Day 1:
Vizag Off-beat Adventure
09:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Begin your Vizag expedition with the oldest Buddhist settlement at Thotlakonda.
17 km from Siripuram, Thotlakonda is a place of historical significance. This is not frequently visited by tourists, thereby making it an off-beat attraction. The settlement showcases the Buddhist way of life in the past. The layout consists of meditation halls, kitchens, resting place and more. History buffs will love to explore this place.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Mode of Transport: Auto/Taxi/OLA/Uber ride
After a peaceful time, you head towards Rushikonda Beach for some adventure.
Rushikonda Beach is 5 km from Thotlakonda and is known for water-sports. The beach is considered one of the cleanest in the east coast. Arrangements like shower rooms, lifeguards and many other facilities makes it a tourist friendly attraction. Water-sports like, jet-ski, speed boats can also be enjoyed.
Time duration: 2 – 2.5 hours
Mode of Transport: Auto/Taxi/OLA/Uber ride
Rushikonda Beach offers a plethora of restaurants along the Beach Road. One of the popular restaurants is Sea Inn Dhaba. They serve veg and non-veg dishes at a reasonable price of Rs. 400 for two.
Landmarks of Vizag
02:00 PM – 06:00 PM
The best way to beat your post-lunch laziness, is to be at highest view point of Vizag at Kailasagiri Park.
10 km south of Rushikonda beach, the park is situated at a hilltop and can be accessed through a cable car or via road. The park has been developed to entertain tourists of every age group. Activities like toy train ride, amusement park keep the children busy while the adults can enjoy the spectacular views of the Bay of Bengal and the panoramic views of the city skyline.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Mode of Transport: Auto/Taxi/OLA/Uber ride
The last attraction of the day is the iconic INS Kursura Submarine Museum.
This is the landmark of Vizag and a must-visit attraction. INS Kursura was is service for 31 years before being decommissioned and converted to a museum for public access. Taking a tour of the submarines exposes you to the operations and lifestyle of naval officers when they remain under water. You must not skip this when in Vizag.
In the news: The Hindu
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
Mode of Transport: Auto/Taxi/OLA/Uber ride
Before you retire to your hotel room, you can look to shop for souvenirs at Lepakshi Handicraft Emporium at Jagadamba Junction. For more details, https://lepakshihandicrafts.gov.in/
Also read: Best Area To Book your Hotel in Vizag
Day 2:
Sunrise and Temple darshan
05:30 AM – 09:00 AM
Wake up early and head towards to Ramakrishna Beach to enjoy the view of the Sunrise.
1 km from Siripuram, Ramakrishna Beach is easily accessible on foot. Take a walk along the beach as the sun rises above the horizon. Morning walk along the beach is a daily activity for the residents. Sip a cup of tea in the beach at a roadside stall.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Mode of Transport: Auto / 10-minute walk
When the beach starts to get a little busy, head towards Simhachalam Devasthanam.
20 km from Ramakrishna Beach, Simhachalam Devasthanam is an ancient temple sitting on the lap of lush green hills. The atmosphere inside the temple complex is absolutely magical and refreshing. The revered temple is a popular landmark.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
Mode of Transport: OLA/Uber
After this, you return back to your hotel to have complimentary breakfast and give your body some rest.
Luncheon and Evening Outing
01:00 PM – 06:00 PM
Mode of Transport: These attractions are secluded hence it’s better to reserve a cab for a round trip.
If you are willing to relish on authentic Andhra cuisines, we recommend Sri Sairam Parlour at Dwarka Nagar. The cost of one meal is Rs 400 – 500 for two.
If looking for good restaurant near Siripuram, then Venkatadri Vantillu. This is a popular place in the area to have quench your hunger at a reasonable price of Rs. 300 – 400 for two.
Post lunch, pay a visit at the Ross Hill Church, a church at the hilltop.
6 km from Siripuram, Ross Hill Church is visited for the panoramic views of the shipyard and port. The architecture of the church has a captivating effect. An ideal place to spend some quite time with family and friends.
Time duration: 30 – 45 min
Next stop will be the Dolphin Nose Lighthouse, 10 km from the Church.
The timings of the light house is from 3 PM – 5 PM. It is a popular tourist attraction hence crowd tend to gather here for the breath-taking 360 degree view.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
The last spot in Vizag will be Yarada Beach, 5 km from the lighthouse.
The beach is known for its serene ambiance. The coastline is made up of rocks, sand and green covered hills. A perfect place to bring an end to your sightseeing for the day.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
You must retire to your room as quick as possible because you must start early for Araku Valley the next morning.
Also read: Things to do in Araku
Day 3:
Araku Valley Visit
If you have enough time, it is better to book an accommodation in the hill station for a night and explore all the attraction in a relaxed way. The best way to reach Araku Valley is to take a train from Vizag. Vishakhapatnam-Kirandul Passenger train (58501) carries a Vistadome coach that enables the passenger to enjoy the scenic views.
You can book a hotel near The Tribal Museum
If planning a day trip to Araku Valley, reserve cab and begin the 3-hour journey from Vizag as early as possible to and make most of your time in Araku Valley for a day.
Museums Tour
08:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Coffee Museum is at the heart of Araku Valley.
A rare and unique museum showcasing the details and processes involved in making coffee. You also get to know about the origin of coffee. A wide variety of coffee is produced here and you can taste some of these varieties along with chocolate cakes. A souvenir store inside the museum has some good collection of items for the visitors to buy.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Adjacent to the Coffee Museum is the Tribal Museum.
Tribal museum is another museum which you cannot miss. The museum educates tourists about the way of life of native people of the Eastern Ghats. Their tradition, ceremonies, tools and techniques used by them are displayed through statues and models. You can also enjoy boating in the small lake inside the museum premise.
Time duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
If you have some interest in botany or horticulture, you can visit Padmapuram Garden.
The garden is 2 km from Tribal Museum. It is a converted botanical garden which was previously used to grow vegetables for the soldiers of WW2. The rose garden, tree-top huts and a toy train ride are the things to enjoy here.
Time duration: 30 – 45 min
Viewpoint and Cave Visit
12:00 PM – 05:00 PM
After some insightful sessions in the museums, head towards the Galikonda Viewpoint, to embrace the natural beauty of the valley.
Galikonda Viewpoint located on the Araku-Vizag road. A perfect spot to pose for Instagram feed.
Time duration: 30 – 45 min
The last attraction in Araku Valley is the famous Borra Caves.
You will find some restaurants and eateries near Borra Caves and the dish you must try is Bamboo Chicken.
Borra Caves is considered to be million years old and a hidden gem in the Eastern Ghats. The limestone cave is a must visit tourist spot. Inside the cave a natural Shivalinga.
Time duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
That will bring your expedition to an end.
