Borra Guhalu - one of the largest cave in the country

Borra Guhalu

It was a misty morning in Araku. The cab would come at 9:00am. We had ample time to roam around.

Ready to explore the town - at Haritha resort Araku

The AP tourism Haritha resort is situated on the main road - at the end of the Araku town or better to call Araku market. Araku is a very small town. Me and my daughter walked towards the main market. Full of fresh air. No pollution in the mist.

Kids are waiting for the school van

We reached the market or the town center. It was to early. Locals were carrying their farm produce. Kids were waiting for the school van. Tourists were gathered around a tea stall.

Locals bring their farm produce to sell in the market

After reaching the other end of the town, we returned back to resort.  Breakfast time and checkout. It was fixed menu breakfast with Idli and Sambhar and Tea. The cab was ready.

As we drove through the winding ghat roads, the valley - the Araku valley was gradually visible on our left side. It was a memorable journey. We reached "Galikonda - A Highest Point" on Araku-Vizag road. There is a view point over there. Locals were selling coffee powder, tribal ornaments, bamboo chicken with a makeshift arrangement. Some of the pictures shared here were taken en route and at Galikonda.




We started again and driving through the ghat, the mild aroma of coffee from the numerous plantations sprinkled across the valley, greets the visitors.

Coffee leaves

Coffee plantation

Tasting filter coffee at the road side stall near the plantation

After aroun 25km from Haritha we took a right turn on a narrow road. There was a APTDC signboard - Anantgiri. The driver intended to show us a waterfall here inside a village. 

Offroad towards Tadiguda Waterfalls ner Anantgiri

A villager was spreading the bean on the ground for drying

Tadiguda Waterfalls

A small stream was cascading down the rocky slope. Probably during rainy seasons, this becomes full of water and torrential. This time, being winter coming up, it was like a stream.

We had some roasted corn sold by the local.  It was 11:00am. We waited for a couple, travelling with us in the same cab and enjoyed the corn. 

After sometime they appeared smilingly. We started again. Around 4km from Anantgiri, we took left turrn towards Borra Caves. Main road goes towards Vizag.

The road was very good. We reached Borra Caves.

Borra Guhalu Entrance

The exploration started here. Some of the photographs were showcased here. For the complete experience one has to go inside the cave system. We spent around 2 hours in the Cave complex.



Outside there were makeshift hotels with thali system - fixed price with fixed menu. We had our lunch there. 

Luncheon at Borra Guhalu

Selling Bamboo chicken

They were also selling bamboo chicken on order, but we somehow dared not to experiment with that as we had to travel back to Vizag on a passenger train. By misadventure, it should not be unpleasant

Borra Guhalu Railway Station

The only passenger train would come at 5:15pm

The train came after 5:30pm - only passenger train travelling in this route. We reached Vizag at around 9:00pm. We put up in retiring room at the station. 

It was quite a journey, an experience to travel to the hinterland of India. Most of the area there was no mobile signals. And it was quite a relief.