Visakhapatnam Travel Guide

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Visakhapatnam is a jewel on the East-Coast of India with a natural harbour and a beach, stretching endlessly against a backdrop of low hills, and dotted with secluded covers and creeks. Matchless in beauty and landscape. Visakhapatnam is said to have derived its name from a temple deity Visakha (God of Valour). The monument was built by a Hindu King in the 11th Century on his way to Benaras. The edifice has long since been washed away but the name and the town remain.

Visakhapatnam became popularly known as Vizag and from a small fishing village it has burgeoned into a bustling port and also an important industrial and commercial city. Visakhapatnam is the site of the country's largest ship building yard. It is the headquarters of Eastern Naval Command and has important industries like Coromandel Fertilizers, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. and a gigantic Steel Plant

Getting There:
Road : Visakhapatnam is 650 km from Hyderabad and 350 km from Vijayawada. Regular bus services are available to Hyderabad, \Tijayawada, Bhubaneswar, Chennai and Tirupati.
Rail : Visakhapatnam is a major junction on the commercially important ChennaiKolkata rail line. As such the city is well connected by rail with New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad. Daily express trains are available to all these four maj or cities.
Air : Connected with Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi and Bhubaneshwar. Indian Airlines flies daily to Hyderabad and five times a week to Chennai, New. Delhi and Kolkata.

Tourist Attractions
Hindustan Shipyard
Hindustan Shipyard is the nation's biggest shipbuilding yard is situated at Gandhigram at Vizag. The shipyard has tour berths, each 167.6 m long and provides good educational and entertaining visit.

Visiting days are Monday to Saturday between 4 p.m and 6 p.m.

Caltex Oil
Refinery 8 km away from Vishakhapatnam, the refinery is situated here on account of the advantageous position of the harbor. Visiting days: Monday and Friday, between 1.30 p.m and 3 p.m.

Simhachalam Hill Temple
About 20 km from the city is the famous Simhachalam hill temple of the 11th century, where the presiding deity Varaha Lakshminarasimha is always covered with sandalwood paste. The actual form of the idol is viewed only once in a year, during the Chandana Yatra. Simhachalam, which is visited by lakhs of devotees every year, is being developed as a `Divya Kshetram', to make it second only to the Tirumala temple.

Dolphin's Nose
The most famous landmark at Visakhapatnam is the Dolphin's Nose, a rocky promontory in the port. This huge rock, 174 m in height and 358 m above sea level, 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 64 km out at sea.

Bheemunipatnam
Bheemunipatnam This beautiful sandy beach is picturesquely situated at the confluence of Gosthani river into Bay of Bengal. It is one of the finest sea resorts of India and is well known as Bheemli. It is the safest of all the beaches here. Its beautiful beach and invigorating climate coupled with the pleasantness provided by the lush green palm groves adds to its immense attraction . A ruined fort and armory remain and sequestered among plantain and palm groves. The Dutch cemetry where 13 tombs mark a span of time from 1661 to 1770 AD. The Dutch influence can be seen from the architectural style of the houses built there. There is a Dutch cemetery called Hollanders Green, which overlooks the ocean. The evidence of the British presence in Bheemunipatnam can be seen from the 19th century clock tower and the church of St’ Peter. Bheemunipatnam was a major Dutch port in the past.

Buddhist Sites
Araku Valley
This beautiful valley is located around 120 km from Visakhampatnam, amid the Eastern Ghats. The hill tribes in this region are best know for a unique dance-form called the Dimsa dance. The road to Araku Valley passes through with thick forests, making it a truly enchanting drive.

Sankaram
This is a small village about 3 Km from the banks of the River Sharada. The name Sankaram appears to have been derived from the term 'Sangrama', which means a monastery. At Bojjannakonda, numerous images of Buddha can be seen carved in caves in the hill. Similarly at Lingaalametta, innumerable rows of rock and monolithic Stupas are spread all over the hill.

Thotlakonda
Situated 16 Km from Vizag, along the Vizag- Bhimli beach road, this Buddhist settlement has a number of Stupas, Chaityas, Viharas, congregation halls, and a refractory of the Hinayana school of Buddhism.

Bora Caves
Located around 100 Km from Vizag, these caves at Anantagiri mandal, in the Eastern Ghats have geological and historical significance. Water drips onto a Shiv Lingam deep in the caves, and this drip is said to be the origin of the river Gosthani. The river that emanates from these caves, adds to the tranquillity of the spot.

Bavi Konda
Located 20 Km to the North East of Visakhapatnam, the Buddhist settlement at Ravi Kond consists of religious and secular constructions. The religious monuments include Stupas, Chaityagrihas, a congregation hall and platforms. The secular constructions include Viharas (accommodation) and kitchen-cum-stores complexes.