Tourist City in Visakhapatnam

Location : In the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
Attractions : Kalshagiri, Ramakrishna Beach, Rishikonda Beach, Visakha Museum, Simhachalam etc.
Best Time To Visit : October to March

Visakhapatnam, also known as Vizag is situated in South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. A historic city, Visakhapatnam was a part of King Ashoka's Kalinga Kingdom in 260 B.C. Set along the shoreline of the Bay of Bengal, Vizag is surrounded by three hills and the eastern area of the city is washed by rivers like Godavari and Indravati. Besides, Visakhapatnam is also home to a number of magnificent beaches.

Visakhapatnam is one of India's most rapidly growing industrial cities and also has the fourth largest port of the country. In fact, Vizag is the only protected sea harbour on the Coromondel Coast. Some of the major industries based in Visakhapatnam include Ship Building, Petro Chemicals, Oil Refinery, Steel Mills, Fertilizer etc. The port city of Visakhapatnam also has a Naval Base.

Moreover, picturesque beaches and vast blue sea, green-capped hills, verdant valleys, dense forests and crystal clear cascades, million-year-old caves, an 11th century temple, ancient Buddhist sites, lush green gardens and salubrious climate - Visakhapatnam has everything that a perfect tourist destination encompasses.

How to Reach Visakhapatnam
By Air : Visakhapatnam has a domestic airport. Flights of Indian Airlines and Air Deccan connect Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

By Train : Visakhapatnam railway station is the major halt for the trains running between Chennai and Kolkata, and Kolkata and Hyderabad. Visakhapatnam is well connected by railway network to all the major destinations of Andhra Pradesh and rest of the country.

By Bus : National Highway No 5 (Kolkata - Chennai) passes through the town of Visakhapatnam, connecting it to the neighbouring states of Orissa. APSRTC bus services operate from all major cities of the state to the city. Distances of some of the important cities from Visakhapatnam - Hyderabad (780 kms), Vijayawada (400 kms) and Warangal (650 kms).

Local Transport : Auto-rickshaws are common mode of transport within the city. You may also hire cabs from travel agents or your hotel.

Places Where You Can Stay
A wide range of accommodation facilities are available in Visakhapatnam. All the luxury and deluxe hotels are well-equipped with contemporary amenities. Some of the most popular hotels are Taj Residency (Five Star), The Park Hotel (Five Star), Dolphin Group of Hotels, Welcomgroup Grand Bay Sheraton, Green Park, Daspalla Executive Court, The Grand Central Hotel, Palm Beach Hotel and Resort, Royal Fort Hotel, Hotel Supreme Vizag etc.

Tourist Attractions in Visakhapatnam
Kalshagiri : Set atop a hill, Kalshagiri is a must visit place for tourists visiting Visakhapatnam. From the hilltop, get a spectacular view of the sea and the beautiful surroundings. Kalshagiri is also home to best beach for swimming in Vishakhaptnam.

Ramakrishna Beach : Visakhapatnam's most popular beach, Ramakrishna beach occupies a large portion of the seafront. Locals as well as tourists throng the beach at dawn and dusk.

Rishikonda Beach : Just 8 kms from downtown, Rishikonda is a picturesque beach and a perfect place to laze around. Rishikonda is a developed beach resort and offers the facilities for overnight accommodation and water sports.

Visakha Museum : Situated on the Beach Road, Vishakha Museum has a modest collection of art and sculpture. The museum is open daily from 4pm to 8pm, close on Mondays.

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park : Flanked by hills on either sides and the Bay of Bengal on the east, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park provides shelter to a variety of animal species.

Tourist Attractions Around Visakhapatnam
Simhachalam : Located 16 kms north-east of Visakhapatnam, Simhachalam is a famous 11 th century temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha - a combination of the Varaha and the Narasimha - the incarnations of Vishnu.

Bheemunipatnam : Around 30 kms north of Visakhapatnam, at Bheemunipatnam you can see the remains of the Dutch Fort and unique cemetery, where slate-grey pyramidal tombs are abandoned to mother nature.

Borra Caves : The Borra Caves are located 90 kms away from VisakhapatnamVisakhapatnam. Formed around million years ago, the Borra Caves have amazing stalactite and stalagmite formations.

Araku Valley : Situated at a distance of 112 kms from Visakhapatnam, Araku Valley is known for its natural beauty. Apart from its pristine charm, Araku Valley is famous for traditional folk dances like the Dhimsa and Mayuri, that are performed here.

Shopping in Visakhapatnam
Apart from sightseeing, you can go for shopping the markets of Visakhapatnam. Jagadamba Centre, Dabagardens and Dwarkanagar are the main shopping centres and offer a variety of items. You may also visit Khadi Grammena Udyog, Lepakshi, Girijan Co-operative Society and Eastern Art Museum, for exclusive range of handicrafts. You can buy Narayanpet, Pochampalli, Kalamkari printed fabrics and wall hangings from the above mentioned outlets. Also visit the customs notified shops such as Japan Gifts, Singapore Place and Paris Corner.