Araku Valley
| Araku Valley | |
|---|---|
| Hill Station | |
 | |
| Nickname(s): Andhra Ooty | |
 
Araku 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 | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 531 149 |
| Telephone code | 08936 |
| Vehicle registration | AP |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Araku Valley |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Araku |
Araku Valley is a hill station in Visakhapatnam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, lying 111 km west of Visakhapatnamcity. This place is often referred as Ooty of Andhra. It is a valley in the Eastern Ghats inhabited by different tribes.
Geography[edit]
It 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 is mined for bauxite.[1] 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.[2] The altitude is about 1300 m above the sea level. The valley spreads around 36 km.[3]
Economy[edit]
Coffee was first 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 early 19th century. After independence, the Andhra Pradesh Forest Departmentdeveloped coffee plantations in the valley and in 1956, Coffee Board appointed Andhra Pradesh Girijan Cooperative Corporation Limited (GCC) GCC for promoting coffee plantations in the valley and GCC promotes coffee plantation 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.[4]
Transport[edit]
Araku is connected through both rail and road to Visakhapatnam. Araku railway station is located on the Kothavalasa-Kirandulrailway line of Visakhapatnam division of the East Coast Railway, on the Indian Railways network.