and fauna. The green view from the caves is soothing to the eyes. The interiors of the caves are lighted with sodium vapor and halogen electric lamps which provide a very colorful view of the speleothems. The riot of colors inside the caves cast a spell on you.

Borra caves offer a unique combination of hill, river, caves and forest that is difficult to find in any other part of the country. It is as if the nature is in its full bloom. The other adjacent areas worth visiting include Damuku View Point, Ananthagiri Coffee Plantation, Tyada Railway Tunnel and Padmapuram Gardens.

Borra Caves Visakhapatnam | Image Resources : bcmtouring.com

When I visit the Borra caves I just forget about my first love, the sea. It is a delight sitting by the cave and enjoying the beautiful view of the woods with a river running by. It reminds me of The Brooks Song by Alfred Tennyson – “I come from haunts of coot and hern, make a sudden sally… And sparkle out among the fern, To bicker down a valley.”

Travel Thought of the Week

Travel Thought | Image Resource : flickr.com

Its’ more than just truth as we can always make money but there are few things that can’t be bought with that money i.e. memories. As the quote says, we should travel and weave golden memories with our family, friends and loved ones that will put a smile in our lips every time we think about i! This quote will surely keep ringing in my mind for a long , long time!

Witnessing The Magnificence of Simhachalam Temple

One particular thing that sets apart the temples in the Southern parts of India from the rest is their design. The Kalinga architecture design has always attracted the historians and archeologists from different parts of the world. I was in Visakhapatam, and it was my sixth day here. Till now I haven’t been to any temple that features Kalinga architecture. So, the Simhachalam Temple Visakhapatnam was my obvious choice as my next destination.

Simhachalam Temple | Image Resource : wikimedia.org

Simhachalam Temple is located on the beautiful Hill top, which in turn is in Simhachalam. Yes, until one guy from the lobby told me, I didn’t know that Simhachalam is a suburb place in Visakhapatnam. Just like the last few tourist spots, this was also located far away from the hotel. Being alone in a new city was not an issue for me, because I have done a lot of travelling in the last few years.

As per the lobby guy, the distance between Rushikonda and the Simhachalam Temple is almost 25 kms. He also shared some details about how to get there if you are at the bus stop. Well, you can hop into the APSRTC bus, from the Dwarka Bus Station. But, for me hiring a cab was the best option. Fortunately, I had the contact number of the chauffer who took me to Yarada beach yesterday.

Architecture of Simhachalam Temple | Image Resource : blogspot.com

I left the hotel room at about 10 in the morning, and I was certainly pleased to find that the cab was already waiting outside. Wasting no time, I jumped inside the cab and the ride was pretty smooth. In half an hour, I was finally there. Locating the Simhachalam Temple is quite easy, as the nearest landmark is the Police Station.

Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami | Image Resource : vizaginfo.com

The temple was amazingly marvelous and it definitely represented on the finest works of Kalinga architecture. It was constructed in the 11th century, and it is dedicated to one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu, Narasimha. One of the priests told me that the temple by built by the King Sri Krishnadevarayam. Most of the time I spent there was behind examining the inscriptions on the temple, which were dated back to 11th Century. At the end of the day, I was tired, but at peace.

Photo of The Week : Gangavaram Beach Visakhapatnam

Gangavaram Beach Visakhapatnam | Image Resource : wikimedia.org

Gangavaram Beach Visakhapatnam : The shallow waters provide you with soothing sounds and calming vibes. I particularly loved this beach more than any other because it wasn’t too crowded. It has a temple of top of the nearby hill and the sounds of bells ringing and chants can be heard faintly at the beach. Sunset is the perfect time to visit!

A Warm Welcome At The Comfy and Beautiful Sai Priya Beach Resort!

As the train arrived on one of the platforms in Visakhapatnam Junction, I took my luggage and headed towards the exit of the station. I was quite pleased with the neatness of the well maintained station. So, the next task for me was to hire a cab and find the hotel in which I had booked my room. Though the hotel “Sai Priya Beach Resort” offers pick and drop facility on request, but I just wanted to make my journey and trip a little bit more exciting.

Sai Priya Beach Resort | Image Resource : vacationfinder.in

Fortunately, there were hundreds of cabs outside the station, and the location of the beach resort was popular enough for the chauffer to understand the address.  Located at Beach Road, Sai Priya Beach Resort Rushikonda is a 3-star hotel. So, I was definitely expecting some three-star treatment. Since the beach resort was located quite far from the hustle and bustle of the city, so the distance of 15 Kms between the resort and station didn’t bother me much.

After maneuvering through the city, the cab finally stopped at the main entry of the resort. Well, the first look of the resort certainly filled a new sense of excitement within me. The resort looked different and refreshing, and the roaring sound of the waves was making me more thrilled.

Sai Priya Beach Resort Visakhapatnam | Image Resource : cleartrip.com

The lush greenery that surrounded the resort was another pleasing element. Skipping the options of wooden cottages, classic rooms, and premium rooms, I decided to go with deluxe rooms. It is needless to mention that my room had all the basic facilities like an AC, TV set, internet access, etc. The guy at the reception was quite quick and helpful. All the formalities of check-in process took just 5 minutes, and thus I was able to rest my tired body on the comfy bed of my hotel room. The bed was neat and comfortable for sure.

Sai Priya Beach Resort Rooms | Image Resource : cleartrip.com

After relaxing like for half an hour, I called up the room service and ordered something for my breakfast. In the meanwhile, I took a quick shower and the warm water shower took away the tiredness of my body in no time. Well, the room service guy was also quite quick, and in like 15 minutes there was a plate of idli, vada, sambhar and chutney before my eyes! Which I hogged up with great frenzy!

Photo of The Week : Dolphin’s Nose Visakhapatnam

Dolphin’s Nose Visakhapatnam | Image Resource : worldtravelserver.com

Dolphin’s Nose Visakhapatnam : This location has derived its name because the rocks at this point ae shaped to look like a dolphin’s nose. The light house is the main attraction of this area and is open only after 3pm in the afternoon. The bay of Bengal is beautifully displayed from this point and I would recommend every person to visit this spot!

Yarada Beach – Beauty Away From The Chaos Of The City

So, this was my fifth day in Visakhapatnam, I was already getting acclimatized to the spicy and tangy flavors of south Indian cuisines. But, now I needed something to refresh my a bit tired mind. Well, what could be better than spending your leisure moments on the seashore! I have always been quite fond of spending life at any coastal region. The sound of roaring waves and the subtle humidity are something that I like quite a lot.

Yarada Beach | Image Resource : mindfreshtrips.com

With the thrill to spend my entire day at the sea shore, I packed few of my personal belongings and the necessary cosmetics. After all, wandering at the beach without protecting your skin with a good sunscreen lotion can be a disaster, particularly for girls. The place where I was heading to was the Yarada Beach.

Yarada Beach Visakhapatnam | Image Resource : tourmet.com

From Rushikonda, the Yarada beach is a little less than 35 kms. Even the guy at the reception told me that it would take at least an hour to reach there. For this reason, I woke up early in the morning to mesmerize my eyes with the wonderful view of sunrise at the Yarada beach. But, I knew it was not easy, and I didn’t happen either.

I left my hotel room at around 9 in the morning, hired a cab which was again arranged by the hotel. Since the traffic was light in the morning, so in less than 30 minutes I was there at the spot. I must say that Yarada beach is one of the most beautiful and enhancing places I have ever come across. Surrounded by the beauty of nature, this beach is located far from the chaos of the city. You can reach through the Dolphin Hill Road.

Sun Rise at Yarada Beach Visakhapatnam | Image Resource : go2india.in

Yarada Beach is amazing because from three sides it is surrounded by green hills, whereas the fourth side is the Bay of Bengal. The soft golden sands felt like a woolen carpet on my feet. The lush green surroundings were making me feel absolutely close to Mother Nature. The huge coastline is simply perfect for getting a glimpse of sunrise and sunsets. I definitely enjoyed those 3-4 hours.

Photo Of The Week : Kailasagiri Park Visakhapatnam

Kailasagiri Park Visakhapatnam | Image Resource : free-stock-illustration.com

Kailasagiri Park Visakhapatnam : The best part about this park is its rope way, it gives you a terrific view of the entire city. The toy train for kids is another beautiful attraction that adds to the creative layout of this park. You could spend a whole day here just clicking photos and enjoying the views. It is a well-kept park and also a great tourist attraction!

INS Kurusura Submarine Museum- A Must Visit Tourist Spot In Visakhapatnam

After returning from the very peaceful and pure RK Mission in the noon, I took some rest and headed straight to the restaurant which was inside the hotel itself. The food was quite good and contained the elements of south Indian culinary. Being a person from Rajasthan, I was quite comfortable with spicy food stuffs. For this reason, the spiciness of south Indian dishes didn’t bother me anyway.

INS Kurusura Submarine Museum Visakhapatnam | Image Resource : budgetindianvacations.wordpress.com

A short nap was enough for me to revive myself. So, at 3 PM I came down at the lobby of the hotel and enquired a little about how to reach my next destination, which was- INS Kurusura Submarine Museum. I knew it was located at the same beach road where the RK Mission was, but still I was a little confused regarding the distance. Thankfully, the receptionist cleared my doubts and I was glad to know that the destination is just a kilometer away from the hotel.

Since I had eaten a lot during the lunch, so I was not feeling like walking; and for this reason, I hopped into an auto rickshaw. The warm sun and the cool breeze were leaving behind a soothing effect on my mind and body. Within few minutes the auto rickshaw guy dropped me at my destination, and here I was, at the very famous INS Kurusura Submarine Museum.

Without wasting any time, I purchased two tickets; one for mine, and the other for my camera, for which I had to shell out 40 INR and 50 INR respectively. As I went inside, I came to know that the INS Kurusura Submarine was brought into the Indian Navy in the year 1969, and after serving our nation for 31 years, the submarine got decommissioned in the year 2001.

Being one of its kind in the entire Asia, the INS Kurusura Submarine Museum is a must visit place for kids and those who have penchant for the history of Indian Navy. Witnessing such a huge structure with your eyes is truly memorable. The length and width of the submarine was 91.3 m and 8.00 m respectively. Truly, a marvelous structure!