Resorts near Vizag

jaekae

Hello everyone,
I'm planning a 3 day weekend trip to Vizag in late June, but want to spend two of those nights in a beach resort - somewhere like Rishikonda, Bheemunipatnam etc. Can you please help me select a destination and a resort there?
I want a cozy comfortable place with good facilities and service where I can just unwind with my wife for a couple of days. I'm looking for something in the Rs.1500-2500 /night range ideally.

Location wise, the Punnami Rushikonda seems ideal, but there's a lot of -ve feedback about the maintenance and service there. Any comments on this?

Alternately, if I can't find anything on the beach, I'm open to Araku...so if there's any place in Araku that you think would be perfect, please let me know! Also feedback on the weather / rains please!
Thanks for your help!
- JK

mousourik

Park hotel is there on the beach, but it'll be too hot this time in Vizag. Better to go to Araku. U may also include chitrakoot falls beyond Araku. Better to go to Arakau by morning train - the only one in the whole day. Visit Borra caves. In vizag, do go to Kailashgiri and if time permits, Dolphin's nose in the afternoon.

jaekae

Thanks Mousourik! Any suggestions for hotels in Araku? Any feedback on how the Punnami there is? Any other hotels there? I checked The Park hotel but their tariff is pretty steep - upwards of Rs.7000/night!

pmvelu

Jk,

We stayed for 5 days in Punnami Rushikonda 5 years back BUT at that time it was really great except the restaurant (Varieties are very less). Really a Nice place for leisure with no external disturbances whatsoever and from the room itself we could see the Sunrise & We liked it a lot..

At that time, We hired a Tata Sumo(Arranged thru Punnami manager) and did the Borra Caves/Arakku Vallye and a day trip costed (2000rs). There is nothing much in Arakku valley and it's predominantly a Tribal Village (Tribal Museum and a small park are the main places & ofcourse the stunning borra caves ) .We started from Rushikonda by 8am and able to come back to Rushikonda by 7 pm after covering all the places. Climate is also just pleasant and not cool like Ooty Or Kodai !

And on Rushikonda Punnami, the Front office guy helped us a lot during our stay on every query we had and on the last day I somehow wanted to give some tips and after much thought with much hesitation I just told , you are so helpful and I wanted to thank your for the service and taken a 50 Rs note and for that he told, "Government is giving salary to me" with a smile and suggested if you want to tip give it to the Guy who cleaned your room and carried your luggage to the room ...

It's my personal experience anyway & Definitely the location, the secluded nature, beautiful views etc etc, Rushikonda punnami is the best

Hope this helps.

jaekae

Hello Velu,
Thanks for your reply; I read some reviews talking about leaking washbasins, overflowing bathrooms and dirty sheets, so was worried; your reply is quite re-assuring! I think I'll go there!! Btw, I presume the rooms are a/c - given that June is likely to be hot there! Please let me know if you have any idea about that..
Thanks once again,
- JK

pmvelu

Oh is it ?.Not sure whether the quality deteiorated over time .

And Ask for First Floor rooms (Which will have best Views) and yes All the rooms Are Airconditioned. (I think around 30 rooms
are available in this property)

And few more info on this property:

1) It's around 17kms away from vizag R.S and except Geetham college nothing is near by.I mean for everything you have to depend o a taxi to come to the city. Even from the nearest main road (Where Buses ply)is atleast 3 kms from this property.
2) Restaurant & Bar are available but no other Normal Hotel (Veg or Non veg) available near the property. At that time, one way to Vizag city costed 175rs in taxi !


When we went it's 1000Rs +Taxes/ Night.

And Fyi, we stayed there 5 years back !

Hope this helps.

mousourik

Dear PMVelu,
I strongly object to this.
Had u had stayed at Mayuri, walked along the road from Araku proper to Araku station, perhaps u'd have had a different experience altogether. Yes, there is nothing particular in Araku. And that's the usp of Araku. Just feel the ambience there. u must go there by train to enjoy the journey. Have u seen the train emerging behind a small hillock when u're on top trying to a take photo of it ? We've been there twice and aspire to go there again and again. Just as beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, Araku is enjoyed by those who want to be far from the maddening crowd. (although these days it's very crowdy, i suppose)
From Rushikonda, one can go to Bhimili and some Buddhist settlement at Bavikonda/Thotlakonda. The journey along that road is fanatastic.

pmvelu

I am sorry If it offended you Mousourik !
Every one may have a different perspective ! We all share our experiences for the benefit of Future travellers and nothing to Object for a different perspective. Not sure May be Just because I already travelled length and breadth of Tamilnadu,Kerala ,Karnataka and quite a lot of places in AP, May be in a comparative Scale I Viewed Arakku Valley . Even the train journey you mention is for sure not better than Mettupalaiyam -ooty Toy train Or Shimla- KalKa Train Or even the Most interesting Konkan Railway Ride !
I shared my interesting experience with Arakku Valley in this thread

visakhapatnam

Happy Travelling & Let's Move forward !

mousourik

Offended ? not at all !
in our own west bengal, there's so much potential of tourism but nothing is done here. so when we went to vizag/araku, we were amazed to find how people there try to promote their tourist spots. in fact, araku is very popular among bengalis. yes, of course, we've not been to as many places as u, so u'll be a more right person to compare and comment.
but, still, we somehow like vizag/araku and recommend it to everybody.

pmvelu

Perfect Mousourik !...

Really We enjoyed Borra Caves, Colourful Tribal people and their culture & the Calm / Secluded nature of Arakku and especially the unique experience we had (As Mentioned in the thread)

Cheers

chilipi

Regarding staying at Visakhapatnam, the facilities at Rishikonda have bettered, but the place has become crowded. I suggest staying in the city (recommend Hotel Daspalla) and then move to Yarada Beach during the day. You have a restaurant there and can spend the complete day.

Some photos at Yarada.

But if you are planning to move out towards Araku, I recommend stay at Tyda.

irishkansan07

chilipi, where would you recommend staying in tyda? i've come across cottages - which we would prefer over a big hotel. any suggestions?

irishkansan07

hi jk,

did you end up staying in punnami rishikonda during your stay in vizag? what did you think of the place? i've been a bit disappointed in APTDC places before, so i'm weary...

i'm hoping to plan a long weekend in early august - but want to avoid the crowds...and would like a nice place to stay!

any thoughts are appreciated

jaekae

I didn't quite stay at Tyda; I stayed at Araku, but stopped by at Tyda to check out the facilities there - for another trip someday hopefully
There was only one facility at Tyda as far as I could see - the one run by APTDC. It's seemed really nice - a bunch of secluded cottages in the middle of the forest. They have both a/c and non-a/c cottages. I got chatting with a few workers there and they told me that they arrange early morning treks into the forests and to a nearby tribal village for folks who stay there. Sounded like fun!
Reservation for the APTDC facilities are centralized, and can be done from any APTDC office. You can get the list at http://www.tourisminap.com
Details about the cottages at Tyda:
http://www.tourisminap.com/visakhadivision5.htm

Hope this helps!
- JK

jaekae

Actually I skipped Rishikonda and went to Araku instead. I'd been disappointed with Araku on a previous trip - which was a day trip from Vizag, but this trip completely changed my opinion! The train journey, the weather - slight drizzle with a mist over the hills, and above all, a new APTDC resort at Araku made all the difference!

The new resort (APTDC Mayuri-Haritha if I remember right) was opened only in Nov '07, so is spanking new! The rooms are done up really well, and the hotel is built along the curve of a hill, so that EACH room has a large balcony with a view to kill for. Food wasn't an issue either. There isn't much to see in Araku, but just sitting in the balcony, watching the clouds cover the hills while sipping hot tea, that itself made it a holiday!

Regarding APTDC resorts, or for that matter, any govt. run resort, from what I've seen, the 'good' is that they always have the best location and views, but the 'bad' - they are low on maintenance and sometimes even cleanliness.
The Araku resort was new, so the 'bad' hadn't quite set in I've seen the Rushikonda resort from outside on a previous trip, and the 'good' above definitely holds true - fantastic location; I haven't stayed there, so I can't say if the 'bad' applies to it too.
I hope you're pleasantly surprised by the resort, do let us know how it goes!
- JK