Green hills of the Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh

Visakhapatnam and the Araku Valley: coast, caves and coffee in the Eastern Ghats

Vizag’s beaches and hilltop Buddhist sites, the railway into the Eastern Ghats, the Borra Caves and the Adivasi-grown coffee of the Araku Valley: a three-day plan.

Mahek Jatana

30 October 2026

2 minutes

Visakhapatnam, usually called Vizag, is Andhra Pradesh’s largest city: a busy port and naval base with a long beach road and green hills rising straight behind it. Inland, the Eastern Ghats climb to the Araku Valley, a cool upland of coffee, forest and Adivasi villages. Together they make an easy and varied short trip.

Vizag

The beach road runs north from RK Beach past Rushikonda towards the old Dutch settlement of Bheemunipatnam.
INS Kursura, a decommissioned submarine on RK Beach, is now a museum you can walk through.
Kailasagiri, a hilltop park, has the best views over the bay.
Thotlakonda and Bavikonda are hilltop Buddhist monastery sites from around two thousand years ago, overlooking the sea.
Simhachalam, on a hill outside the city, is an important temple to Narasimha.

The railway to Araku

The line from Visakhapatnam climbs into the Ghats through dozens of tunnels and across bridges, with views back over the plains. Glass-roofed Vistadome coaches run on the route, and seats sell out, particularly at weekends and in winter; book as early as you can. Many visitors take the train up and return by road.

The Borra Caves

On the way up, the Borra Caves are among the largest limestone caves in India, with stalactites and stalagmites in a vast chamber lit for visitors. A small Shiva shrine inside draws local pilgrims. Wear shoes with grip; the floor can be wet.

The Araku Valley

Coffee in Araku is grown largely by Adivasi farmers, many working in cooperatives, and Araku coffee has won recognition well beyond India. Visit the tribal museum in the valley, look out for viewpoints such as Galikonda, and walk among the coffee and the small villages. Ask before photographing people.

Planning

Time needed: three days, with one night in Araku.
When to go: October to February. The coast is exposed to cyclones from October to December, so watch forecasts.
Getting there: Visakhapatnam has an airport and good rail links to Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata.