visakhapatnam

pmvelu · Apr 12th, 2007, 09:47

It's a surprise Zeppy as I thought the Road cum Rail tour might be much faster as the Araku valley rail route is not the main line to reach chattisgarh and what makes them to be so slow in a odd rail line which has few goods train and a tourist specific Road cum rail tour ...

Cheers ...

rangss · Apr 12th, 2007, 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeppy

I was attracted by the idea of traveling on an old train that had first class and besides, it was free, since I had an Indrail pass. (The train was jam packed, by the way--except for first class.) The landscape was certainly lovely and the slow train ride was fun. But the train was extremely late in both directions, and this cut the time spent in Arakku to just a couple of hours. On the return trip the train stopped on the outskirts of Vizag--for an hour and a half. Since it was New Year's Eve and many passengers were bound for parties in the city a lot of them jumped off the train and hired autos that had sniffed out the trouble and gathered around, sort of like sharks. They did a very good business!

I am not into serious blogging but I use some blogspace to display pictures of my various rail trips. I have travelled to Jeypore in Orissa passing Araku. Pics are in http://reunny.blogspot.com

Regarding the delay...the route was not meant to be a toursit attraction. It was built only for the transport of iron ore from the mines of Bastar Vizag port. The passenger train came much later and is the only one on that route. The route is a single line and the right of way is given to the freight trains. In fact this is the only route in India where freight trains have working time tables! So the passenger train is always delayed.

Being the only train, it is bound to get crowded all the time. The first class is a better option. You can see in my pics that I had opted for the first class. The FC was added primarily for the sake of railway and government officials who are eligible to travel first class.

rangss · Apr 12th, 2007, 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmvelu

and what makes them to be so slow in a odd rail line which has few goods train and a tourist specific Road cum rail tour ...

Cheers ...

Few goods trains???? There are 32 freight rakes using the line every day!!! This line is a blue-chip investment for Indian Railways!

Odd rail line? It is an engineering feat.

pmvelu · Apr 12th, 2007, 19:30

Oh it's a news to me Rangss!! .. Odd rail line I meant is that "Normally Daily superfast / express trains will make the less important special / Passneger trains delayed in main routes" .. Now I understood Goods train are the shatabdi / Rajdhani in this particular route & given much preference !!..

vsp27759 · Apr 16th, 2007, 20:10

Dear Velu,

If you are interested to visit Araku/Borra Caves in a single-go, then necessarily opt for A.P.Tourism Corporation Package ONLY AND NOTHING ELSE.
----
The APTTDC Ticket puts you in the Train, they will serve you Breakfast; provide you lunch in their own cafteria in Araku, take you to Borra Caves by their Bus, serve you Tea in Tyda and bring back you to Vizag by 22.00 hrs.
-----
Please note, 4 APTTDC Buses are operated in 'empty condition' from Visakhapatnam to Araku, just to bring back the tourists booked with them, to Visakhapatnam, after taking them to Borra caves which is very far from Road-point but near to Borra Caves Railway Station.
=========
If you are planning a vist on a Saturday/Sunday, book your tickets well-in-advance.
========
In Rangss Photo Album, you can also see me. :-)
=========
V.Srinivasa Prasad
16.4.2007/19.15 hrs.

vonkla · Apr 16th, 2007, 21:40

We made this trip last february, this is (the translation)of the report which we mailed to our friends in the Netherlands

Six o'clock we are at the station and get a seat in the second class. At seven the train leaves and we get our breakfast, idli's and wada's not our favorites. The train goes throuh the mountains with many tunnels and very sceneric views. At eleven we arrive in Araku, high in the mountains. The busis waiting and we drive to an botanic garden with many roses, palms, gladiolus and othher flowers. There is also a toy-train.
After half an our withe the bus to the restaurant for the lunch, a thali. There are not enough chairs for everyone.
Next we go to the tribal museum, we just have a quarter of an hour for this visit, and then back to the restaurant for a tribal dance.
At two again in the bus and we are making a trip though the beautiful valley. When we arrive in the mountains the bus halts and the guide indicates at a coffee-shrub, that was the visit to the coffee plantition, we expected somewhat more. At a viewpoint whe may leave the bus for 10 minutes, here there are people selling coffee, pepper and whiskey.
In the next tourist resort we get chai and a snack. After a spectacular trip through the mountains we arrive at Bora Caves, a fine cave and we have plenty of time to visit it.
Half past four we continue the trip, first through the mountains and as darknes falls we arrive in the plains. At seven we are at the station. We are a little disappointed, on the whole day we were 3 hours out of the train/bus.

pmvelu · Apr 17th, 2007, 00:47

Thanks for your suggestions prasad & Oh ya I saw your blog site which has lot of photos & stations enroute ....

BTW , Am I the only Imer who took a private cab and experienced the tribal checkposts

Cheers ...

uligaen · Jul 13th, 2007, 20:41

Hello my friends!

I am looking for:
- a decent restaurant/bar on or overlooking the beach (I think there is one beach quiet 'central' in the city?)
- a hotel/guesthouse for less than Rs 500 (single, non-ac)
- a place to watch the harbour. Am I allowed to walk around in the harbour-area? Or is the harbour everywhere along seafront? (I'd like to see the really big ships

)

Thank you only!

capt_mahajan · Jul 13th, 2007, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by uligaen

Am I allowed to walk around in the harbour-area? Or is the harbour everywhere along seafront? (I'd like to see the really big ships

)

No to both the questions, unfortunately.

You will require a permit to enter the harbour. It may be difficult to get if you are a foreigner, since Vizag is a big Indian naval base too.

Unless you can get a shipping agency or a crew member to invite you on one of the ships as a guest. That is possible, but still a little difficult, in todays security conscious times.

rangss · Jul 18th, 2007, 18:27

Capt_Mahajan is right. Not easy to walk into the harbour.

However, if you want to see big ships, here are my suggestions:

1. Drive deep into the fishing harbour...towards the end where a single tower stands housing the port entry controller's cabin. You can check out the iron ore ships at the outer harbour from this point.

2. Check out the Venkateswara temple at the mouth of the harbpur. It offers an excellent view of the port's entry channel and movement of ships.

3. Next to the temple is a hillock housing a Catholic church. It is at a much higher level and offers excellent views of the outer harbour, the channel and the inner harbour.

victory21 · Jul 19th, 2007, 17:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by uligaen

Hello my friends!

I am looking for:
- a decent restaurant/bar on or overlooking the beach (I think there is one beach quiet 'central' in the city?)
- a hotel/guesthouse for less than Rs 500 (single, non-ac)
- a place to watch the harbour. Am I allowed to walk around in the harbour-area? Or is the harbour everywhere along seafront? (I'd like to see the really big ships

)

Thank you only!

There is a place called "sagar durga" which is a temple on hill. This hill is exactly opposite to the temple and church mentioned by rangs and is separated by the sea waters. There is a launch boat service to take tourists to the other side of the water. From that hill I guess you can get good views of all ships entering into the vizag port.

vsp27759 · Jul 21st, 2007, 14:28

Dear uligaen,

There are three beautiful Hotels overlooking the sea -

GRANDBAY under Welcom Group;
TAJ RESIDENCY under Taj Group;
PARK HOTEL

##But when I go to Visakhapatnam, I stay with my relatives.

CEYDEY · Sep 17th, 2007, 15:41

How To Book A Bus Ticket From Arakku To Vizag In Advance..preferably Delux

vsp27759 · Sep 17th, 2007, 16:39

Dear CEYDEY,

There are no Bus Services with Advance Reservation Facility from Araku to Visakhapatnam.

However, you may approach the APTTDC Reservation Counter and ascertain whether they will allow you to travel from Araku to Visakhapatnam by receiving the required amount from you in advance.

Normally, the APTTDC Buses travel "empty" from Visakhapatnam to Araku but they bring back the tourists who already reached Araku by Train. In the return journey, the buses will also cover Borra Caves. This is a package trip.

Jul 13th, 2007, 20:41	#23
uligaen Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Back home for now Posts: 29	Visakhapatnam Hello my friends! I am looking for: - a decent restaurant/bar on or overlooking the beach (I think there is one beach quiet 'central' in the city?) - a hotel/guesthouse for less than Rs 500 (single, non-ac) - a place to watch the harbour. Am I allowed to walk around in the harbour-area? Or is the harbour everywhere along seafront? (I'd like to see the really big ships ) Thank you only!

Sep 17th, 2007, 15:41	#28
CEYDEY Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: DELHI Posts: 1	Bus From Arakku To Vishakapatnam How To Book A Bus Ticket From Arakku To Vizag In Advance..preferably Delux

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Apr 12th, 2007, 09:47	#16
pmvelu Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 393	It's a surprise Zeppy as I thought the Road cum Rail tour might be much faster as the Araku valley rail route is not the main line to reach chattisgarh and what makes them to be so slow in a odd rail line which has few goods train and a tourist specific Road cum rail tour ... Cheers ...

Apr 12th, 2007, 19:30	#19
pmvelu Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 393	Oh it's a news to me Rangss!! .. Odd rail line I meant is that "Normally Daily superfast / express trains will make the less important special / Passneger trains delayed in main routes" .. Now I understood Goods train are the shatabdi / Rajdhani in this particular route & given much preference !!..

Apr 16th, 2007, 20:10	#20
vsp27759 V.SRINIVASA PRASAD Join Date: May 2005 Location: HYDERABAD Posts: 1,284	Dear Velu, If you are interested to visit Araku/Borra Caves in a single-go, then necessarily opt for A.P.Tourism Corporation Package ONLY AND NOTHING ELSE. ---- The APTTDC Ticket puts you in the Train, they will serve you Breakfast; provide you lunch in their own cafteria in Araku, take you to Borra Caves by their Bus, serve you Tea in Tyda and bring back you to Vizag by 22.00 hrs. ----- Please note, 4 APTTDC Buses are operated in 'empty condition' from Visakhapatnam to Araku, just to bring back the tourists booked with them, to Visakhapatnam, after taking them to Borra caves which is very far from Road-point but near to Borra Caves Railway Station. ========= If you are planning a vist on a Saturday/Sunday, book your tickets well-in-advance. ======== In Rangss Photo Album, you can also see me. :-) ========= V.Srinivasa Prasad 16.4.2007/19.15 hrs.

Apr 16th, 2007, 21:40	#21
vonkla Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: netherland Posts: 126	We made this trip last february, this is (the translation)of the report which we mailed to our friends in the Netherlands Six o'clock we are at the station and get a seat in the second class. At seven the train leaves and we get our breakfast, idli's and wada's not our favorites. The train goes throuh the mountains with many tunnels and very sceneric views. At eleven we arrive in Araku, high in the mountains. The busis waiting and we drive to an botanic garden with many roses, palms, gladiolus and othher flowers. There is also a toy-train. After half an our withe the bus to the restaurant for the lunch, a thali. There are not enough chairs for everyone. Next we go to the tribal museum, we just have a quarter of an hour for this visit, and then back to the restaurant for a tribal dance. At two again in the bus and we are making a trip though the beautiful valley. When we arrive in the mountains the bus halts and the guide indicates at a coffee-shrub, that was the visit to the coffee plantition, we expected somewhat more. At a viewpoint whe may leave the bus for 10 minutes, here there are people selling coffee, pepper and whiskey. In the next tourist resort we get chai and a snack. After a spectacular trip through the mountains we arrive at Bora Caves, a fine cave and we have plenty of time to visit it. Half past four we continue the trip, first through the mountains and as darknes falls we arrive in the plains. At seven we are at the station. We are a little disappointed, on the whole day we were 3 hours out of the train/bus.

Apr 17th, 2007, 00:47	#22
pmvelu Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 393	Thanks for your suggestions prasad & Oh ya I saw your blog site which has lot of photos & stations enroute .... BTW , Am I the only Imer who took a private cab and experienced the tribal checkposts Cheers ...

Jul 18th, 2007, 18:27	#25
rangss Bulk Carrier Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,832	Capt_Mahajan is right. Not easy to walk into the harbour. However, if you want to see big ships, here are my suggestions: 1. Drive deep into the fishing harbour...towards the end where a single tower stands housing the port entry controller's cabin. You can check out the iron ore ships at the outer harbour from this point. 2. Check out the Venkateswara temple at the mouth of the harbpur. It offers an excellent view of the port's entry channel and movement of ships. 3. Next to the temple is a hillock housing a Catholic church. It is at a much higher level and offers excellent views of the outer harbour, the channel and the inner harbour.

Jul 21st, 2007, 14:28	#27
vsp27759 V.SRINIVASA PRASAD Join Date: May 2005 Location: HYDERABAD Posts: 1,284	Dear uligaen, There are three beautiful Hotels overlooking the sea - GRANDBAY under Welcom Group; TAJ RESIDENCY under Taj Group; PARK HOTEL ##But when I go to Visakhapatnam, I stay with my relatives.

Sep 17th, 2007, 16:39	#29
vsp27759 V.SRINIVASA PRASAD Join Date: May 2005 Location: HYDERABAD Posts: 1,284	Dear CEYDEY, There are no Bus Services with Advance Reservation Facility from Araku to Visakhapatnam. However, you may approach the APTTDC Reservation Counter and ascertain whether they will allow you to travel from Araku to Visakhapatnam by receiving the required amount from you in advance. Normally, the APTTDC Buses travel "empty" from Visakhapatnam to Araku but they bring back the tourists who already reached Araku by Train. In the return journey, the buses will also cover Borra Caves. This is a package trip.

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