At a distance of about 3 km from Padmapuram Gardens and 6 km from Araku Bus station, Araku Waterfalls, also known as Ranajilleda falls is lovely and little known waterfalls situated near Ranajilleda Village near Araku. At a height of over 60 feet, Araku Waterfalls is one of the best waterfalls in Araku Valley. Named after Ranajilleda village, this falls is located on mountain peak and about 10-15 minutes trekking is required to reach the falls from nearest motorable road. To reach the falls, one has to drive straight from Padmapuram Gardens till Ranajilleda village from where the falls can be reached by trekking the summit. Best time to visit these falls is the post monsoon season.
Before one KM from Borra caves at Gatevalsa you will be stopped by Jeep drivers offering you a trip to Katiki waterfall. This waterfall is nearly 7 KM from this point. You need to change your vehicle as rugged Jeep is required to cover the narrow muddy road passing through Jungle and by the side of Gosthani river. Jeep will take you upto the railway track nearly 6 KM from Gatevalsa point and from here you have to trek half KM and climb up after crossing the railway track. Your Jeep driver will tell you to return within one and half hour from the dropping point. The last 15 minutes of the trek upto the base of the waterfall is stiff climbing. Steps are there upto the waterfall for safe climbing. You can take bath at the base of the waterfall. On your trekking rout to waterfall there will be temporary shops set up by the local tribes selling biscuits and most important is Bamboo chicken. Marinated chicken is backed by keeping them inside Bamboo trunks and offered to tourist. It is Chicken Kabab but prepared by using bamboo sticks and cooking is done by keeping them inside Bamboo tree trunks. Locally collected Honey is also available in bottles in these shops.
By Road: Hire jeeps from Borra caves that would drop you one kilometer before the waterfall. From there you have to walk on foot to reach the waterfall. From Vizag, you can reach Katiki falls via NH 5.
By cab: Borra Guhallu railway station is the nearest railway station to reach Katiki waterfalls.
By Auto: Vishakhapatnam airport (89.7 kms) is the nearest airport.
Araku Valley అరకు లోయ Hill Station Araku Valley Scenic View Araku Valley Scenic View Nickname(s): Andhra Ooty Araku Valley is located in Andhra Pradesh Araku ValleyAraku Valley Coordinates: 18.3333°N 82.8667°ECoordinates: 18.3333°N 82.8667°E Country India State Andhra Pradesh District Visakhapatnam Elevation 910 m (2,990 ft) Languages • Official Telugu Time zone IST (UTC+5:30) PIN 531 149 Telephone code 08936 Vehicle registration AP Vidhan Sabha constituency Araku Valley Lok Sabha constituency Araku Araku Valley Road A view of Hill Station in Araku Valley Araku Valley is a hill station in Visakhapatnam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, lying 111km west of Visakhapatnam city. This place is often referred as Ooty of Andhra. It is a valley in the Eastern Ghats inhabited by different tribes. Contents 1 Geography 2 Economy 3 Transport 4 In Popular culture 5 References 6 External links Geography It is located in the Eastern Ghats[1] 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 is 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), 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]
1. Araku Valley: There is a railway station in this place. Araku Valley is a hill station about 120 kms. from Visakhapatnam 2. and is now popular as a tourist destination. The place is 42 kms. from Ananthagiri. 3. The tribes that live in this place are Bonda, Marris, Muriya and Gonda. 4. They wear colourful costumes and it is interesting to study their way of life. 5. Apart from that the highest peak is 1700 metres high above sea level and the view of the surroundings is magnificent. 6. There is a Tribal Museum worth visiting. 7. Borra Caves: About 34 kms. from Araku , these caves are located at an altitude of 722 metres. 8. These stalactite caves are more than a million years old. The caves were discovered by a British employee of the Geological Survey of India, 9. William King George, in 1807. There are engravings of many Hindu gods on the walls of the cave. Mythology states that Ram, 10. Laxman and Sita had spent a few days in these caves during the period of their exile. 11. Chaparai: This place is 15 kms. from Araku. It is a picnic spot with a stream where visitors can dip in to. 12. Padmapuram: There is a Botanical Park with a lot of exotic flowers and a variety of rose collection. 13. The park was used to sustain the soldiers during the Second World War, where vegetables were sourced from. 14. It is open from 8.00am to 12.30 pm and then from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm. 15. Ananthagiri: this is another beautiful place to unwind. The place is situated on the Eastern Ghats and close to the borders with Odisha. Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation has a hotel in this place.
Trekking is one activity here and to reach the falls is a strenuous exercise through rough terrains and a rough path.
1. kothapalli food: Dany Boyle (5 January 2014). "Kothapally Waterfalls G Madugula". YouTube. Retrieved 20 August 2017. "Kothapally Waterfalls Drawing Attention of Tourists In Vizag". YouTube. Retrieved 20 August 2017. "Kothapally Waterfalls Travel Guide, Places to see - Trodly". Trodly.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017. "Kothapally Waterfalls (Visakhapatnam, India): Top Tips Before You Go - TripAdvisor". Tripadvisor.in. Retrieved 20 August 2017."India Map, Map of India". Mapsofindia.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
