Trip Diary....Memories to Cherish

Placed against the fascinating backdrop of the Bay of Bengal, Vizag truly provides an ideal escape from the mundane life. Its tranquil location makes it very popular amongst the honeymooners and there is no denying that Vizag with its serene beauty has been very special during our honeymoon trip.
Rolling mountains, scattered greenery, awesome coastline ……Vizag has a lot to add to your pleasure. However, it’s the Rishikonda beach resort, which has made our stay in Vizag far more enjoyable. Located in the lap of hill ranges, this beach resort takes you far away from the hustles and bustles of urban life. From the roof attached with your room you can have a magnificent view of the Bay of Bengal taking a bent like a necklace. It takes around 10 – 15 minutes to walk down to the golden shore of Vizag from the resort. Even if you don’t go for a boat ride, walking along the soft sandy coastline is a great experience in itself.
Kailashgiri is another beautiful viewpoint that you cannot afford to miss during your stay in Vizag.
Among the hidden treasures of Andhra, Tyda is worth mentioning. All the wooden cottages at Tyda jungle bells are designed to make you feel the real thrill of forest; while enjoying the basic facilities of modern life (except television and telephone). It’s great to see monkey jumping from one tree to another, butterflies flying around, a variety of unknown birds, and insects …all from the wooden corridor attached with your cottage.
However, it’s the tribal dance show that we enjoyed most during our 2-night stay at Tyda jungle bells. Bon fire at the center of the dance floor was the added attraction of this show. The wide variety of dance sequences formed by the tribal dancers was simply amazing. We tried to capture their rhythmic movements in our DSLR; though it’s hard to describe in words, the real charm of being a part of that tribal dance show.
2 hrs’ drive from Tyda along the picturesque stretches of Eastern ghat will take you to another tourist hotspot of Andhra Pradesh, the Araku Valley. We took bit more time to reach Araku, as we stopped several times on the way to enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of tribal villages of Andhra Pradesh. The wide variety of colors all along the way, will surely take you to a world of tranquility.
The diverse range of hotel amenities and facilities offered by Araku Yatri Nivas made our stay in Araku far more pleasurable. To watch the Sun setting down behind rolling mountains from the room-side balcony is a great experience in itself. However, the real beauty of Araku lies in its vast stretches of lush green verdure. Bora cave is another must see tourist destination in Araku. A big group of monkey awaits you at the entrance of Bora cave. While moving towards the cave, you will surly enjoy monkeys jumping around you without causing any trouble. Once you step inside that cave the huge collection of stalactite and stalagmite formations will leave you in awe. It took us around one hour to cover every single corner of the Borra cave.
Our driver Srinu, helped us a lot to find out some of the hidden treasures of Araku. Among those, Chapprai is worth mentioning. Located against a fascinating backdrop, Chaprai is hotspot among the local people. It’s great to get around the riverine flowing through Chaprai.
While holidaying in Araku, you cannot afford to miss the charm of tribal villages. If you have some time left after visiting all the popular attractions in Araku, just go for a long drive towards Paderu. The sheer beauty of golden paddy fields, lush greenery, and undulating mountains makes a perfect solitude of bliss.

How we got there

It’s pretty easy to get to Vizag from Hyderabad. We availed Godavari express from Secundrabad to reach Vizag. You can also opt for airways to get to this fascinating beach destination of southern India.
It took us around 2 hrs to reach Tyda from Vizag by car. It comes in between Vizag and Araku.
From Tyda Jungle Bells another 3 hrs’s drive took us to Araku Valley.
If you skip Tyda, you can directly reach Araku from Vizag by Kottavalasa Kirandul railway.

Accommodations we availed

Accommodation facilities offered by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) i.e. the Haritha chain of hotels are among the best accommodation options that you can have in Vizag, Tyda, and Araku.
With its warm hospitality and comprehensive range of facilities and services, Rishikonda Beach Resort made us feel at home.
The New Woodbridge Cottage at Tyda Jungle Bells provided us with utmost comfort in the midst of dense forest.
In Araku, it’s the Araku Yatri Nivas that has made our stay in Araru Valley a memorable one. The diverse range of hotel amenities and services offered by Araku Yatri Nivas provided us comforts of home away from home.
If you are planning for a Vizag-Tyda-Araku trip, don’t forget to make hotel reservations well before your trip. Otherwise, it may be difficult to find out a lodging option as par you choice.