Sun, beach and bright skies -one would think that these are the only experiences that a coastal city would offer for a relaxed, slow-paced holiday. So did we; until the promise of an active vacation was added to the mix. In February, Gulnaz, Tarun, Priyanka and Nikunjfrom Mumbai were selected for a self-drive trip to Visakhapatnam and Araku Valley with the ‘Wheels of Wander’ campaign by Maruti Suzuki Alto and Outlook Traveller. I was accompanying them on the four-day trail. While Visakhapatnam was about the blue palette of the seaand thepowderyexpanse of sand, it was Araku Valley that left us in love with the outdoors. Over two days, we explored the off-beat trail of Araku Valley, 115km inland from the city of Visakhapatnam. The fun was superlative with some of the unexpected adventure activities.

• Caving

Caving or Cave exploration has recently taken flight on the Indian adventure scene but most travellers are only aware of Meghalaya as a credible caving destination. In Andhra Pradesh, Borra Caves come as a surprise as they have not been extensively covered as an adventure activity in the state.In Araku Valley, atree-flanked path leads to the mouth of Borra Caves, from where,250 steps down to the base,land you in an enigmatic world.Centuries old, the caves are a gallery of unique creations of stalagmites and stalactites. Parts of these are lit up by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for beautification. You can walk around on the designated paths and see nature’s artwork up-close. If you’re tired of above-ground adventures, this is certainly for you. Top Tip: Wear sturdy shoes and carry a light jacket, as it gets chilly inside.

• Coffee Plantations

Coorg and Chikmagalur have always held sway as top coffee producers of India. I was surprised to hear that Araku Valley, too, is home to sprawling coffee estates from where the aromatic produce is exported to different parts of the world. The low cool Ananthagiri hills of Araku Valley are ideal for this. While there is a commercial undertone to the estates, for travellers, the plantations are veritable nature trails – muddy, intensely green and full of adventure. Luxuriant foliage accompanied us on a plantation walk on one of the afternoons, as a local guide told us about the workings of a typical plantation. Araku is well-known for organic coffee, grown by the tribal population here. It is a buttery texture as compared to other coffee growing places in India. We walked through the undulating trail, eyes glued to the bushes to see a glimpse of endemic birdlife.The rich biodiversity and natural beauty were a treat to the senses.

• Cycling

Having roamed around the museum, coffee plantations and the town on foot in Araku Valley, the sight of cycles was a welcome one. We hopped on them and pedalled through the dips and rises of the valley for a short trail. The wind in the hair and cool breeze hitting the face were the perfect antidotes to the hot afternoon. We made our way crossing coffee plantations and some of the main streets of the town. Even though it was short ride, it was a refreshing one.

• Paragliding

The first time I went paragliding in Malaysia, I fell in love with it. The sensation of flying like a bird through the sky gave me a thrill I had never experienced before. Since then, I’ve always been on the lookout for places in India, where one can give paragliding a try. Although Bir Billing has established itself as the ‘paragliding capital of the country’, Visakhapatnam isn’t very far behind. The paragliding facility is located at the Kailasagiri hilltop park, and is geared for recreational flights with trained instructors. Though we didn’t get time to try this, I put it on my list of things to do on the next visit. After all, the bird’s eye view of the coastline and Kailasagiri is sure to be magnificent.

• Beachside Adventures

The Mangamaripeta and Rushikonda beachesin Visakhapatnam are the veritable adventure hot-spots of the city. While one can try scuba diving, banana boat ride, and back water kayaking at Mangamaripeta, Rushikonda is known for speed boating, jet skiing, surfing, zorbing and even paintball. We had time enough to only sample one, so Rushikonda was picked. Kayaking on the gentle waves with the purple and orange hues of the sunset made for a picture perfect evening. It was the last activity on the trip and one that ended in smiles.

Before the trip, I had expected Andhra Pradesh’s coastline to be low-key, but to my pleasant surprise it wasa treasure trove of activities waiting to be discovered.

Courtesy of Outlook Traveller