Hyderabad to Araku - Konaseema - Exploring Andhra Andhalu through unexplored routes

[nitin88]

Hyderabad to Araku 

 

• Distance Hyderabad to Araku :677 kilometers
• Drive :Skoda Rapid
• Fuel : Diesel
• Mileage:23 kmpl
• Road Condition:Unexplored forest roads
• Drive time:14hrs (excluding breaks)
• Resort:Haritha Mayuri Resort

 

Route:

Hyderabad ---> Suryapet---> Khammam---> Illandu ---> Bhadrachalam---> Sileru -> Chintapalle -> Paderu -> Araku

 

• Distance Araku to Hyd :900 kilometers
• Drive :Skoda Rapid
• Fuel:Diesel
• Mileage:20 kmpl
• Road Condition:Good 2 lane roads to Excellent 4 lane roads
• Drive time:16hrs (excluding breaks)
• Resort:Watch out Dindi Resorts, Konaseema Resorts.

 

Araku ---> Vizag ---> Sompalli ---> Bheemavaram ---> Vijayawada ---> Hyderabad

 

Local places to visit/try:

 

• Araku a hill station with very limited options, it's awesome place to spend your days away from crowd
• Exploring the Vishaka agency area/forest and some of the waterfalls no one can find them in the map
• Konaseema - no words to describe. If you are nature lover, just head over there and you don't want to come back

 

Caution: Long post with lots of pics, videos and less words. Pics/Videos speak more than words

If you remember my last trip to Maredumilli, there's no surprise that Vishaka forest agency is so beautiful and you want visit again n again. With 4 days to spend, I was planning for a trip [Lonavala/Araku], and finally decided to head on to Araku.

 

However visiting Araku is not something special, hit the National Highway Hyd to Vizag and you will land up in Araku in no time. But what's the fun if we drive all the way in boring NH? So we decided to take Forest route, which is not explored much. It turned out to be too hectic but one hell of road trip, enjoyed every minute of the entire journey. Imagine you are surrounded by Green Forest for 8hrs and nothing else.

 

Not many places to stop/eat/drink something, all you got it is deep forest painted by shades of green At one point, we were wondering did we get some color blindness that everything is now in Green Color only!!!

 

Tip:

 

* Don't travel in this route with families

* No cell signal for entire 8hrs trip. If you get stuck, tough luck finding help

* Big NO for any low ground clearance cars. You will see what it means in the pics

 

So here goes part 1 -> Reaching Araku

[nitin88]

[nitin88]

I bet you won't find these waterfalls in Google Maps

[nitin88]

A reason why you shouldn't drive down blindly or in sedan. These mud roads are your way to drive once you cross Seliru. You need to have lots of patience to drive through this forest for 4 hours on such roads

[nitin88]

Just about to reach araku and you will be feeling blessed in live in such a beautiful world

[nitin88]

Exploring Tribal museum in Araku, one of it's kind

[nitin88]

Visiting Borra Caves

[nitin88]

Part 2 -> Exploring Konaseema

[nitin88]

Videos:

Driving through Forest road -> Cruising ~80kmph on such roads, it's like open rally racing

[video=youtube;NuvJhHO9-8c]

It's not Araku -> It's in the mid of the forest hills, much more thrilling than my favorite Munnar

Araku Road:

Konaseema:

[nitin88]

Videos:

Driving through Forest road -> Cruising ~80kmph on such roads, it's like open rally racing

It's not Araku -> It's in the mid of the forest hills, much more thrilling than my favorite Munnar

Araku Road:

Konaseema:

[nitin88]

and finally it's time to sign off @credits my sweet heart

[Gowtham]

Excellent post Nitin. Looks like you are on roll. :clap:

Those villages roads and greenery all round is an eye feast for me.

Thank you for sharing.flag

[karthik]

and finally it's time to sign off @credits my sweet heart

Very good pictures and awesome write up. In love with your travel stories. Back to back road trips, I envy you. :clap:

Will try to catch up during the next india-drive meet.

I love your pictures a lot. Very clean less edited.:cooler:

[nitin88]

Excellent post Nitin. Looks like you are on roll. :clap:

Those villages roads and greenery all round is an eye feast for me.

Thank you for sharing.flag

It's monsoon. I didn't do single trip in the summer [because of weather], now it's time to cover that up

[sagar]

Beautiful pictures and really good information regarding the places you have covered [uSER=97]nitin88[/uSER] .. Way to go buddy flag

[vivek]

Awesome pictures and narration. you really are on a roll.. Back to back weekends

[balag]

Wonderful pictures.. I absolutely loved going through your travelogue .. I can sense what fun you have had during this trip.. Exploration drives are always fun

[kamal]

Beautiful photos.. Konaseema is always at its best during the monsoons.. A lot of places are still left unexplored in this territory.. And looks like you are already on the job exploring the roads less traveled .. Great job 

[ramuc]

Wonderful travel story embedded with superb pictures to talk.. I like the tips what you have shared.. Thanks a lot for keeping us cautious before we take a hasty decision.. thanks for sharing..

[ujwal]

Nice post. Konaseema is one place i wanted to explore... Thanx for sharing

[bpt]

Nice pictures and drive. I wonder how u did that mud track on a sedan..

[Naveen1]

within a week you are back with one more marvellous trip.

Now I want visit Aruku again. Will take sileru route for sure.

I want to experience that greenery and fresh air.

Excellent narration.

[nitin88]

bpt said:

Nice pictures and drive. I wonder how u did that mud track on a sedan..

kick out your friends from the car and inspect the depth using stick and roll on

[raman]

Appreciate the effort you put on capturing those videos during the drive.. Nice pictures and thanks for sharing

[sharma]

Amazing drive bro.. and beautiful pictures. It looks quite adventurous

[ullas]

Awesome stuff  

[shammy]

Nice write up with beautiful pics and Videos!!! Forest route you took is really adventurous with lot of green trees around and definitely an big NO to families I guess!! Since its monsoon, did you spot any wild animal by any chance?

Did you take any permission to go through this forest route? is there any camping spot nearby?

[nitin88]

shammy said:

Nice write up with beautiful pics and Videos!!! Forest route you took is really adventurous with lot of green trees around and definitely an big NO to families I guess!! Since its monsoon, did you spot any wild animal by any chance?

Did you take any permission to go through this forest route? is there any camping spot nearby?

You don't need any permission but you need to register the vehicle details at forest check post.

I didn't find any camping spot probably because the route is quite new and not many people explored!

No wild animals but awesome waterfalls on the way. we had fun, ofcourse i can't post those pics

[Gowtham]

You don't need any permission but you need to register the vehicle details at forest check post.

I didn't find any camping spot probably because the route is quite new and not many people explored!

No wild animals but awesome waterfalls on the way. we had fun, ofcourse i can't post those pics

I am planning for this in Jannuary.

Will add Lambasingi to the list.