2. Araku Valley

Araku Valley

Araku valley, an amazing hill station, one of unfathomable valley in India lures the tourists with its breathtaking landscapes and pleasant weather. Lush green forest, musical notes of waterfalls makes the journey more lively, located 115 km from Vizag, Andra Pradesh and close to Orissa border.

Altitude is 1300 m above the sea level and valley spreads around 36 km. The drive on the Ghat road to Araku valley is entirely lined with thick forest on either side, climbing 4500 ft and sliding down to 3000 ft of valley which makes the trip very thrilling and trekking. More than 40 tunnels and number of bridges are on the way welcomes the tourists warmly. Dark shade and presence of sodium lamp inside the tunnel do their magic on travelers. The ascent up to the hill is gradual, provides enough Waterfalls, Orchards, gardens and forests are immense and incomparable beauties of this valley.

Other Attractions • Tyda Park • Borra Caves • Ananthagiri • Gosthani River • Tribal Museum • Coffee Plantations • Katiki waterfalls • Dumbriguda Waterfalls • Bheemili Beach • Chaparai Waterfalls

1. Charan Pahari Temple

                                                              Charan Pahari

This magnificent and opulent temple was built by Rup Rama Singh, the wealthy landlord of Barsana district in the 19th century. It is said to have been built at the place where the actual house of Nand Raeji stands in Nandgaon. The temple is built using red sandstone and has two spires (shikharas). The temple has an open nave with the choir and the major shrine on the other side. The principal shrine is flanked on both the sides by the kitchen and the Sej-Mahal (Palace) and has two spires (shikharas). The main altar of the temple has the presiding deities of the Krishna’s family. These include the deities of Nand and Yashoda with those of Krishna and Balram standing in between. On the left hand of Yashoda there is the deity of Radhaji, Revati (the consort of Lord Balram) and Rohini (mother of Lord Balram) and on the right hand side of Nand ji there stands the deities of Krishna’s friends Madhumangal and Shridama (brother of Sri Radharani). The original deities of Nand, Yashoda and Lord Krishna were established by King Vajranabh. Later on these deities were excavated by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu from the cave on the Nandishvar hill and were established in this opulent temple.