Green, pleasant, and filled with the music of waterfalls is the picturesque Araku Valley, about 112 km. from Visakhapatnam. Rolling grasslands, lush orchards and bracing climate make Araku Valley a delightful place. The natural beauty of this valley comes alive with the aboriginal tribes who dwell here and who have, to this day, kept their tradition and culture alive. The Dhimsa dance, an age-old folk dance is still performed here during 'Itika Pongal' - the famous hunting festival in April. 

Eastern Ghats rail route from Visakhapatnam to Anantagiri is one of the highest broad guage tracks in the world. Train travel is an exhilarating experience as lush landscapes of the forest and Coffee Plantations afford a memorable spectacle.

A trip to this valley, which is located at the altitute of 1,300 meters above sea level and about 112 km away from Vizag, is a must. En route are the Borra caves (90 kms), famous for their stalactites and stalagmites, believed to be a million years oldand spread over the Eastern ghats and occupying an area of 2 square kilometers. Lush rice fields, thickly wooded forests, sugarcane and coffee plantations and waterfalls dot the region. 

The valley is inhabited by about 19 tribes - the women are beautiful, with their saris draped unusually, the ends tied over one shoulder. Bright orange, red and purple flowers decorate their hair, and their noses are pierced centrally by a jewelled bulak. 

The tribals celebrate the Dimsa and Mayur dances an age-old folk dance of the aborigines is still performed here during 'Itika Pongal' - the famous hunting festival in April.

Borra Caves 

Borra is a village lying in the Ananthagiri hills in the south-east corner of Srungavarapukota taluk, at a distance of 29 km. from Araku Valley and about 90 km. from Visakhapatnam. 

The caves at this place, popularly known as the Borra Caves and which are of historical and religious value are the most important places of interest here. Dating back to a million years, they present a breathtaking display of naturally sculpted splendour, in superb stalactite and stalagmite formations. Deep in the caves, a Shivalingam and an idol of a Cow(Kamadhenu) can be found. The caves are illuminated by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation. 

There are mica mines in and around Borra village and it is believed that there are immense possibilities of mining precious stones like rubies here. A big scale project known as the Thalipudi Reservoir scheme is being constructed at a cost of Rs 4.5 crores across the river Gosthami at Thatipudi.