Visakhapatnam

Introduction and history: The city of Visakhapatnam is a coastal and port city located in Andra Pradesh. Popularly known as ‘The Jewel of the East Coast’ it is also the administrative headquarters of Visakhapatnam District. It is the second largest city of Andhra and one of the fastest growing cities in Asia. It is believed that the city has derived its name from the deity ‘Visakha’ meaning the God of Valour. The city’s history traces back to Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata in multiple chapters. The Chola Kings conquered the place during 12th century and constructed multiple temples around. Followed by them the Mughal ruled this area under the Hyderabad Nizam and later the merchants from Europe and the East India Company used this natural port to export tobacco, ivory, muslin and other textile products.

What to see and when to go: The city of Visakhapatnam has multiple tourist attractions of all forms. There are number of places of tourist interest in Visakhapatnam right from temples and Buddhist sites to nature spots and beaches. Rushikonda, Bhemunipatnam, Dolphin’s Nose, Ramakrishna Beach, Kailasagiri, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Araku Valley, Borra Caves, Thotlakonda, Sankaram and Pavuralakonda are some of the major tourist attractions of the city. September to December is the ideal time to visit this city.

Accommodation: There are multiple luxury and budget accommodation available in the city, which can go up to 6000 rupees per day. State government promoted guest houses are available offering extremely affordable accommodation.
Mode of Transport: Visakhapatnam has its own Airport which is connected by air to Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. It is an important railway junction on Kolkata-Chennai main line and is connected to both the cities by train. National Highway 5 (NH - 5) connects the city with nearby destinations.
Related links:
• Andra Pradesh Tourist information: http://www.aptourism.in/
• Tourist information: http://www.vizagcityonline.com/

See also (nearby places): Kakinada, Rajahmundry and Gopalpur are nearby tourist attractions.