Araku Valley to Borra Cave 27 Apr 10:42 AM (last month)

Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats is famous for its unique Coffee plantation. At present, Borra Cave is one of the most attractive tourist places. The primary reason is that Borra Cave is the largest and deepest limestone cave in India. The cave is situated in the Ananthagiri hills. It is about a million years old. A geologist, William King George , was discovered in 1807 during a geological survey in India. This cave is surrounded by nature. Some nearby attractive places of Borra Cave are the Coffee plantation and Katika waterfall.

Local story based on the cave: 

The most popular and prominent story is based on the cow and the cowherd. One cowherd was searching for his cow when the cow went missing. He had found his cow inside the cave with a natural Shivalingam. According to the natural Shivalingam, this cave was sacred, and Shiva protected the cowherd’s cow. The Shivalingam is still present inside the cave. If you go there, then you will see it.

Best Time :

Winter season: October to March, during this time is known as pleasant weather. The temperatures vary from 10°C to 25°C.

open hours early morning, 10 to early evening, 5 o’clock. With this pleasant weather, you can enjoy the cultural attractions and natural beauty of the valley.

Borra Cave is famous for its Unique geological formation. If you want to be there, then arrive early to avoid crowds.

Some other place except Borra Cave 

Borra Cave is one of the primary tourist places in Araku Valley. ARAKU Coffee plantation (Link) and Katiki waterfall (LINK), some other places except Borra Cave.

Katiki waterfall

The distance between Borra Cave and Katiki waterfall is 30 kilometres. The source of the waterfall is the Gosthani River. The fall is taller than 100 feet. The timing for travel in the fall is 6 am to 6 pm.

Entry fee: It is free to visit Katiki waterfall.

ARAKU Coffee plantation

The valley’s unique terroir, iron-rich soil, and altitude all contribute to a specific flavour of coffee. The Adivasi Community’s local culture, the unique quality of the coffee production, and the Unique combination of natural beauty are attracting more tourists to the Araku Valley’s coffee plantations.

How to go :

There are three options for arriving at Borra Cave and other places. Flight, Train, Bus, Taxi, or Bike.But the best option to arrive at Borra Cave with train.

Visakhapatnam to Borra cave, Via Araku = 92 kilometres (2 hours 20 minutes) and Via NH 516E = 117 km (3 Hours). Visakhapatnam Railway Station to  Borra Guhalu Railway Station = 99 kilometres (1 Hour 30 minutes to 3 Hours; depends on train).

Flight + Train

Visakhapatnam + Borra Guhalu.

To arrive at Borra Cave via flight, first arrive at Visakhapatnam International Airport (VTZ) {Flight booking app: SkyScanner and makemyTrip}. Visakhapatnam railway station to Borra Guhalu railway station. {Train booking app or website: IRCTC}. Then,  Borra Guhalu railway station to Borra cave is 1 kilometre.

By Bus + taxi 

To travel to Borra Cave from Visakhapatnam by bus + taxi, the APSRTC (Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation) bus service is one of the best options for you.

First, you need to arrive at Araku. The distance between Visakhapatnam to Araku is approximately 110 km, and the time taken is 3-4 hours. Everything depends on the bus service.

Then, Araku to Borra cave via a shared taxi (Room2Rio).  You can choose Auto, Araku to Borra Cave, which will be cheap for you.

Otherwise, hiring a local jeep or a car for a trip around the area is more suitable. This is mainly to explore other attractive places like Katiki Waterfall, Ananthagiri Coffee Plantations, Tribal Museum, and Galikonda View. See below, A video of Galikonda View.

Where to stay 

You can stay in Araku, it is most convenient for you. It is more convenient as compared to other places, the reason: You can get a train, a bus, and a taxi from there. You can experience natural beauty and tribal culture in Araku.

Visiting fees :

Borra Cave:

• Entry fee: Indians and Foreigners, both nationalities, entry fees: 60 rupees per Adult and 45 rupees per child (up to 12 years).
• Phone camera: 25 rupees, Video Camera: 100 rupees and Still or Digital Camera: 100 rupees.
• Parking Charge: Two wheelers 10 rupees and cars 30 Rupees.
• Luggage Fees: No Specific, while A cloakroom facility is also available before entering the gate of the cave. No permit to go inside the cave with luggage.

Coffee plantation 

• Entry Fees: 10 rupees per person. No camera fees and Parking charges.

Katika waterfall

• Entry Fee: Free of Cost, no parking, and camera charge.

Our Journey 

After Tirathghar waterfall (Kanger Valley National Park), we arrived at Jagdalpur railway station. Our train was from Jagdalpur railway station to Araku Railway Station. We used only public transport because it gave us more opportunities to connect with nature, local people and their culture.

Map card for our Journey: 

1. First day, local place in the valley.
2. Second day Famous Araku Coffee plantation.
3. 3rd day, Katiki waterfall.
4. 4th day: The longest and deepest cave of India, the “Borra Cave”.

First day, local place in the valley:

we arrived Araku railway station at 10 o’clock. we stayed in our tent at parking sites of the Araku railway station. The Station was very clean and well decorated.

First day, we suffered with language because most of people don’t know English and Hindi too.

We wanted to go coffee plantation but we reached Araku Pinery. Araku Pinery is decorated with tropical pine trees. You can stay there in their tent. you need to pay them to stay in tent.

We decided to find a place to stay at night near Araku Pinery. We found a place to stay. It was surrounded by a pleasant climate, nature like high altitude and lush greenery.

Suddenly, We heard the cricket’s sound just below of our tent. It broke our sleep, and it was at 9:16 o’clock. Next day, we decided to visit Araku coffee plantation.

Second day: Journey to the Coffee plantation 

We started our journey to the famous Araku Coffee plantation. First, we reached Araku Town. We ate delicious Chicken biryani. We charged our phone while eating in the restaurant.

After eating, we started our journey to the coffee plantation. We made another mistake, we thought that we would get on any bus in the way. We saw the bus on the way, but no one stopped. After 30 minutes, we talked with local people. He told us, “The bus will stop only at its stand”. Then, we went to the Araku Bus stand. We would get a bus to the Coffee plantation.

We paid ₹75 per person as a fare from Araku Town to Ananthagiri Coffee Plantations, and the distance is about 22 km (Around 1-2 hours). During travel by bus, you will see green hills dotted with coffee plantations, scenic landscape of Ananthagiri, Lush and tribal villages.

Araku Coffee plantation

Finally, the bus stopped in front of the entry gate of the coffee plantation (opening time 6 AM and Closing time 5 PM). We paid 10 Rupees per person for entry. We saw that the coffee plantation is planted with an Arabica coffee plant. The Arabica Coffee plant is famous for its distinct flavor profile and quality. It covers an area of about 20,000 hectares.

Coffee plants are intercropped with other plants like Black pepper, mango, jackfruit, and various vegetables. Coffee plants shade with Silver oak, mulberry, fig tree, Gliricidia, custard apple, arjuna, Mahogany, erythrine, grapefruit and more.

We met a man with a jar of caterpillar larvae, or caterpillars. We saw that A coffee plantation is made in a bridge type of something using bamboo for a photograph. Tourists are taking their own pictures and videos in that place.  Local people are selling Araku coffee outside the coffee plantation. We bought Araku coffee for 120 rupees. Then, we drank coffee to experience its taste.

After the coffee plantation, we went to the Galikonda View Point. This viewpoint is the second-highest mountaintop of the Eastern Ghats and offers panoramic views of the surrounding Eastern Ghats and Araku Valley.

After Galikonda View Point, we decided to stay the night in Sanskaramati village (near a coffee plantation). This village is very beautiful and surrounded by nature (scenic landscape of Ananthagiri and  Lush). We set up our tent in this village.

It was getting cold, so we lit a fire there at night beside the tent. We ate watermelon and a banana. We saw a beautiful Moon and stars at night. Then we went to bed.

3rd Day: Katiki Waterfall journey

In the morning, we packed our tent and were ready for the Katiki waterfall. While packing and doing other things, we charged our phone at a local person’s home. See the video, we are going to Katiki waterfall…….

Then, we started our journey on foot. The road is surrounded by beautiful nature. We tried to take a car lift. We collected “Tamarind” from the tree and ate it on our path. Finally, we got a car, but only one seat was available. We decided that we would not take a lift. After 30 minutes, we got another car, and this time, two seats were available. Then, we took a lift.

Katiki Waterfall 

Finally, we reached our destination, Katiki waterfall. We took our backpack from the car and started to go toward the waterfall. We observed that people are selling bamboo chicken and Araku Coffee. The height of the waterfall is about 50 feet. You can bathe here.

The cost is 300 per kg of bamboo chicken. We ordered 1 kg. We saw that the man first mixed spices into the chicken and put it in the bamboo tube. He covered both ends of the bamboo trunk with leaves. After cooking, he gave lemon juice to the chicken and served us. We tasted it and it was awesome. We ate 500 grams there and 500 grams packed for later.

We saw a white colour Arachnid while eating the delicious food. We tasted a local delicacy food bamboo chicken. I am researching insects and arachnids, but I have seen them for the first time in my life.

After eating of bamboo chicken, we started to find a place to shower and stay.

Finally, we found a place to shower. We showered and washed our clothes. We saw a rock, water streamed around the rock. We decided that we would go to the rock and eat the remaining chicken on the rock. We did the same, what we thought .

After showering and eating, we started to find a place to stay for the night. We found a place to stay at night. It was made of concrete, and we paid 100 rupees to set up our tent with the owner.

The story of 300 rupees converted into 700 rupees

During the setup of our tent, we talked owner of the land about dinner. Then, he went from our tent sites. Two young boys came to our tent site. He told us we are cooking. If you need dinner, then we can cook for both of you. We told, yes, we need dinner. I (Reza) asked, How much do I need to pay you for veg, rice and two eggs? He told us Don’t worry about money. First, eat then you will decide about food cost. I (Reza) asked numerous times, they repeated the same answer.

At night, they came with rice, four boiled eggs and Red Lentil Dal. I asked the same question, How much do we need to pay you? They repeat the same answer. They did not answer us.

We had dinner in nature at night. We saved some food for the next day. After dinner, we saw the star, moon and train (How the train was going under the tunnel). We charged our phones in the gentleman’s home. We called these boys who cooked for us.

I asked them, How much do we need to pay? One boy replied 700 rupees. We did not expect he would ask 700 because it was so expensive. I (Reza )told him we would pay him 300 rupees because I knew the cost of this food. Then, I (Reza) went to a person where I gave our phone to charge. He talked with them, then they were ready to take 300 rupees. We paid them and left this place.

4th day: Katiki Waterfall’s village to Borra Cave

We started our journey again on foot. We saw beautiful nature (Lush Vegetation, small Waterfalls, flora and fauna, lake formation, natural beauty adventure and trek) around our path. We saw a tamarind tree again. I (Svet) collected some tamarind from the tree.

After 1 Hour, finally we got a lift in the truck. This man dropped us 1 kilometre away from the Borra Cave. The reason: we were going to another place. We reach our destination after 30 30-minute walk.

First, I (Svet) decided to drink coffee. We saw an old man who was selling tea and coffee. He was selling one cup of coffee for 15 rupees. We had an Araku coffee. We told him, we will give you araku coffee, can you prepare it for me? He told, yes. We gave him our Araku coffee. He prepared coffee for us from our Araku coffee. We asked 20 rupees. We were surprised again, we gave him our coffee and he wanted the same price. We were unhappy with this, but I needed to pay him the same.

Borra Cave:

Finally, we reached in front of the entrance gate of the cave. The cave is approximately 150 million years old. The Gosthani River played a key role in forming a magnificent cave.  We observed different stalls (Sik Kabab stall, handmade handicraft and more) outside of the cave. We saw a zip line beside the entry gate of the Borra Cave. The fees for the zip line are 500 rupees per person. You can enjoy a 350-meter long for 20 minutes. You can enjoy the view of the Eastern Ghats during a ride.

Video: Different stalls (Sik Kabab stall, handmade handicraft and more) outside of the cave.

Video: Outside of the Borra Cave

We paid 60 for each person for entry and 25 rupees for a mobile camera. We saw monkeys outside the cave. You can’t go inside the cave with the backpack that we had put in the Clockroom. It is on the present right side of the ticket counter. It is safe, they will give you one token, and you need to store it safely.

Video: Borra Cave’s Cloak Room

We saw inside the Shivalingam, stalagmite formation and impressive stalactites, even distinctive shapes like mother-child, Shiva-Parvati, a cow’s udder and a Human brain. Some items are pointed out by a different colour. It will help you to understand everything.  We saw stairs inside the cave. There are 440 steps inside the cave.

Video: Outside of the Borra cave.

https://travellerstips.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/VID_20240222_130705128.mp4#t=,0.22

Video: Inside the Borra cave.

What will you see?

 Inside the cave:

Stalagmite formations, majestic stalactites. Unique configurations like a Shiva Parvati, mother child, human brain, Rishi’s bread, cow’s udder, tiger and crocodile.

Outside of the cave:

Zip line, monkey and different handmade product stores.

Except Borra Cave:

Katiki waterfall, coffee plantation, green hills dotted with coffee plantations, scenic landscape of Ananthagiri, Lush and tribal villages.

Special food

Bamboo chicken or Bongulo chicken.

Is it a safe place

According to our experience, Araku Valley and Borra Cave are both safe for tourists. But you need to confirm the price of the product before using it and eating it. Otherwise, you will face challenges like us. Local people are very helpful. We stayed three nights in our tent. But, before staying in the tent, try to talk with local people, they are helpful.

If you want to do anything, then comment or contact us through our form.

Chitrakote Waterfalls 24 Apr 12:11 AM (last month)

Chitrakote waterfall is the widest waterfall in India. This waterfall is also known as “India’s Niagara Falls” because it looks like as shape of a horseshoe and massive scale. India’s Niagara Falls is almost 1/3 less of in width balance to Niagara Falls.  India’s Niagara Falls is a water flow at its peak, especially in the monsoon season.  It is creating a spectacular visual display. The waterfall spans 300 meters during this particular season.

Perfect time :

The perfect time to visit Chitrakote waterfall is from July to September, during the monsoon season. The waterfall during the rainy or monsoon season is widest and most powerful. The water flow reaches its peak.

How to go:

Jagdalpur is the closest city to Chitrakote waterfall. You can come to Jagdalpur via flight, train, bus and car.

Via Air:

You need to reach “ Devi Maa Danteswari Airport” in Jagdalpur. This airport is also known as Jagdalpur Airport (JGB). You can share or take a taxi, jeep or bus from Laghu Chowk, Jagdalpur (Jagdalpur new bus stand), to Chitrakote waterfall (Distance: 40 km and time: 1 hour).

Via Train:

The nearest Train station to the Chitrakote waterfall is Jagdalpur Railway Station. You can share or take a taxi, jeep or bus from Laghu Chowk, Jagdalpur (Jagdalpur new bus stand), to Chitrakote waterfall (Distance: 40 km and time: 1 hour).

Via bus or Car:

You can arrive from Raipur to Jagdalpur via car or bus in approximately 5 hours. The minimum price of the bus ticket is INR 150. After arrive Jagdalpur, same as the previous. If you are a nature lover, you can prefer a road trip because you will see greenery and lots of monkeys on the way. we were selected bus Raipur to Bhanpuri, we paid 180 INR for each person. we ate first time green pea at the bus during travel.

We stayed first time in the temple in our Tent. I (reza) told Sveta that “I am very afraid, if anyone will kill us during sleeping”. I (Sveta) replied Reza that “nobody will kill us” Funnyly. I was alived  when i had opened my eyes in the morning. we went in the public washroom but it was locked . Then, we freshed in one ashram. The name of the ashram is banbasi kalyan Ashram. It was very cleaned..

just Outside of the Banbasi Kalyan Ashram, we had got a bus for Chitrakote waterfall.

The Inside view of the Ashram. Video in the below….

The bus dropped us off 2 Kilometer away from the Chitrakote waterfalls. Then, we decided that we will walk 2 kilometers and enjoy the nature. I (Sveta) saw a papaya tree, there was lots of papaya. We bought one papaya 30 rupees, it was more than one kilogram. We ate half portion in there home who sold it and another save for chitrakote waterfall. finally, we have arrived at Chitrakote waterfalls.  Some Moment   in that 2 Kilometers below….. 

Where to stay: 

If it is already sunset, you can stay in Jagdalpur. Otherwise, you can come to the Chitrakote waterfall and stay here. You can get both Lodge and Hotel facilities here (800 (Average) to depending on you). We stayed there for two days in our tent. Before staying in a tent, try to talk with locals. Local people are very helpful.

Visiting fees: 

There is no entry fee to visit Chitrakote waterfall. If you want to explore via boat, each person pays 50 rupees (Indian Rupees). It can vary up to 150, everything based on time.

What will you see?

Chitrakote waterfall is the widest waterfall in India. When you enter the store, you will see different beautiful handmade products, which are sold by local people. It will attract your eyes.

Then, you will see the main thing, a horseshoe-shaped waterfall. There are several waterfalls.

If it is not the monsoon season, you can go down the stairs to the river. Then, you have to pay the person who drives the boat. You have to pay 50 rupees for each person. Then, the boatman will take the boat towards the waterfall. You will be able to see the waterfall very closely.

People are fishing under the waterfall. We saw a boy fishing with his boat.

Just near the waterfall, we cleaned our clothes and showered. After washing our clothes. We dried clothes there. During the shower, we found crabs, dragonflies, bats and different birds. You will visit one Shiv Temple.

Is it a safe place?

According to our experience, it is a safe place. Local people are very helpful. We stayed in our tent for two days. We charged our phone in a local food store. Dogs are very friendly. We gave them food, and they were sitting around our tent the entire night. Cows are also friendly. Before staying in Tant, try to talk with the locals, they are very helpful.

Thank you for reading. If you want to know anything, then write in the comment Section.

Historical Konark Sun temple with beautiful beach 19 Apr 9:05 AM (last month)

Konark Sun Temple is one of the unique architectural designs. The design of the Konark Sun Temple is based on the Sun god Surya’s grand chariot.  According to the “UNESCO World Heritage Site”, the uniquely designed temple was built in 1250 CE. The wheel of the Chariot is indicated clock, where 8 spokes are present. According to 8 spokes, mythologies say that one spoke represents 3 hours.

Iconic architecture In Agra 19 Apr 2:12 AM (last month)

The Place of Agra is considered Iconic architecture only for the –. The Taj Mahal was made of White marble over 17 Years between 1631 to 1648. The iconic, immense mausoleum was built in memory of Mumtaz, the favourite wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. This beautiful mausoleum reminds us of the story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz.

Don’t make a mistake before travelling to the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal is one of the landmark tourist places in India. The unique architecture with white marble attracts a vast number of tourists. But…..

• Every Friday, the Taj Mahal is closed. 
• To carry a Tripod inside the Taj Mahal is prohibited.
• Try to avoid drones,  large bags, water bottles and cameras with flash when bringing into the monument.
• Smoking and eating are both prohibited inside the Tajmahal.
• You should book a ticket in advance, as it will save your time in a long line. Online booking website. You could not book a ticket after 6.10 pm.

Tirathgarh Waterfall 27 Mar 8:52 PM (2 months ago)

The Tirathgarh waterfall is a type of block waterfall on the Beautiful river Kanger. The plunges of water 300 feet in a single drop. There are 3 drops are exist here. A bathing place is also present there. it is one of the amazing photography and tourism site entire season. you can observe their beautiful butterfly. Odonata and big termite home there. Ant’s sauce is a unique dish, which is available only here in entire the world.

We have spend here 3 days. we saw another beautiful waterfall which is combination of three small waterfalls. 90% people don’t know about this waterfall. Only local people are known about this waterfall. The name of this waterfall is Shiv ganga waterfall.  We slept here in our tent. we saw variety of Dragonfly, damselfly, butterfly and other insects. 

Auroville 26 Mar 9:49 PM (2 months ago)

1. Travelling India without Auroville is considered an incomplete trip. Auroville is one of the most attractive tourist all in the world. Matrimandir is the landmark of this tourist place.  There are 124 countries participated on their soil and 23 Indian states during the making of  Matrimandir in 1968. This place is the source of learning different skills for example learning music, architecture, making musical instruments, Aroma and others.  Some famous place in Auroville is given below…

Ans: Via Bus (Distance: 150 KM, Duration: 3:30 to 4 hours). 

Q1. How will I go from Airoville to Pondicherry?

Via Bus

ONLINE Ticket booking app: redBus*, Abhibus*, Goibibo. 

1. TNSTC or Government Bus ticket costs around 175 Indian Rupees.
2. The cost of a Chennai to Auroville bus ticket varies from 175 to 5000 Indian rupees or more, depending on the type of bus, amenities, and operator. The average bus fare is 400 Indian rupees.
3. You need to ask any bus conductor at the Chennai bus stand about the Pondicherry bus, because very few people know about Auroville. 
4. The distance between Pondicherry to Auroville is 11.3 km.

Via Train

(Online ticket booking app: IRCTC,  Distance: 152 km, Duration: 4 Hours)

1. Chennai Egmore to Pondicherry.

Q2: What will I do after arriving in Pondicherry?

Online booking: booking.com, MakeMyTrip.

Ans: You can stay in Pondicherry. We stayed in a time-travelled hostel with our tent for more than 15 days.

Q.3: What is the best time to visit Auroville?

Ans: Between October and February. The ideal time is between October and February because pleasant weather and it is comfortable to explore. You can experience “Dawn Bonfire Meditation”  on 28th February (Anniversary of Auroville). In the case of leap years, it happens on 29th February.

Q.4: How many days are sufficient to explore Auroville?

Ans: Generally, one week to 10 days is sufficient to explore Auroville, but it depends on you.

Odonata in my village 25 Mar 1:13 AM (2 months ago)

I am from a small beautiful village in India. Hassan is my village name. It is surrounded by a variety of diversity with animals world. I have studied for 3 years about Odonata here. I have observed a variety of Odonata in my village. I have observed it in different seasons and times (Morning, afternoon, before sunset and night).

 

Some Odonata, I have clicked in frame during studying. 

Katumsar cave 4 Mar 11:28 PM (3 months ago)

This cave is situated inside of the Kanger Vally National Park, Chhattisgarh, India. If you want to see a living cave, it will be an option on your list. This cave is made of limestone.  

Click here

Ambition travel entire world and share 14 Feb 10:46 PM (3 months ago)

I aim to travel the entire world and share my experience with others. I have selected first place in India. India is my country and rich in biodiversity, religions and architecture. Some picture is clicked during travel.