Published in The Pioneer
Pack your bags and let the waves kiss your feet at
Visakhapatnam. TINA CHOUDHURY furnishes a compact guidebook on the perfect
holiday
If it is Goa in your mind when you talk of a relaxing
holiday by the sea, then hold on, there is a place that is equally striking yet
not very commercialised. Yes, it’s Visakhapatnam, best known as Vizag in Andhra
Pradesh! If you love to drive amidst the hills on one side and the sea on the
other, this is your terminus. Away from the metro lights, Vizag will pamper you
with beaches, hills and the amazing scenery.
This small city is located along the shores of the Bay of
Bengal and is headquarter to the Eastern Navy Command of the Indian Navy. The
best thing about Vizag is its accessibility. It is well connected by both
airways and roadways. If you are planning to start from south India itself,
Hyderabad can be your starting point, which is just 589 km (approx) from Vizag.
Buses are available from Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Vijayawada etc. But if
you are planning to surprise your wife or your girlfriend, here’s a handy
trick. Ask her to go to sleep once you start from Hyderabad and in the wee
hours, she would get up with the sea on one side and hills on the other. This
will mark an amazing morning of her life. So do this next time!
The best time to visit Vizag starts from October and after a
spell of rains, it virtually becomes your one-stop spot for romance, fun and
relaxation. Vizag in itself is a beauty where unlike other cities you don’t
have to panic on what to explore. The Andhra Pradesh tourism board gives
tourists fabulous staying options but you need to make the booking well in
advance to avoid risks.
Adding to the perks, there are several beaches, making Vizag
an unquestionable holiday destination. And if you have a car, your trip will
get better than ever. Ramakrishan beach is one of the most popular beaches
there. A walk on the beach as the sun sets will revitalise you.
If you are travelling to Vizag for the first time, the
itinerary should be well planned and Araku Valley should top it. After a spell
of rains, the valley looks verdant green and slowly turns into a yellow blanket
of flowers. The valley is located about 120 km from Vizag. From August, or
rather after the monsoon, the tourist season begins.
The journey to Araku is best done by rail as it will leave
you awestruck. Shimliguda is a station you will find on the way to Araku Valley
which is 997m above sea level and the fact that it was the first highest broad
gauge railway station in the country is a lesser known fact. You can leave
Vizag early morning for Araku Valley and return at night by train. Though the
place exhibits modernisation, the culture is still preserved well among the
ancient tribes and the primitive tribal groups still perform dances in the
evening to show their gratitude towards the tourists. What they perform is the
traditional Dhimsa dance.
In the midst of the bracing journey to Araku Valley, it’s
time for some adventure and head to Borra Caves. The cave is at a height of
800-1300 m from sea level. It is believed that Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana
lived in these caves for a short while during their 14 years of exile and this
is the primary reason that Borra caves are accessible only to the natives.
Galikondalu is a point that offers a fascinating view of the
entire valley where you can also see splendid waterfalls like Thatiguda and
Chaapari. Araku Valley is surely the balm for your soul as it has so much to
offer you to make your trip memorable.
Once you are back from the verdant green Aruka Valley, it’s
time to explore Kailasagiri Hills which are known for the massive statues of
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati made up with white marble. It is a known tourist
spot which is accessible both by ropeways and roadways. Both are apt for an
adventure lover! Kailasagiri will offer you an astonishing view of the sea. If
you want to roll back into history, visit Visakha Museum and the Submarine
Museum. In fact the Submarine Museum is the first museum in Asia to be built
off a submarine.
A visit to Vizag will be incomplete without tasting the
delicious sea food. If you are planning for a romantic dining option, head to
the beach side resort hotels situated on the deck. Two glasses of red wine with
some well garnished sea food will complete your trip to Vizag. After the
wonderful dinner, don’t forget to take a walk by the beach. The beach side
resorts usually have small light poles where you can ‘walk the talk’ with your
partner. It is said that Vizag has some small yet the safest beaches in India.
In short, it’s a place which has everything to offer to its
tourists — from lakes to beaches, stunning valleys to amazing hill ranges, it
has all of them. There cannot be any reason that will restrain you from
visiting Vizag. Be it getting there or be it the tourist spots, it’s all
amazing! This is a beauty-packed spot for you because there’s nothing more
beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no
matter how many times it’s sent away! So, simply put, just pack your bags and
head to Vizag this season!
