Vishakhapatnam (Vizag) India Travel Guide

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Visakhapatnam History and Geography

The city derives its name from God Visakha, or the God of Courage. The earliest documented history the city states that it was ruled by the mighty King Ashoka, but was sacked by one dynasty after another during the course of history.

The first to take over after Ashoka were the Andhra kings of Vengi. After several gruesome wars, the city was taken in by the princes of Pallavas, and later by the Chola dynasty. It was during the reign of the Ganga Kings that the stability of the province was restored.

This port city was very important to the colonial powers as their power grew in India. The first of the colonial powers were the Dutch, followed by the French, and finally the British. It was during the French rule that the port gained significance, and major exports of ivory, tobacco and indigo began. During the British Empire, Vizag, or Waltair as it was referred to by the English, was transformed into a medium size port and was opened for the sea-going vessels in 1933.

Visakhapatnam Things To Do and Attractions

One of the prime tourist attractions in Visakhapatnam is the Dolphin’s Nose, which is a huge rock that looks as its name suggest. This unique structure stands tall at a massive height of over 350 meters. Another popular thing to do in Visakhapatnam is to go to the Ramakrishna beach, which is officially labelled as the most beautiful beach of the east coast. Rishikonda beach is another common Visakhapatnam attraction. The Visakhapatnam harbour is one of the few natural harbours in the world, and is a perfect example of communal harmony. There’s a Hindu temple, a church and a mosque on the hill. Kailasagiri is also a prime Visakhapatnam thing to do. It is a hilltop with a magnificent view.

Visakhapatnam Excursions

About 120 kilometers from Vizag is the Buddhist site of Araku Valley, which is awe-inspiring. The road that goes to the valley is beautiful itself, as it cuts through thick forests, making this the journey even more captivating. Located 100 kilometers from Visakhapatnam are the Bora Caves, which have archaeological and geological importance. Approximately 65 kilometers from the Vizag is Vizianagaram, which was supposed to be the capital during the 17th century. This magnificent town has history written on every brick laid in it. A perfect getaway from the city is the Ananthagiri Hills, which are the beautiful, lush ranges of the Eastern Ghats. The coffee plantations which you will encounter on the way to the hills are also worth a mention.

Visakhapatnam Shopping

Despite being a highly industrial and harbour city, Visakhapatnam has decent shops, bazaars, and a couple of malls. The regular international brands are common in the good shops. Down towards the ‘Kurupam’ market is the higher quality gold and silver ornaments at decent prices, which you can generally bargain lower. The entire street from the Jagadamba joint has a number of shops of interests for tourists and locals alike. Tourists interested for handicrafts, wall hangings, or wooden toys can head for the government run Lepakshi or the Eastern Art museum.

Visakhapatnam Restaurants

Vizag has typical Andhraite cuisine. Being more of a commercial center, with businessmen pouring in from all over the worlds, Visakhapatnam has many good restaurants with a variety of cuisines. It is a must to try the Vizag seafood, which mainly fish and prawn cooked in sesame and coconut oils. Vizag is also known for its great variety of pickles and chilli powders.

Visakhapatnam Nightlife

Visakhapatnam has a very average nightlife, so not much that can be said about this aspect of the city, although it has a few “discs” and a couple of lounge bars. The best bars are in the 5-Star rated hotels.

Visakhapatnam Getting There and Around

Vizag has an airport that’s well connected with the important metros of India. It is also very well connected by railways and roadways. Being a port you can also reach this splendid city via the sea route.

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