Visakhapatnam is the closest big city to Koraput: about five hours by road, one scenic railway line, and a daily flight to Jeypore. Most Vizag groups stop at Araku and turn back. Koraput is the part they miss.
- By road
- 199 km, about 5 h
- By train
- Kirandul line via Araku
- By air
- Jeypore, 45 min
- Days to keep
- 2 to 3, plus travel
Getting to Koraput from Visakhapatnam
- Road: 199 km and about five hours on Google Maps (186 km from the new airport at Bhogapuram), more with stops, either up through Araku and the Sunki ghat, or the flatter run via Salur and Pottangi. The Araku side is prettier and slower; the Salur side is the one we use when a group wants to arrive early. We can send the Traveller to Visakhapatnam and drive you the whole way.
- Train: the Kothavalasa–Kirandul line climbs from Visakhapatnam through Araku into the Eastern Ghats, with tunnels, bridges and the Maliguda section near Koraput. Passenger trains are slow and beautiful; the Vistadome tourist service runs only as far as Araku. Send us your train number and we meet it.
- Air: IndiaOne Air flies from Visakhapatnam's new airport at Bhogapuram to Jeypore daily, 9:20 AM to 10:05 AM, on a 9-seat aircraft with small baggage allowances. Jeypore Airport is about 50 minutes from Koraput town and we pick up at the terminal. Flights to Koraput has the fares.
- Bus: OSRTC runs through the day and night and APSRTC from about 4:30 AM, five to six hours via Araku or Salur, roughly ₹235 to ₹800. Buses reach Koraput bus stand, about 35 minutes from our base.
Araku is on the way. Koraput is the trip.
Araku is a valley resort town with coffee plantations and a tribal museum, and it sits on your route. Koraput, two hours further, is a district: Odisha's highest peak at Deomali, a 175 m waterfall at Duduma, a cave temple above the Sabari river, a reservoir at 3,000 ft and a Jagannath temple open to everyone. If you have already done Araku, this is the reason to keep driving.
A 3-day plan that ends on the way home
- Day 1Arrive and take it easy
We meet your train, flight or bus. Hotel check-in, then Sabara Srikhetra and the Tribal Museum in town, and Upper Kolab for the last light on the water.
Sabara SrikhetraTribal MuseumUpper Kolab ReservoirEstimated times
- On arrivalPickup at the station, airport or bus stand
- 2:30 PMLunch and hotel check-in
- 3:45 PMSabara Srikhetra
- 4:30 PMTribal Museum
- 5:15 PMUpper Kolab for sunset
- 7:00 PMBack at the hotel
- Day 2Deomali and the highlands
The early one. Sunrise on Odisha's highest peak, breakfast on the way down, then Nandapur's old capital and the country road to Rani Duduma.
DeomaliNandapurRani DudumaEstimated times
- 5:00 AMLeave Koraput
- 7:00 AMDeomali top, sunrise
- 9:30 AMBreakfast, Semiliguda
- 12:30 PMNandapur, Batrisa Singhasana
- 2:00 PMRani Duduma
- 5:30 PMBack in Koraput
- Day 3Duduma, Machkund and home
Duduma and the Machkund valley sit on the Odisha–Andhra border, which is the right direction for you. See the falls in the morning, eat on the road and carry on towards Visakhapatnam, or come back for a last night in Koraput.
Duduma WaterfallOnukadelliEstimated times
- 7:00 AMLeave Koraput with breakfast packed
- 10:00 AMDuduma viewpoints
- 12:00 PMOnukadelli market (Thursdays) or the Machkund valley
- 1:30 PMLunch on the road
- 5:30 PMBack in Koraput, or on towards Vizag
What the Traveller changes on this route
The Sunki ghat and the Araku road are long, winding and slow in parts. In three or four small cars a Vizag group arrives at each viewpoint in instalments, and someone's luggage is always in the wrong boot. One 17-seater means one departure, one set of timings and a driver who has done the ghat in the dark. See the vehicle page for seats and luggage, and the price page for how the fare is worked out.
What to carry
- Warm layers from November to February. Vizag is warm; Deomali at dawn is not.
- Identity documents, because you cross into Odisha on the way.
- Cash for markets, entry tickets and small eateries.
- Motion-sickness tablets for anyone who struggles on ghat roads, and a front-row seat for them.






