Vishakhapatnam CITY TRAVEL Guide

Vishakhapatnam is built along the seashore of the Bay of Bengal, and is bounded and broken by the bold headland called the Dolphin's Nose (357m above the sea level). The city boasts of a beautiful beach with a long beach road ending at nearly Bheemunipatnam on the northern end. The surrounding area is dominated on the west by the well-forested Eastern Ghats and numerous rivers, among them the Godavari and Indravati, drain farther east.The city is also known as "Vizag" and is surrounded by three hills, each of which has a shrine dedicated to a 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.

The History:
According to the history, the city was named after the god of 'Valor-Vishakha'. It was a part of the Kalinga Kingdom, under Ashoka's rule in 260 BC it passed on later to the Andhra Kings of 'Vengi'. After this Pallava, Chola and Ganga dynasties ruled the city. In the 15th century, Vishakhapatnam became a part of the Vijayanagar Empire. The Europeans, the Dutch, the French and the English established themselves from the 17th century onwards and used this as a major trading center to export textiles, ivory, tobacco, indigo etc. This port is well documented in the histories of these colonial powers as well as in Indian historical records. This coast played a major role during the reign of the Asaf Jahis and the Golcondas. A Prominent Shipbuilding Center: Vishakhapatnam is an important shipbuilding center; the first steamer to be built in India was launched in Vishakhapatnam's harbour in 1948. Vishakhapatnam's port has grown greatly in importance because it has the only protected harbour on the Coromandel Coast. Agriculture is the mainstay of the region's economy. There are major industries like Shipbuilding, Oil Refinery, Fertilizer, Petro Chemicals, Steel Mills and a Naval base. The suburb of Waltair, at the north end of the bay, is the site of Andhra University. Vishakhapatnam is the true spot where one can find the beauty of Andhra. From lakes to cool beaches, from beautiful hill ranges to caves and valleys enclosures, Vishakhapatnam has them all. A visit to Vishakhapatnam will definitely be exciting, enriching and refreshing experience with all its sun kissed beaches, caves and temples.

PRIME ATTRACTIONS
Indira Gandhi Zoological Park:
The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is located in Vishakhapatnam amidst the scenic Eastern Ghats of India, flanked by hills on either sides and Bay of Bengal on the east.

Ramakrishna Beach:
One of the loveliest beaches on the East Coast, the Ramakrishna beach is a favorite resort for tourists visiting Vishakhapatnam.

Rishikonda Beach:
Just 8-km from Vishakhapatnam is the Rishikonda Beach, a golden, unspoilt beach, washed by the sun-warmed sea.

Kali Temple:
Small temple beautifully constructed situated near Rama Krishna Beach.

Vishakha Museum:
Situated on the shores of the Rishikonda beach, this museum gives historic insights of the past.

VUDA Park:
Located in Vishakhapatnam, VUDA Park is a heavy crowd puller and has a dancing musical fountain.

The Harbour:
It is one of the natural harbours in the world. A temple, mosque and church are located on hills overlooking the harbour.

Dolphin's Nose:
A huge rock, 357m high, is shaped like a Dolphin's nose. The rock juts out into the sea, forming a headland on which is the lighthouse. This lighthouse has a beam that can be seen 65-km out at sea.

Kailasagiri:
Kailasagiri is located on a hilltop and is a must to visiting place for all people visiting Vishakhapatnam. The charming hill on the seafront, affords a breath taking scenic view, especially towards Bheemunipatnam.

Mudasarlova Water Works And Park: Situated 10-km from the city, it is beautiful valley framed by hills with a lake that supplies water to the city. There is also a scenic 18-hole Golf course belonging to East Point Golf Club.

Submarine Museum:
Another Attraction to Vizag is the recently setup submarine museum, one of its kind in the country and the first Museum in Asia to be build off a Submarine.

Bheemunipatnam:
About 25-km from Vishakhapatnam is Bheemunipatnam. The most important aspect of interest at the place is the beach, which is perhaps matchless for its beauty all along the east coast.

Simhachalam:
About 16-km from Vishakhapatnam is Simhachalam, famous for the temple of Sri Varaha Lakshminarasimha. Architecturally this ancient temple deserves high praise.

Araku Valley:
About 115-km from Vishakhapatnam is the beautiful Araku Valley, with its bracing climate, orchards, and the Ananthagiri Ghats, which present an enchanting view to the visitors, is attracting tourists not only in India but from abroad too.

Borra Caves:
At a distance of about 90-95-km from Vishakhapatnam are the Borra Caves, which attained historical and religious importance.

Ananthagiri Hills:
Anantagiri is a breathtakingly beautiful resort sheltered in the lush undulating ranges of the Eastern Ghats. It is considered to be a perfect head off to get away from the blistering summer months. The Ananthagiri hills are on the way to Araku Valley and are famous for coffee plantations.