Araku Valley

Araku Valley is a hill station in Alluri Sitharama Raju district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, lying 111 km west of Visakhapatnam city. It is a valley in the Eastern Ghats inhabited by different tribes, mainly Araku Tribes.

Araku Valley
Hill Station
Nickname: 
Andhra Ooty
Araku Valley is located in Andhra Pradesh
Araku Valley
Araku Valley
Coordinates: 18.3333°N 82.8667°E / 18.3333; 82.8667
CountryIndia
StateAndhra Pradesh
DistrictAlluri Sitharama Raju district
Elevation
910 m (2,990 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total56,674
Languages
 • OfficialTelugu
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
531 149
Telephone code08936
Vehicle RegistrationAP31 (Former)
AP39 (from 30 January 2019)[1]
Vidhan Sabha constituencyAraku Valley
Lok Sabha constituencyAraku

Geography
Tree houses at the Araku Valley hill station in Andhra Pradesh

Araku is located in the Eastern Ghats about 114 kilometres (71 mi) from Visakhapatnam, close to the Odisha state border. The Anantagiri and Sunkarimetta Reserved Forest, which are part of Araku Valley, are rich in biodiversity and are mined for bauxite.[2] Galikonda hill rising to a height of 5,000 feet (1,500 m) is amongst the highest peaks in Andhra Pradesh. The average rainfall is 1,700 millimetres (67 in), the bulk of which is received during June–October.[3] The altitude is about 1300 m above the sea level. The valley spreads around 36 km.[4]

Economy

Coffee was introduced in Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh in 1898 by British in Pamuleru valley in East Godavari district. Subsequently, it spread over to Araku Valley in the early 19th century. After independence, the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department developed coffee plantations in the valley.[5] In 1956, Coffee Board appointed Andhra Pradesh Girijan Cooperative Corporation Limited (GCC) for promoting coffee plantations in the valley through local tribal farmers. In 1985, the plantations were handed to A.P. Forest Development Corporation and GCC promoted Girijan Coop. Plantation Development Corporation (GCPDC) exclusively to develop coffee plantations in tribal areas. All the plantations developed by GCC and GCPDC were handed over to the tribal farmers at two acres per family.[6] Apiculture farms have been widely spread in Araku, several types of flavoured honey is being made commercially.

Transport
A view of a passing train in foreground and the valley in background

Araku is connected through both rail and road to Visakhapatnam. Araku railway station is located on the Kothavalasa-Kirandul railway line of Visakhapatnam division of the East Coast Railway, on the Indian Railways network. RTC Buses to Visakhapatnam every half an hour.

Many Telugu films including Happy Days, Katha, Darling, Life Is Beautiful, Parugu[7] and RRR[8] were shot in Araku.

Araku Valley view in January 2013
A local church entrance at Araku Valley
Tribal Museum, Araku Valley
Inside Tribal Museum, Araku Valley
Coffee Museum, Araku Valley

References
  1. "New 'AP 39' code to register vehicles in Andhra Pradesh launched". The New Indian Express. Vijayawada. 31 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  2. "Cheated for bauxite". Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  3. Need for conservation of biodiversity in Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh (PDF) (Report). Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  4. "Araku Valley". www.aptdc.gov.in. Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  5. "Araku Coffee".
  6. "AP Girijan". Archived from the original on 16 August 2019.
  7. "'Parugu' in theatres from tomorrow!". IndiaGlitz. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  8. "RRR UPDATE! 'Komaram Bheem' Junior NTR heads to Vizag for shoot; gets papped at airport". The Times of India.
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