Make the most of monsoon by trekking through a rain-soaked valley, fortified by bamboo chikan
Waking up in misty valleys and lush green fields can be a soul-purifying experience. Monsoon takes an attractive form in Araku Valley, a hill station located at a distance of 120 km from Visakhapatnam. We explore Araku in the rain to find its most memorable experiences for your next getaway.
Busky. drive in
With landscapes swaying lush fields, centuries-old trees and terraced farming, Busky makes the ideal location for a poster that very few travelers know about.
The 30-minute drive to the tribal village is enchanting – monsoon sloping earth, a small stream of water pouring from the hills on one side and glimpses of village life on the other. The solitude of the Eastern Ghats makes it one of the most peaceful experiences in the valley. It might be a good idea to carry a picnic basket along with a water bottle as there is no place to eat here. Busky makes a great location for landscape photography.
At a distance of about 30 km from Araku, the village is at a height from which one can have a panoramic view of farm fields and mountain ranges wrapped in mist. Busky is associated with agricultural areas where mainly paddy, sweet potato, ragi (finger millet) and pulses are grown without any chemical fertilizers, pesticides or tractors. The tribals here maintain traditional organic farming, plowing the fields, making the most of perennial mountain streams and rain-fed irrigation. From mid-June onwards, plowing and sowing activities turn the tribal belt into a hive of activity. In small groups, people take on large-scale farming in a perfect rhythm – creating a grand spectacle for travelers and locals alike.
Shop at Shandy Weekly
Nature’s pallet is not always the color of greens. Araku Shandy underscores the essence of Aboriginal culture in the region, which has been largely unaffected by urban influences. Dressed in traditional attire in the bright colors of saris, nose pins and multiple ear piercings, tribal women from the mountainous regions of Araku and Paderu trek for miles every week (Fridays and Sundays) to reach Shandy, where they can find their fresh Sells grown products. Organic products from morning till noon.
There are two weekly huts in Ananthagiri mandal, one at Damuku and Kasimpeta and the other at Sunkarmetta, a few kilometers from Araku. Araku Shandi, which is said to be the largest weekly market in Andhra Pradesh, is visited by around 20,000 tribals, some of whom come from the nearby towns of Nandapur, Chatua and Padua. Known shandy are organically grown vegetables.
Sample Bamboo Chicken
If the high hills of the Eastern Ghats that roll along densely wooded valleys provide Araku an enchanting view, the heady aroma of bamboo chicken is another attraction. Dotted with towering silver oaks, coffee plantations and pepper vines, the winding roads leading to the valley are busy with stalls from local villagers making and selling this dish. The popularity has grown so much that bongulo chicken or bamboo chicken has become synonymous with araku. Cooked inside a single piece of green bamboo stalk without oil, Araku’s bamboo chicken makes a healthy and delicious dish. The smoke from the burnt bamboo gives it a unique taste. Locals claim that marination with locally made garam masala, red chilli powder and ginger garlic paste is the key to bringing out the flavour.
The origin of the dish is from Maredumili, a tribal belt in East Godavari district. Due to the popularity of the dish, many people have stepped out of their tribal village for the first time to make it and sell it to tourists.
trek in solitude
Monsoon can magically transform even the most mundane places into a mystical world. The grasslands, hills and fields of Araku are ideal for monsoon treks and exploring lesser known trails. Madugula and Pandru are some of the popular trek routes here. There are a few Visakhapatnam-based startups that take tourists on guided treks with the help of locals from the tribal belt.
Chittagongdi Meadows in Araku Valley is a nine kilometer trek that passes through dense green trails and offers a view of vast lush green meadows from a height of 4,500 feet. While hiking along the way, learn about indigenous flora and fauna, such as the planting of fruits and vegetables on the mountain slopes, from locals who are more than willing to help them. A little away from here is the visor of the green plains of the trek route of Shivalingapuram-Bora Caves-Katiki Falls. The route is littered with photogenic ravines and serpentine streams.