Vanjangi Trek
Alluri Sitharama Raju, Andhra Pradesh
Opens without signal on this phone, with the map file and checklist. Saved for offline →
- Max altitude
- 1,036 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 4 km
- Difficulty
- Easy
A short pre-dawn walk of about 3-5 km one way from the roadhead on a natural path through shrubs, with a rocky, stony final climb of roughly 20 minutes; no technical ground, but it is dark, cold and slippery in rain.
About this trek
Vanjangi
Vanjangi is a sunrise viewpoint in the Eastern Ghats near Paderu in Alluri Sitharama Raju district, Andhra Pradesh, at about 1,000 m. Trekkers leave a roadside parking point before dawn and climb through shrubs and a final rocky stretch to a hilltop above the cloud-filled valleys. It suits beginners, and the return walk is easy. Reports of the trail length differ from about 1 km to 4-5 km.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Vanjangi parking point (by road from Paderu) → Vanjangi hilltop (sunrise point), return same way
950 m → 1,036 m → 1,036 m
- Operators and trip reports advise starting around 4 to 4:30 am with a torch so you are at the top for sunrise.
- The route is steep roads and thick shrubs, with the last 20 minutes or so over loose stones, as one report puts it.
- Reports of the walk's length differ from about 1 km to 4-5 km one way; local residents can give directions.
- Facilities around the trail are limited; carry water, snacks, warm layers and cash.
- Mobile signal is sometimes available at the top, and the descent is described as easy.
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Paderu (road base; the trek starts from a parking point about 6-8 km away by road)
at 950 mLoading forecast…
High point · Vanjangi hilltop (position from Wikimedia Commons geotags of hilltop photos)
at 1,036 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Paderu (road base; the trek starts from a parking point about 6-8 km away by road)
- Nearest railway
- Visakhapatnam (about 125 km)
- Nearest airport
- Visakhapatnam Airport
- By road
- Paderu (about 6-8 km by road to the starting point; APSRTC buses run to Paderu); Visakhapatnam (about 95-125 km by road via Araku and Paderu; sources differ)
- Drive
- About 3.5 h from Visakhapatnam
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹500–2,000
With an operator
₹1,500–4,000
Per person, ex-Visakhapatnam. No operator published a price for this trek, so both ranges are reasoned estimates: shared bus or car share to Paderu, a homestay night (a travel blog quotes about 700-1,500 rupees in Paderu) and a local parking fee (blog: about 20-50 rupees). Guided figure assumes a local guide and a shared jeep to the starting point. Tents can be rented on site according to one blog; prices not found.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link- Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Store buttons open a search on that store, not a product we picked. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Photos show the kind of item, not a specific product. Affiliate disclosure
Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 16
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Mobile signal is sometimes available at the top; patchy elsewhere.
- Last ATM
- Paderu (a blog advises carrying cash as there are no ATMs or card machines near the hill)
- Nearest hospital
- Paderu (confirm locally; larger hospitals in Araku and Visakhapatnam)
- Water
- None reported on the trail; carry your own water and snacks.
Highlights
- Sunrise above a sea of clouds from the hilltop, the main reason people come
- A short walk of a few kilometres that most fit beginners can do in the dark with a torch
- Open grassy and rocky ridges with long views over the Eastern Ghats
- Tents can be rented near the top for an overnight stay and stargazing, according to a trip blog
Risks
- The walk starts around 4-4:30 am in the dark and is cold; carry a torch, warm layers and good shoes.
- Rain makes the rocky final climb slippery; one operator-style guide advises against trekking in heavy rain.
- A trip report describes the forest sections on the drive as tiger country and notes few people about in the early hours; go in a group and take directions from local tribal residents.
- Google Maps has led visitors to a dead end; ask locals in Paderu for the route.
- Crowds are very large on New Year and holiday mornings (photographed), so expect traffic and a packed summit.
Know before you go
Questions
How long is the Vanjangi trek?
Sources disagree: about 1 km (Araku Valley site), 2-3 km (Goamood), about 3 km (a Tripoto trip report) and 4-5 km (Yo! Vizag), counted from the starting point to the hilltop. It is a short walk of roughly an hour or so each way; the last 20 minutes or so are a rocky climb.
What is the best time to see sunrise at Vanjangi?
October to February, especially December and January, when mornings are cold and clear and clouds sit in the valleys. Start around 4-4:30 am; sunrise is generally between about 5:30 and 6 am.
How far is Vanjangi from Paderu, Araku and Visakhapatnam?
About 6-8 km by road from Paderu and about 95-125 km from Visakhapatnam depending on the source, roughly 3.5-4 hours by road. Paderu is the nearest town; there is no railway station at Vanjangi.
Is there an entry fee or permit for Vanjangi?
No official fee or permit was found. A travel blog says there is no official entry fee but locals may charge about 20-50 rupees for parking or maintenance. Check locally before you go.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: Alluri Sitharama RajuAndhra Pradesh
- Nearest hospital
- Paderu (confirm locally; larger hospitals in Araku and Visakhapatnam)
- Last ATM
- Paderu (a blog advises carrying cash as there are no ATMs or card machines near the hill)
- Phone network
- Mobile signal is sometimes available at the top; patchy elsewhere.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Vanjangi
No questions yet. Ask something and trekkers who have done it can answer.
Share your trek photo with #TreksAndTrails
I trekked this
Did Vanjangi look different from this page? Tell us what changed and we will check it.
Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Vanjangi - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
- Things to know before you visit the hills of Vanjangi — Yo! Vizag
- Exclusive of Vanjangi Viewpoint: An Ultimate and Scenic Beauty — Goamood
- Explore Vanjangi Hills — Araku Valley
- Amazing Trip to Vanjangi (Paderu) — Tripoto
Photos: iMahesh, CC BY-SA 4.0; iMahesh, CC BY-SA 4.0; iMahesh, CC BY-SA 4.0; iMahesh, CC BY-SA 4.0
