Location: Eastern Shore of India, Andhra Pradesh
Famous as: Shipbuilding center
Popularly Known as: Vizag
Attractions: Kailasagiri, Rushikonda Beach, Ramakrishna Beach and Indira Gandhi Zoological Park
The History of Visakhapatnam : Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, is named after the god of 'Valor-Vishakha', the second son of Lord Shiva. The history of Visakhapatnam can be traced back to the 6th century BC. It was once the part of the consecutive Kalinga Kingdom under the Ashoka's rule. Apart from that the successive dynasties from Pallava, Chola and Ganga, have contributed significantly to the state's rich cultural tapestry and have left behind a great architectural legacy in the form of edifices, monuments and architectural ruins that can be seen today.
During the 15th century, it became the part of the great Vijayanagar Empire. As Visakhapatnam is located on the shores of Bay of Bengal, it was also the important trading center. Earlier the traders from Europe, Dutch and Portuguese used it as the trading center to export ivory, textiles, tobacco, indigo etc.
Since
India gained independence, Visakhapatnam has become the major port handling huge volumes of cargo everyday.
The City Of Destiny : Visakhapatnam, a bustling country town (still widely and more commonly known as Vizag), is situated along the eastern coast of Andhra Pradesh. Hot, fast, congested and noisy, it is the major industrial hub of the south- commanded by the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.
Home to some of the country's finest
beaches, the city holds enough of interest to keep you enthralled for atleast couple of days, and is the most obvious base for trip to the luxurious eastern ghats. However, its heritage and treasures– depicted through the exquisite caves and spectacular
temples – give it a crucial significance to south Indian culture.
The city is blessed with the supreme scenic beauty – demonstrated through its scintillating valleys, high-spirited rivers and rich forests. Nonetheless are the three captivating hills surrounding the city, each of which has shrine dedicated to the different religion - Venkateswara temple (also spelt as Venkateshwara) on Venkateswara Konda, Baba Ishaq Madina Dargah on Dargah Konda and Church of the Virgin Mary on Rose hill.
A Prominent Ship-building Center: Visakhapatnam is a booming industrial city adorned by the biggest ship building yard in the country. The first steamer to be built in India was launched in Visakhapatnam's harbor in 1948.
Major Attractions of Visakhapatnam :
Kailasagiri : It is no doubt, that Kailasagiri is one of the most significant destination of Visakhapatnam. Adorned with the picturesque hillock and beautiful beaches, it offers a fascinating view of the sea. The most dominant feature of the Kailasagiri
hill station is the massive sculpture of celestial couple – Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Rushikonda Beach : The lovely Rushikonda beach, 8 kms from Visakhapatnam, is the ideal location to engage in the exciting water activities with the vast golden sands and gushing waves of the Bay of Bengal. It is also a popular picnic destination among the locals of the city.
Ramakrishna Beach : Commonly known as the RK beach, it is one of the most happening beach, located on the east coast in Visakhapatnam. Swimming, skiing, wind surfing and sun bathing are some of the activities in which you can indulge here.
Indira Gandhi Zoological Park : Spread to the total area of 625 acres, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is one of the largest zoo in the country. There are about eight species of animals that can be found in the zoo. Some of the important attractions of the zoo are Deer Safari, Nocturnal animals, Toy train, Shanty Sarovar view, Zoo van drive and Bay of Bengal view points.
Excursion of Visakhapatnam :
Anantagiri Hills : Anantagiri is located at the highest altitude place in Andhra Pradesh.
It is considered to be a perfect head off to get away from the blistering summer months. It falls on the way to Araku Valley and is famous for coffee plantations, exotic waterfalls and its pleasant climate.
Simhachalam : Simhachalam lies at the distance of about 16-km from Vishakhapatnam and is most for the temple of Sri Varaha Lakshminarasimha. It is a must visit on the tour to Visakhapatnam.
Araku Valley : Araku, one of the most picturesque valley is famous for its luxurious gardens, scenic waterfalls and gushing streams. Petrified with the thick forests, Araku Valley is the perfect getaway for the weekends. While being at Araku Valley you can check out the Tribal Museum, Botanical Garden at Padmapuram and Government Silk Farm with Mulberry Gardens.
Borra Caves : On the way to Araku Valley, approximately 90-95-km from Vishakhapatnam are the spectacular Borra Caves, which attained the great religious and historical importance.
Bheemunipatnam : Bheemunipatnam or Bheemili lies at the distance of about 25-km from Visakhapatnam is Bheemunipatnam. It is a popular beach location, located at the mouth of the river Gosthani.
Festivals of Visakhapatnam : 'Visakha Utsav' is the grandest annual tourism festival of Visakhapatnam. It is a four day event, which is organized by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development to promote tourism in the state. It is an exclusive tourism event featuring art and craft, music, dance, of Andhra Pradesh. The major attraction of the festival are the various cultural shows alluring visitors from far and wide.
Shopping in Andhra Pradesh : Along with the great holidays, shopping in Andhra Pradesh is also a delightful experience. The state boosts of the exquisite handicraft items, antique jewelery and amazing decorative items that depict the rich culture and tradition of the state. Apart from these you can shop for the artifacts, sandalwood products – ranging from wood carving s to sculptures that look amazingly beautiful. However, there are also several other items that are quite famous in the region, such as spices, pickles, soaps, perfumes, musical instruments and Indian tea. Some of the popular market stations in the city are Markets at Waltair, RTC Complex, TSR complex, Jagadamda Junction, Kurupam and Dwaraka Nagar.
Places to stay in Visakhapatnam : Taj Residency – 5 Star
Dolphin Hotel – 4 Star
Sai Priya Resort – 3 Star
Royal Fort – 3 Star
Green Park – 3 Star
Grand Bay Hotel – 3 Star
Daspalla Hotel – 3 Star
Executive Court – 3 Star
Budget Hotels :Hotel Supreme
Dwaraka Inn
The Grand Central Hotel
Hotel Supreme Vizag
Visakhapatnam Nearby Cities : Simhachalam – 16 km
Araku Valley – 115 km
Borra Caves – 90 kms
How To Get There : Air : Visakhapatnam has an airport that conducts regular flights to Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai.
Rail: Visakhapatnam is well connected to all the important places in Andhra Pradesh and India by the good railway network. It is also the center point for the trains going between Chennai and Howra and Howrah and Secunderabad.
Road : Visakhapatnam is well connected to other cities of country through excellent road network. National Highway No. 5 passes through Visakhapatnam (Howrah to Chennai). APSRTC runs regular bus service to other states of the country.
General Information about Vishakhapatnam · Climate: Tropical
· Temperature Range (deg C):
· - Summer- Max 36, Min 25
· Winter- Max 28, Min 19.6
· Altitude: 15 feet above sea level
· Clothing: Light Cottons in summers and light woolens in winters
· Best Season: August to October and January to March
· Languages Spoken: Telugu, Hindi, English
· STD Code: 0891
