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Visakhapatnam (Telugu: విశాఖపట్నం Viśākhapaṭnaṁ), popularly known as Vizag (vigh-ZAG), is the largest city in Andhra Pradesh. It is primarily an industrial city, but also attracts tourists due to its unspoilt sandy beaches, well built and maintained parks, Buddhist Remnant sites and nearby scenic areas, such as Araku Valley. The city has a population of about 2 million.
Understand
[edit]
Visakhapatnam (vih-shah-khuh-puhtt-nuhm) is sometimes called The Goa of the East. Just like its west coast counterpart, it has beautiful virgin beaches, laterite hillocks, smooth roads and stunning landscape. Medical tourism is a fast-developing industry. Vizag is variously called Jewel of the East Coast, Steel City, and the City of Destiny.
There is a considerable concentration of Marwaris, Odias, Bengalis, Punjabis, Tamils and Malayalis. In addition, there is a large population of migrant workers from other parts of India who have been drawn to the area by the abundance of work at locally based companies, such as Vizag Steel Plant and Hindustan Shipyard.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]- 1 Visakhapatnam Airport (VTZ IATA), Viman Nagar (opposite NH 16), ☏ +91 891 2851169. Visakhapatnam is connected by air to Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Tirupati, Delhi, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore through its customs airport, an airport with restricted access, by Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo. AirAsia and Batik Air from Malaysia operate scheduled flights from Kuala Lumpur.
By train
[edit]
2 Visakhapatnam Junction ECoR 
is on the Kolkata–Chennai line and is connected to several cities of the country by rail. All trains including fast expresses stop at the station. Visakhapatnam comes under the East Coast Railway (ECoR) zone and is one of the principal divisional headquarters (under the British name Waltair). It has eight platforms, the first in ECoR to have this many, and all of them can accommodate trains with up to 28 coaches.
You may want to verify the timings with Indian Railways, since they change from time to time. Train berths can be reserved online. However, this being a major destination, availability of seats is at times difficult even with a one month's advance planning.
By car
[edit]
Visakhapatnam is connected to Chennai and Kolkata via Bhubaneswar and Vijayawada by National Highway 16 (dual-carriageway, 120 km/h).
By bus
[edit]The Andhra Pradesh State Road Travel Corporation (APSRTC) runs buses from almost every city and town to Visakhapatnam, along with some private operators, who run buses from a few of the major cities. Please check with APSRTC for timings. There is also a Garuda fleet of bus service (Volvo) to Vizag from Chennai, Bangalore, Vijayawada and Hyderabad which is very comfortable and happy going. This is the best way to do it if you want to travel by bus. APSRTC has several other bus services which have varied luxury levels and transit speeds. You might want to check the APSRTC at least 3 days in advance to be sure you have a reservation.
Get around
[edit]
Visakhapatnam has no commuter rail service. However, apart from the bus service, taxis or autorickshaws can also be hired.
By bus
[edit]APSRTC operates a lit of buses from 6 principal bus complexes in the city. They are:
- Simhachalam
- Gajuwaka
- Maddilapalem
- Visakha Steel City
- Waltair
- Madhurawada
Dwarka Bus Station or RTC Complex depot is the largest bus station and complex in the city.
There are mainly two types of buses operated for suburban travel in Visakhapatnam.
- City Ordinary: can be identified by its orange or red colour. It is operated on almost all suburban routes. Some of the main routes include RTC Complex–Gajuwaka (via NAD), Maddilapalem–Railway Station, RTC Complex–Gajuwaka (via Scindia), Railway Station–Madhurawada, etc. These buses stop at almost every bus stop. The frequency is more than that of Metro Express buses. These buses sometimes become overcrowded during peak hours on weekdays. Some popular route numbers include 222, 400, 99, 25, 900, 60C, 300, 6A, 28, 38 and 12D.
- Metro Express: can be identified by their blue and white colour. These buses run in most important routes such as 400, 211, 500, 99, 28, 38 etc. These buses don't stop at all bus stops and the fare for these buses is also a bit higher than that for city ordinary buses. Many of these buses are JNNURM funded and sport digital display boards which display route number and route details in both English and Telugu. Also most of these have cushioned seats which are comfortable and many of them also have air-suspension which makes the journey more comfortable. These buses don't get as crowded as City Ordinary buses.
The junction and Maddilapalem joins the Asilametta-Ramatalkies road to the National Highway 5. Buses from Madilapalem ply to the extreme ends of the city, including Anakapalle and Thagarapuvalasa.
Fares
[edit]
The bus fare to get to Madilapalem from the railway station is only ₹8. Buses operate within a 5 minute frequency in routes with high demand. The minimum frequency in which buses operate is 40 minutes, i.e., every route is covered by an APSRTC bus once in every 40 minutes.
Apart from buying tickets on the bus, you may also avail an RTC-Pass, which is a special type of pass that can be renewed once in a month. With the pass, you can board any APSRTC bus and travel anywhere within the city limits. An ordinary RTC-Pass costs just ₹750. The RTC complex is to the southeast of Asilametta. RTC complex is generally referred to as complex and is connected to every other region in the city.
See
[edit]
- 1 Dolphin's Nose Lighthouse. A lighthouse providing an aerial view of the port and the city. ₹10 for adults.
- 2 Kailasagiri (6 km (3.7 mi) away from the city centre). The ride to this hill offers a spectacular view of the sea. There is a park atop the hill, with a beautiful view of the city, the sea and Eastern Ghats merging into the sea. Sagar Nagar Beach and Rushikonda Beach are on the right and left-hand sides. There is a colossal statue of the couple Shiva and Parvati. One can take a ropeway directly facing the sea and the city. On the hilltop, there is a beautiful toy train offering a tour of nature. Several viewpoints give a pleasant look at nature, especially in the evening, when the city is lit up. This is less commercial than other hill stations and there is less hassle from tourist guides. There are several points from which the beautiful rocky beach down beneath can be seen. This provides spectacular views of sunrise, sunset and the pristine waters. Many movies were shot here. Hillocks in the park, which are about 50 ft (15 m) in elevation, give a beautiful view of the sea, beach road and the beach park. The hilltop includes a children's play area, a doll museum and a couple of eating areas. It has several viewpoints offering wonderful views of the city on one side and winding beaches adjoining green hills on the other side.
- 3 Shilparamam Jathara. A crafts village showcasing and preserving the old, including woodwork, jewellery, clothes and local crafts of rural India. There are 36 stalls where you can buy assorted handicrafts and artwork. There is also an entire village where you can find realistic-looking sculptures of villagers carrying out their traditional crafts.
- 4 Telugu Samskruthika Niketanam.
Beach Road
[edit]
- 5 Hawa Mahal. A summer residential palace of the royal family of Jeypore, and one of the most iconic historical buildings of the city. The palace is made of stone with twin octagonal projections on either side. The wooden windows are framed by segmented arched openings and the high Madras roofing within the halls are extensively employed by Burma teak to ensure cool comfort during the scorching hot summers of the coast. The main structure has semi-circular arched verandas and the rectangular wooden windows in the central porch with ventilators leading into the palace. The building has sixteen rooms and a massive hall that hosted dinners and parties for guests.
- 6 INS Kursura Museum, RK Beach Rd, Kirlampudi Layout, Chinna Waltair, Pandurangapuram, ☏ +91 89125 63429. A museum in a decommissioned submarine of the Indian Navy. This is the first of its kind in South Asia. This submarine is one of the earliest submarines procured from Russia. The experience of working in the submarine is explained. The museum is manned by retired naval people. There is a fee to take a camera or video camera inside. ₹40 for adults, ₹20 for children.
- 7 Matsya Darshini, Beach Rd. It has marine and freshwater fish. The exit gate of the aquarium resembles the open mouth of a huge white tipped shark. 'Kala Shrusti', a handicrafts shop, is atop the aquarium.
- 8 Sea Harrier Museum.
- 9 TU-142 Aircraft Museum (opposite INS Kursura Museum). This museum houses a decommissioned Tupolev Tu-142 anti-submarine aircraft of Russian origin, which has been restored for the public. It is possible to see the inside of the aircraft, and real engines are displayed. ₹70 for adults, ₹40 for children (4-10).
- 10 UH3H Helicopter Museum (Sea King Museum).
- 11 Victory at Sea Memorial. This is a remembrance of the Victory at Sea in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. It is on the Beach Road, opposite the Submarine Museum. There is a fighter plane, a tank and few replicas of missiles kept as exhibits. There is no entry fee and it can be viewed from the road.
- 12 Visakha Museum. It houses the historical treasures and artefacts of Northern Andhra. Collections available for viewing in the museum include ancient armoury, crockery, coins, silk costumes, jewellery, stuffed animals, portraits, manuscripts, letters, diaries, scrapbooks, periodicals and maps.
Religious attractions
[edit]- 13 Panchadharla.
- 14 Ross Hill Church. A house built by Monsieur Ross in 1864, later converted into a Mother Mary's Church. The pathway to the shrine is strewn with Catholic icons.
- 15 Simhachalam Temple. This is an architectural splendour, although some of the sculptures were defaced during the Islamic invasions. The temple inscriptions date the earliest donors to the 10th-11th centuries. The exact date of construction is unknown. It is 15 km from the city and is dedicated to the Narasimha avatar of Lord Vishnu, which is his half-man, half-lion avatar. The temple bears reference to the Chola and Chalukya styles of architecture. It also has a local railway station.
- 16 Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, Ross Hill.
Buddhist sites
[edit]
Bojjannakonda, Thotlakonda and Bavikonda in and around Visakhapatnam were centres of Buddhism during the second century CE. Several Buddhist monuments such as stupas and chaityas were erected at these places. It is said that some of the corporal relics of the Buddha were preserved at these places. Hence all these places became sacred places.
- 17 Bojjannakonda. It offers architectural remnants of the Buddhist period, one of the earliest of its class in Southern India. It constitutes one of the most remarkable groups of Buddhist monuments dated from 200 BCE to 700 CE, found during excavations in 1906. On the eastern hill, there are a series of rock-cut caves, numerous groups of monolithic dagobas, standing on rock platform in tiers above each other and, crowning all, a rock-cut stupa with extensive structural remains. On the western side of the eastern hill is a stairway, partly rock-cut and partly structural, which leads up to a large double-storied cave. The cave is entered by a doorway and is flanked on each side by huge dwarapalas. The cave chamber is rectangular in shape and is divided into 20 compartments by four cross rocks of 16 massive pillars. In the centre is the rock-cut stupa standing on a square platform.
- 18 Bavikonda.
- 19 Pavurallakonda.
- 20 Thotlakonda. A collection of Buddhist monuments at the hilltop. It consists of a Maha Stupa, along with other votive stupas. It has a beautiful beach nearby.
Do
[edit]Beaches
[edit] | Note: Swimming in these beaches can be dangerous. People have died due to treacherous rip currents and rocky outcrops. |
More than anything else, Vizag is known for its beaches. It boasts a number of beaches that are scenic and uncrowded. A few virgin beaches span along the eastern side of the city and stretch for miles. A spectacular beach only the locals are aware of is called the "Yarada" beach. Except for the occasional RTC bus, there is no public transport available. Still, the adventurous mind finds it rewarding if they can make an effort to get there. It's a private beach coming under Agrigold plantations, therefore you need to pay a fee of ₹30/- to get onto the beach, but it's worth it.
The beaches are lovely, but there are water sporting activities which started out initially like marine rafting and scuba diving, there are few beach cafes and restaurants. A water sports centre was started in Rushikonda. Vizagites are traditionally quite conservative, and though the beaches and the hills are beautiful, there is much here to interest the average tourist.
Must want is the sunrise or a moonrise on a full moon day at Tennati Park (near foot of Rope way) on the Vizag-Bhimili Beach Road it's truly a feast for nature lovers. The sea looks orange and is a wonderful sight.
- 1 Bheemili Beach. About 25 km from the city centre and is what used to be a small village also called "Bheemunipatnam". Apart from the beach, the village has the remains of a Portuguese church, Dutch cemeteries and a Buddhist Monastery (Pavurallakonda). .
- Crescent Beach.
- 2 Ramakrishna Beach. R.K.Beach is the most popular beach in the sense that you can find the locals hanging out during the hot summers, and relatively less hot winters. On weekends and holidays, one can see that the entire beach comes alive, but not in a Western sense where people take a plunge in the water or surf. You can see people dressed in their best clothes, just sitting on the benches, or walking along. Take an evening stroll at RK Beach; it offers good pedestrian tracks, beautiful parks, museums, beaches and some wonderful open-air restaurants.
- 3 Rushikonda Beach. 11 km away from the city, this has become a popular tourist spot that even the locals frequent. A lot safer to wade into than the R.K. Beach, cradled among hills, this used to be an excellent beach away from the madding crowds. AP Tourism Development Corporation has a beach resort (Punnami) on the hillside overlooking the beach.
- 4 Sagarnagar Beach.
- 5 Thotlakonda Beach.
- 6 Yarada Beach. It is perceived as a private beach but actually it is not. Tourists can visit the beach directly or through the village. Yarada is the village behind the dolphin's nose. To go to this beach, a bus facility is available from Scindia junction. Also you can hire a cab to go there. The view of the beach and Vizag city from the top of the Dolphin's nose is memorable. The drive from Scindia to the top of the dolphin nose, dolphin nose to Yarada is really enjoyable.
Parks and stadiums
[edit]- 7 Indira Gandhi Zoological Park. The zoo is home to native mammals like elephants, one-horned rhinos, tigers, lions, leopards, striped hyenas, dholes, sloth bears, gaurs, sambar deer and rhesus macaques, as well as exotic mammals like hippos, giraffes, zebras and chimpanzees. It also has birds including ostriches, rosy pelicans, grey herons, Indian peafowl and black swans. Furthermore, there are reptiles like crocodiles and gavials.
- 8 Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary. A gorgeous nature preserve that many people in Vizag itself seem to be unaware of. Kambalakonda is uncrowded and peaceful and within 20-25 minutes drive from the city centre. A nominal entrance fee of ₹10 is charged per adult. The greenery, the hiking trail and the fantastic view of the ocean from the rather flimsy viewing tower give a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the city.
- 9 Kondakarla Ava. A bird sanctuary with a unique and endangered forest.
- 10 Lumbini Park. Not to be confused with the one in Central Hyderabad.
- 11 Meghadri Gedda Reservoir.
- 12 Tenneti Park. A coastal park in the city, known for its scenery and recreational amenities. It is named after Tenneti Viswanadham, a freedom fighter and social reformer. Overlooking the Bay of Bengal, the park has views of the sea with the surrounding coastline and the cityscape. Its beauty and luxuriant carpet grass intertwined with concrete pathways make it ideal for romantic couples. Additionally, Tenneti Park is a destination for outdoor activities such as picnics, family outings, and photography, attracting both locals and tourists alike. Free.
- 13 ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium.
- 14 VMRDA City Central Park.
- 15 VMRDA Park (VUDA Park).
Buy
[edit]Vizag offers a reasonably large selection of stores selling clothing, jewellery, books, Araku Coffee etc.
- 1 Jagadamba Centre (Jagadamba Junction). Most of the famous shopping centres and malls can be found here. Named after the Jagadamba movie theatre, one of the best movie auditoriums of the country when it was constructed and even today..
Clothing
[edit]There are several locations from which clothing can be purchased. However they tend to be concentrated in few locations. One such is Jagadamba Centre. Few of the many clothing stores are:
- Chandana Brothers
- Bommana Brothers
- Kankatala silk palace
Jewellery
[edit]Similar to clothing stores, there are several shops from where jewellery can be purchased. The centres are distributed, but the prominent ones are between RTC Complex and Railway station, Jagadamba Centre and near old Town Kotharoad. Some of the prominent stores are:
- Vaibhav Jewellers
- Mahaveer Jewellers
- Tanishq Jewellers
- Khazana Jewellers
- Joyalukkas Jewellery, Sampath Vinayaka Temple Rd, Near Sampath Vinayaka Temple, CBM Compound, Asilmetta, ☏ +91 89125 61916.
- Sanghvi
- Kalyan
- Kirtilals
Memoribilia
[edit]While definitely not considered a shopper's paradise, Vizag offers some unique handicrafts and can found in by the Andhra Pradesh State-owned handicraft store, Lepakshi, at Jagadamba center. It has an impressive collection of sandalwood sculptures, stone art, etc.
Books
[edit]The stretch of road called Dabagardens has many bookstores. Police Barracks has numerous small stores that buy and sell second-hand books, including technical textbooks.
- Jyoti Book Depot
Pubs
[edit]- Waves
- Ironhill
Shopping malls
[edit]- Shoppers stop
- Spencers
- Big Bazaar
- CMR Shopping Mall
- South India Shopping Mall
- Shoppers Stop
- CMR Central, Maddilapalem. You can find Subway, KFC, and Pizza Hut here. Also a lot of shopping is possible, if you have money here, at Reliance Trends and Reliance Digital. Also one could see a movie if one has time at INOX.
- Visakhapatnam Central (beside CP office). Most happening place is Visakhapatnam Central, where you will get all branded apparels, fashion jewelries, life style merchandise like watches, shades and color cosmetics. It is typical of malls which you can find anywhere in metro cities. Very expensive too.
Eat
[edit]
If spicy fare from Southern India appeals to your gastronomic senses, then Vizag has some excellent restaurants. Many of the eating joints meant or frequented by tourists are in the Siripuram area. A walk around there can give you access to a variety of cuisines.
- Blue Sea Fine Dining, Pakkis Complex, Opposite ICICI Bank Road, Dwarakanagar 2nd Lane, Dwaraka Nagar, ☏ +91 891 646 5399.
- Daspalla Executive Court, ☏ +91 891 2717300, fax: +91 891 2717444. Eleven, 10-1-4 & 5, 4th floor, Siripuram (Infront of Ice Age), ☏ +91 8916461111. Noon to 11PM. This is one of the best new restaurants opened for Fine Dining. Food is value for money and tasty. They probably serve the best food in Vizag.
- Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) (Opp waltair club), ☏ +91 891-2766652. 11AM-11PM. The 'Flying Spaghetti Monster' a.k.a. FSM is Vizag's first authentic Italian restaurant. Great place with amazing Italian fare. Be sure not to miss out the Chocolate bomb. Cheap.
- Horizon (live music during dinner) at Dolphin Hotel, +91 891 2567000.
- Hotel Daspalla, ☏ +91 891 2564825, fax: +91 891 2562043.
- Hotel Green Park, ☏ +91 891 6615151, fax: +091 891 2563763.
- Hotel Jabilly Beach Inn, on R K Beach, ☏ +91 891 270 6026. noon. All rooms face the sea, pure Bengali food is available. ₹650 to 1200.
- Subway - Subs & Salads in Siripuram's Dutt Island, +91 891 278491.
- Ambica sea green - on Beach Road, Kirlampudi Layout, ph. 08912821818
- Nihuusravee Home Foods, Kailash Nagar, ☏ +91 945 945 9739, [email protected]. 9am to 7pm. Traditional home food. ₹300.
Drink
[edit]Some interesting bars in the city are in the Five Star hotels mentioned above and typically are expensive even by Western standards. The Park Hotel has a decent bar - try the Screwdriver. Daspalla has another bar and restaurant called Dimple that serves various drinks and can be noisy at time. Two new really cool breweries have opened up in the city .
- Punnami, near Rishikonda has pub very close to the beach and serves alcohol.
- Vihar, Near Rishikonda, Opp. GITAM University (8 km from the city). Best hangout place with friends, only concern is it was too far from the city. Even though, worth visiting "Offshores" at Vihar. There's an Awesome beach view from the middle of the hill.
- Ironhill brewery- above pmj jwellers, siripuram.
Sleep
[edit]Vizag has both high end hotels and affordable lodges. The Daspalla, The Grand Central Hotel and Green Park are well-known.
Budget
[edit]Mid-range
[edit]- 99 Residency (Value for Money Hotel), # 10-50-39/2, Waltair Main Road, Ramnagar (Next to Waltair Club), ☏ +91-891-2474448, fax: +91 891-2505545. Check-in: Noon, check-out: Noon. starting from ₹1,500 per night.
- Athidhi The Guest House, ☏ +91 9000415656, +91 9949662424.
- 1 Beach View Guest House, RK Beach main road, besides Novotel Hotel (Varun Beach) (towards collecter office route from novotel), ☏ +91 9985034321, [email protected]. All rooms face the beach. Wi-Fi available.
- Dolphin, ☏ +91 891 2567000, fax: +91 891 2567555.
- Dwaraka Inn (At Dwaraka Nagar).
- Fortune Inn Sree Kanya, Dwaraknagar, Diamond Park (Sree Kanya Road), ☏ +91-891-3988444.
- The Grand Central Hotel (at Jagadamba Junction).
- Green Park, ☏ +91 891 2564444, fax: +91 891 2563763.
- Hotel Akshaya, Station Rd (Opp to D.R.M.Office.), ☏ +91 2598111, +91 2598144, +91 9177892359 (mobile).
- Hotel Athidiinn, D.No.9-1-47, New Resapuvanapalem, ☏ +91 891-2727567, +91 9396548333 (mobile), fax: +91 891-2727678, [email protected]. Check-in: 24 hr. ₹1,500-2,200 per 24 hours.
- Hotel Daspalla, 28-2-48, Suryabagh, Jagadamba Junction, ☏ +91 89125 64825. Check-in: 24 hour check-in. Complementary breakfast, free WiFi, four restaurants and wheelchair accessible. From ₹4,000 per night.
- Hotel Saraswathi Orchid, #30-15-193,Opp: Dolphin Hotel Garden Gate, Main Road, Dabagardens (Opp: Dolphin Hotel), ☏ +91-891-2712881, fax: +91-891-6635657, [email protected].
- Hotel Supreme, At R.K.Beach.
- Hotel Talasila Continental, Station Road, Dondaparthi, ☏ +91-891-2598598.
- Meghalaya, ☏ +91 891 2755141, fax: +91 891 2755824.
- Royal Fort.
Splurge
[edit]- 2 Four Points by Sheraton Visakhapatnam, 10-28-3, Waltair Main Road, ☏ +91 891 305 1111, fax: +91 891 3051000. ₹7,700-₹8,700.
- 3 Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, Beach Road, ☏ +91 891 282 2222, fax: +91 891 2822244. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. ₹9,670.
- 4 The Gateway Hotel, Beach Road, ☏ +91 891 662 3670, fax: +91 891 2564370, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 5 The Palm Hotel.
- 6 The Park Hotel, Beach Rd, ☏ +91 891 304 5678, fax: +91 891 2754181, [email protected].
- 7 Radisson Blu Resort Visakhapatnam, ☏ +91 891 667 7666. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. ₹12,980.
- 8 Welcomhotel Devee Grand Bay, Beach Rd, ☏ +91 891 660 0101, fax: +91 891 2550691, [email protected].
- Fairfield by Marriott - KSR prime R&B junction Visakhapatnam
- Best Western Ramachandra, 8-8-36, Gajuwaka, ☏ + 91 891 2579777, [email protected].
- QualityInn Ramachandra Hotel, 31-41/10/1, Duvvada, ☏ +91 891 2762855, [email protected]. 3-Star Hotel
Go next
[edit]- Araku Valley (110 km (68 mi)) — Many tourists visit Araku Valley along with Visakhapatnam. It is a scenic valley that can be reached by train or bus. It is definitely not a day trip, but the APTDC facilities can serve as a decent lodging. November to February are the best months to visit.
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