Araku Valley Experience: If you are an ardent admirer of nature in its basics, if you would love to enjoy an experience in the jungle trails, if you are passionate about enjoying the serene and sombre silence of nature in forest tracks punctuated by the occasional sound of falling leaves, chirping birds and rare species of reptiles moving around in their natural habitat then Tyda is a must visit destination for you. It is about 75 kms from Vizag via Simhachalam on way to Araku valley. The Jungle Bells Nature camp at Tyda is an eco-tourism spot in the lap of mother nature and the Loghuts and cottages are the perfect places to spend a night or two.

Food, sight-seeing and shopping: There are not too many options for you to satisfy your cullinary instincts. However the Restaurant at Jungle Bells , Tyda amidst the serene silence of nature with occassional intruders such as the red-faced monkeys and small reptilians peeping at you from a safe distance has really a great ambience. The food served is pallatable though not of the highest standards. A visit to the Borra Caves and Ananthagiri Falls are a must to be in your agenda but that can be done on your way to the Araku Valley. A nature camp and shopping centres do not go hand in hand. However, if you have interest in pottery and craft-work, a visit to the the tribal potter\'s village 8 kms from Araku valley will satisfy your need.

Activities & things to do: Enjoying nature in its mystic serenity and exotic solitude is the only activity you can have there. Forest trekking and bird watching are other activities that might interest you. If you chance to drop in at Tyda at the weekend, you might get to enjoy the Dhimsa Dance by the local tribal dancers amidst the sombre ambience of nature in the eco camp.

Travel tips, How to reach, travel warnings etc: As for me, I drove all the way from Kolkata to Vishakhapattanam and from there via Simhachalam-Araku Road to Tyda (75kms from Vizag) on way to Araku Valley which is another 40 kms off Tyda. Alternatively you can avail the rail route from Vizag to Araku which has a stoppage at Tyda. One way by the rail route through the numerous tunnels through the mountains of the Eastern Ghats will really be an exciting experience....the reverse route could be by road.