Araku Valley, Mountain valley in Andhra Pradesh, India
Araku Valley is a mountain valley in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh state, about 36 kilometers long and sitting at 910 meters (2,985 feet) elevation. Steep forested slopes surround the valley floor, where a river winds through and terraced fields and coffee plantations become visible.
British colonial administrators brought coffee plants to the valley in the early 19th century and established plantations on the slopes. This introduction changed land use fundamentally and made coffee an important crop for the region.
The name Araku comes from local tribal languages and refers to a place where several streams meet. Visitors see small villages with traditional huts made of bamboo and clay, where indigenous groups still live and work their fields.
A train ride on the Kothavalasa-Kirandul line passes through many tunnels and over high bridges before entering the valley. Buses from Visakhapatnam travel winding mountain roads and take several hours to arrive.
Rain and elevation create conditions here where bees gather honey with a distinctive taste. Local beekeepers sell this honey at small stands along the main road through the valley.
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