Vishakhapatnam,
formerly known as Vizag, along the eastern coast of present-day Andhra
Pradesh previously belonged to the Dutch, who were among the first Europeans
to make their presence felt in India. A quiet fishing town with little or no
infrastructure till the early 1920s, Vishakhapatnam was established by the
British and was opened to sea-going vessels in 1933. Since then it has been
a medium - sized port town, serving to the requirements of the Deccan
Plateau and the eastern parts of the country. Known as Waltair under British
rule, Vishakhapatnam was also seen to be of strategic importance by the
military who set up base here.
Vishakhapatnam is the right spot where one can find the charm of Andhra.
From lakes to cool beaches, from beautiful hill ranges to caves and valleys
enclosures, Vishakhapatnam possess them all. A visit to Vishakhapatnam will
definitely be exciting, enriching and enlivening experience with all its
enticing beaches, caves and temples.
Sightseeing at Vishakhapatnam
Kailasagiri : Kailasagiri is settled 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.
Rishikonda Beach : About 8 km from Vishakhapatnam is the Rishikonda
Beach, a golden, virgin beach, braced by the sun-warmed sea.
Ramakrishna Beach : One of the prettiest beaches
on the Eastern Coast is the Ramakrishna beach, which is a favourite resort
for tourists visiting Vishakhapatnam.
Indira Gandhi Zoological Park : The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is
situated in Vishakhapatnam amidst the picturesque eastern ghats of India,
enclosed by hills on either sides and Bay of Bengal on the east.
Best Season : August to October and January to March
Reaching Vishakhapatnam
Air
: Vishakhapatnam has an airport. Indian Airlines flies to Vishakhapatnam
daily from Mumbai, Kolkatta, Hyderabad and Chennai.
Rail : Vishakhapatnam is the centre point for the trains going
between Chennai and Howra and Howrah and Secunderabad. It is well connected
by rail to all the important places in and outside the state.
Road : National Highway No.5 (Howrah to Chennai) passes through
Vishakhapatnam. The Vishakhapatnam to Steel Plant - Anakapalli Road is most
modern 4 Line Highway spans 45-km. The APSRTC runs buses and private buses
connect major cities of the state and the cities in the neighboring states
of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh with Vishakhapatnam.
STD/ISD Codes
If dialing from India --------0891 (number)
If dialing from abroad -------+91-891 (number)
Shopping in Vishakhapatnam
There is lot you can buy in Vishakhapatnam. For some reason shops in the
same trade tend to be located next to each other, which makes shop hopping
and bargaining easier. Earlier the area around Kurupam market with its
narrow lanes and poky shops, was famous for Gold and Silver shopping. But,
today you will find shops in the area in Dwaraka Nagar on the other side of
TSR complex. The entire stretch of road expanding from Jagadamba Junction to
the Old Post Office has literally countless shops selling a wide variety of
items. Chandana Brothers, Bommana, Puchala, are the famous shops, which sell
almost all varieties of sari. The government owned Lepakshi is the place for
handicraft items.
Vishakhapatnam
