A place worth knowing for its history and incredible natural beauty, Visakhapatnam is the largest city and also the financial capital of Andhra Pradesh. The city is home to the oldest shipyards. It is also known by various names such as 'The City of Destiny' and the 'Jewel of the East Coast.' Moreover, it is also important to know that there are plans to develop this city under the smart cities mission.
Did you know that under the East India Company rule, this city was also known by the name Vizagapatnam? It was so because the Britishers were not able to pronounce its name clearly. Another name by which this place was known in the past was 'The Suburb Of Waltair.'
History of Visakhapatnam
The history of Visakhapatnam dates back to the 6th century BCE and finds its mention for the first time around the 4th century BCE in the Sanskrit writings of Panini and Katyayana.
Historically, it was ruled by the Vengi Kingdom and the Pallava dynasty as well as the Eastern Ganga dynasties dating back to medieval times. The archaeological records of this place suggest that the present city of Visakhapatnam was built sometime around the 11th and 12th centuries. Back then, the rule of this Kingdom fluctuated between Chola and Gajapati Kingdoms. And, in the 16th century, it was conquered by the Mughals as well. Seeing so many rulers and kingdoms come by, we can definitely say that Visakhapatnam has seen a lot.
Eventually, the European powers came into being setting up the trading interests in the city of Visakhapatnam, and then by the 18th century, this city was under French rule. However, the Britishers were able to capture this place after the battle of Vizagapatnam, and then it remained under colonial rule till India’s independence.
Major Attractions in and Around Visakhapatnam
1. Araku Valley
Araku valley is one of the most incredible tourist destinations to explore for travelers in Visakhapatnam. Surrounded by thick forests and the Eastern Ghats, this place comes across as a perfect blend of adventure and exploration.
2. Katiki Waterfalls
Katiki waterfalls are named after Rishi Katiki, this waterfall pours down from a height of about 50 feet. It is situated at a distance of 4km from Borra Caves. Visiting this place will leave you thrilled with the kind of adventure you will experience on your way.
3. Kailasagiri
It is a hilltop park where you will find the whole land covered with flora and fauna. The beauty of this place is such that the government of Andhra Pradesh even awarded Kailasagiri as the Best Tourist Spot in 2003. Did you know that three hundred thousand Indian and foreign tourists visit this park on a yearly basis?
4. Borra Caves
Also known as Borra Gohalu, these caves are located on the east coast of India in the Ananthagiri hills of the Araku valley. They are called one of the biggest caves in India too as they are situated at an elevation of 705m. Borra caves were discovered in 1807 by a geologist named William King George of the Geological Survey of India.
How to Reach Visakhapatnam
Commonly known as Vizag, Visakhapatnam is considered as one of the oldest port cities in the country. The beaches, its culture, and the historical past of Visakhapatnam make it one of the most phenomenal travel destinations of India. Visakhapatnam is situated at 1,770, 1,338, 888, 1,011 km from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru. The route mentioned below would be best suitable for you to reach Visakhapatnam.
By Air
Visakhapatnam Airport (VTZ) would be your best option to reach here. It is interesting to know that it operates as a civil enclave on one of the Indian Navy bases namely INS Dega.
This airport is connected with other Indian cities via many airlines like IndiGo, Air India, Spicejet, Air Asia.
- Hyderabad - Take Air India, IndiGo, Air Asia from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The airfares are starting from Rs.4,000
- Bhubaneshwar - Take IndiGo or Air India flights from Biju Patnaik International Airport. The airfares are starting from Rs.6,000
- Chennai - Take IndiGo, Air Asia, Air India and Spicejet flights from Chennai to singapore International Airport. The airfares are starting from Rs.3,000
- Mumbai - Take Air India, Spicejet, IndiGo, Air Asia from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The starting airfares are from Rs.6,000
Here is a list of Indian cities from where flights are available to Visakhapatnam
After you deboard at the airport, you can take a cab or some other means of transportation to reach your destination.
By Train
Visakhapatnam has its own railway station of the same name. This is one of the primary train stations and is operated under the South Coast Railway Zone. It is interesting to know that in 2017, this railway station was selected as the cleanest railway station of our country. After you deboard at the station, you can easily take a cab or some other means of public transportation to reach your destination.
Here is the route that you can follow to reach Visakhapatnam by train.
- Delhi - Board Samta Express from H.Nizamuddin Station and deboard at the Visakhapatnam station
- Pune - Board Konark Express from Pune Junction and deboard at the Visakhapatnam station
- Aurangabad - Board SNSI VSKP Express from Aurangabad Junction and deboard at the Visakhapatnam station
- Nashik - Board LTT VSKP SUP Express from Nashik Road station and deboard at the Visakhapatnam station
By Road
Visakhapatnam is fairly well-connected via road with other Indian cities. Here is the route you can follow to reach Visakhapatnam from various other places.
- Hyderabad - 619 km via NH65 or AH45
- Nagpur - 767 km via NH53 or AH45
- Vijaywada - 347 km via NH16 or AH45
- Chennai - 798 km via NH16
- Bengaluru - 1,011 km via NH16 or AH45
Frequently Asked Questions about Visakhapatnam
Q. What are the top tourist attractions in Visakhapatnam?
A. Some of the top tourist attractions in Visakhapatnam include Ramakrishna Beach, Rishikonda Beach, Kailasagiri Hill Park, Borra Caves, and Simhachalam Temple.
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here.
