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Valley sojourn

Photos: C.V. Subrahmanyam

SMELL THE FLOWERS At Haritha Hill Resorts

HARITHA HILL RESORTS

After a hard week, a two-hour drive through the reserve forests of the Eastern Ghats and an overnight stay at the Haritha Hill Resorts at Anantagiri is a refreshing sojourn. Owned by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC), the resort is located about 90 km from the port city of Visakhapatnam.

Perched on a hilltop, abutting the Visakhapatnam-Araku Ghat Road, at a height of over 3,000 feet above sea level, the resort provides an enchanting view of the Anantagiri valley.

The resort’s 16 cottages and three suites overlook the green valley. Every cottage has a sit-out on the valley side, and you can laze around in peace, as the gentle breeze comes wrapped with the scent of fresh caffeine from the plantations below.

While driving through the winding ghat road is pleasant, touched by a sense of adventure, a journey by train is a more exciting proposition.

The journey to Borra Caves, the nearest railhead, runs through 47 tunnels. The biggest tunnel is a little over 900 metres and the total tunnel length covered is about 13.5 km.

The resort stands in a five-acre plot of land and has a small amusement park for children and a multi-cuisine restaurant. Each cottage has a dish antenna and a mini bar. The APTDC also provides room service. The resort has a conference-cum-banquet hall that can accommodate upto 150 persons.

During winter and the monsoon, low sailing clouds engulf the resort.

The cottages are modern with a touch of tribal art. In the evenings, traditional tribal dances called Dhimsa, are showcased.

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