Travel> Visakhapatnam Travel Guide

Image: At the Spa
Image by: Spice Route

Text by: Tanya Munshi

Must stay:
Bay Leaf Spa (Plot No. A, #3-2, Ocean Drive, Sagar Nagar, Vizag – 5300045, Ph : ( +91-891) 6454545, Website: http://www.bayleafspa.com/) is considered to be Vizag’s first Wellness Spa situated on RK Beach. This Ayurvedic Spa and Resort has 10 luxury cottages and offers wellness and beauty treatments, hair therapies and massages.

Must try:
You must visit the Tulips restaurant at the Green Park Hotel (Waltair Main Road, Visakhapatnam – 53002, Phone: 0891 – 6615151, Fax: 0891 – 2563736, Website: http://www.hotelgreenpark.com/), for their special Midnight Biryani that starts from 11:00 pm onwards on weekdays. The Midnight Biryani buffet consists of mutton/ chicken briyani, haleem, kheema masala, egg masala, vegetarian biryani, paneer and ending it with moong halwa or gajar ka halwa and vanilla ice-cream.

Must see:
The drive up to Rishikonda Beach is absolutely worth it. Just 8kms from Vizag city, RK Beach is a favourite weekend hangout for the locals. After an early lunch or dinner, a drive to Rishikonda Beach is amazing. From the top you can see the entire shore and certain inaccessible areas of the beach that are absolutely clean.

Must buy:
Bombay Gas Light Stores (10-1-27a, A Metta Junction, Uplands Road
Visakhapatnam-530003, Phone: 0891-2502413) is a one stop shop for all requirements. From small and big barbeque sets, steel ware/utensils, cutlery, all kinds of kitchen and home items, this place is a must visit. If you’re visiting Vizag, do drop by at Bombay Gas Light stores to pick up some knick-knacks like small copper plates with embossed designs for gifting purposes.

Match watch:
There are frequent sailing competitions held at RK Beach, which is a highlight of this beach. The drive to Rishikonda Beach has something more to offer. You can take the ropeway or drive up the hill to Kailasagiri, a popular tourist spot situated on a hilltop. You can stand at the tip of the hilltop to get the full view of the seafront.

Published in SpiceJet inflight magazine, for February 2009.
Link: http://www.spiceroutemag.com/2009/02/vizag-3/

Travel> A walk in the mist ~ Araku Valley (Andhra Pradesh)

Image1: Traffic enroute Araku Valley

Image2: Mist in the valley

Image3: View from the top

Image4: Entering Borra Caves

Image 5: A rock that looks like a brain inside Borra Caves

Image Copyright: Tanya Munshi

Araku Valley
Text by: Tanya Munshi
About 100 to 115 kms from Vizag (Visakhapatnam) lies Araku Valley, situated at a height of 600 and 900 metres above the sea level. Though it’s an all year round destination, I recommend monsoons as a good time to visit Araku. The drive up the Ghats amongst the mist and clouds with the backdrop of the lush greenery is a perfect breather for a weekend.

Araku offers a much needed weekend break. It’s neither too far nor too close to the city and I have personally liked Araku for a day trip as well. You can visit the Tribal Centre, which is a museum created by the tribals themselves. You can pick up souvenirs from the museum gift shop. Araku is a neat place for trekking. You may come across lots of tunnels and bridges en route.

Places to see
Ananthagiri Hills
You will cross Ananthagiri Hills en route Araku, which is known for coffee plantations.

Borra Caves
I recommend that you visit Borra Caves first and then go to Araku. Borra Caves is situated 29 kms from Araku Valley. Borra Caves is one of the largest natural limestone caves in Asia. Don’t miss this place. I also recommend that you hire a guide for round about Rs. 30/- and he will show you around in the cave with a torch. You can see various rock formations by water falling on the stones for several years. You can also see beautiful stalagmites and stalactites and this place is a wonder for all geography students and professors!

As soon as you step outside Borra Caves, you will find an APTDC run restaurant called Harita. Its USP - great food and courteous staff - I don't think you want to miss it.

Where to Stay
You can contact the Central Reservation Manager
Central Reservation Office, No 46A, RTC Complex,
Visakhapatnam
Phone: 0891-2746446
Telfax: 0891-2713135

Jungle Bells Nature Camp
Tyda, Araku.
Phone: 0891-2713135/ 2746446
Tariff:
Aerocon Cottages (4) Rs.450/- per day
Wooden Loghuts (2) Rs.500/- per day
Loghuts (2) Rs.400/- per day

How to get there:
Air: Visakhapatnam airport is at a distance of 112 kms.
Rail: Araku has a railhead. Otherwise, Visakhapatnam Railway Station is about 136 kms from Araku.
Road: You can drive up from Visakhapatnam or take an APTDC Bus

Best time to visit:
Araku Valley is an all-year-round destination, but best visited during monsoons.