Outstation chauffeur from Visakhapatnam: intercity journeys and multi-day charters

Outstation in Visakhapatnam

The ghat road to Araku leaves the city on the Anantagiri side and climbs through coffee country: the district administration puts Araku at about 115 km, roughly three hours with the bends, and the Borra Caves, 88 km from the city by the Incredible India page and open from 10 am to 5 pm, sit in the Anantagiri hills on the way up. Most passengers do Borra in the morning, Araku for lunch and the tribal museum, and either return the same evening or stay at the valley for a night; the chauffeur times the descent for daylight. The Kirandul passenger train through the tunnels is the alternative up, with the car meeting the passenger at Araku.

The routes we drive from Visakhapatnam

The coast is the other axis. Bheemunipatnam, 34 km north by the district figure, with the Buddhist site at Thotlakonda on the way, is a half day; Vizianagaram, 60 km from the airport, is a short business run; Srikakulam and the Arasavalli sun temple are 117 km north by the Srikakulam district figure. Southwards the Chennai-Howrah national highway leads to Annavaram, about 120 km, whose hilltop temple is 83 km short of Rajahmundry by the Kakinada district figure, and on to Rajahmundry and Kakinada, 162 km from Visakhapatnam, for the East Godavari business belt. Longer charters continue to Vijayawada or north to Bhubaneswar as two-day drives.

Permits, halts and the multi-day charter

All of the Araku and coastal runs stay inside Andhra Pradesh, so there are no state entry taxes; a Bhubaneswar charter crosses into Odisha and the interstate permit and tax formalities for the car are handled by the chauffeur and itemised. National-highway tolls are paid by FASTag. Night halts include the chauffeur's lodging and meals; the valley resorts and the Rajahmundry hotels are booked by the passenger or by the office. The ghat road needs care in the monsoon, and the chauffeur checks the district advisories after heavy rain; on the coast the Navy Day and Sankranti weeks bring the heaviest traffic, and the office books early.