Hopping Around in Araku — South Indian Hill Station | Travel Diary — Page #9
July 23rd, 2022
In Araku
“No, I am not going to the museum”. That was the only plan I had in place before I left home to Araku. But look where I am! It’s either the museum or waiting outside on the road until the auto arrives.
But why did I not want to go to the museum? I have been here a few times, and each time it looked pretty much the same. But it looks transformed right now. The last time I was here, there was guarded entry. You buy a ticket and walk inside. There was no boating, no sky cycling. And it definitely didn’t have this many visitors!
If you have come with friends or family, someone would go and stand along with these beautiful tribal women and you click a group pic, like this. Since I am here all by myself, I stood in front of them, we exchanged stares and smiles and moved on.
What do you think about this place? It isn’t open but they kindly let me in. You can take the center of the stage or the edge of it and address the audience. You also get to be the audience at the same time. And looking at the clouds, I feel it might start to rain anytime now.
What about future museums?
Now we are inside the actual museum. And we can see how the tribal people lived, worshipped and hunted. Looking at each of these lifestyle and cultural depictions, I couldn’t stop wondering how a museum from the future with our lifestyles preserved in it would look like.
It will probably have people holding on to their cell phones, in a concrete building or stuck in traffic. How would you want future generations to remember you and the world during your time?
The Coffee Museum
Right next to the Tribal Museum is The Coffee Museum. I didn’t plan on visiting this either. But since I have come alone and have joined an auto with two other people, I am just tagging along wherever the auto takes me! The place is decent though. Besides all these fancy coffee stores, it has a different vibe to it and some cool Oriya music in the background if I am not wrong!
Enough coffee for the day, let’s go somewhere else now.
The clouds keep getting thicker and darker but only to tease us with some drizzles. There hasn’t been any rain all day which is slightly disappointing. But it’s well compensated with other beautiful scenes like this.
The famous movie spot
We have reached this spot where many films were shot. There is so much to just sit and absorb in this single view. Just when I am about to do that, I get called back. This must be familiar if you have been to tourist places with a hired vehicle. All you do is reach a spot, click a few selfies and jump back into the vehicle.
Coffee Plantation
The next stop is a coffee plantation. A quiet and leisurely walk through these tall trees would have been an ideal thing to do. But when do we have such free time?
The Viewpoint
I remember being here with family many years ago. Probably the only place I remember which hasn’t changed at all. Still looks stunningly beautiful, with the same hills all around, the narrow pathways at a distance and the same bamboo chicken being sold.
Did you notice how it’s hard to recognize any lessening of beauty in nature as long as they are left undisturbed by our greed or not polluted by our littering? All it asks us to do is to let it be.
The Waterfalls
We are at Ananthagiri Waterfalls. Unlike the previous stops, we have more time to spend here. I do see the same people I have seen at previous stops. They are all doing what we have been doing. It is as if we all have a checklist of places we are tasked to visit. And we are in a race to finish them off. Hoppers we are!
The Borra Caves
And we are at the last stop for the day — at the Burra Caves. The entry costs 70 for adults, 50 for kids and 100 for the camera! That’s not only a serious discrimination but are they also saying my camera is worth more than me? 🤔
And there is only one tip I have for you. Unless you want a fracture, watch your steps and don’t be too lost in your selfies. It’s hard rock you are walking on which at some places is as slippery as oil.
Vistadome — Train with Glass Windows
A few steps away from Burra Caves is this railway station. This is where I take the train back to Vizag. After wanting to do it for so long, I am finally traveling in a Vistadome coach which is a special Executive Chair coach that is added to some trains. People board this coach mainly to enjoy the scenic views.
Tunnels
And tunnels. There are so many of them. More than 50 if I counted them right. If you are taking this train in the morning, you will hear whistles and shouts of joy for every tunnel. But now it’s quiet with some moments of exception since everyone’s tired on their way back.
Tunnels are fun. But sometimes they are too frequent and sneaky and obstruct the view of the beautiful valleys and hills. If you stay patient, however, you will be gifted with some clear views of everything between you, in the train and the hills and the horizon!
Some snow, please?
The only thing missing here is snow. Those hills wrapped in white chubby clouds are the closest we could get to snow-covered peaks. Everything we see here gets even better in the months of November and December.
Back to the chair
Now it’s time for the comfort of a chair. So back to the same chair that I was complaining about in the morning? I am not going to lie. I feel more tired now than I was in the morning. But this time there is a healthy reason behind it.
And the final win for the day is spending the whole day out, at a different place, with a blissful journey and some stunning landscapes. I can’t wait to go home and sleep in peace!
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