Honeymoon in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Vishakhapatnam, a booming industrial city, on the east coast of India, has been ranked, as one of the fastest developing cities in Asia, according to the World Bank report. Vishakhapatnam is popularly known as Vizag.

Further, Visakhapatnam is a compilation of people, who are peace loving and absolute industrial peace, prevails. Moreover, the cost of housing is also cheap. The warm hospitality of the people makes life pleasant and joyful.

HISTORY

From a small fishing village, this city has burgeoned into a bustling port and also an important industrial and commercial city. Vishakhapatnam is the site of the largest shipbuilding yard, of the country.

Further, it is the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command and has important industries, like Coromandal Fertilizers, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation ltd., and a gigantic Steel plant. Also, the hinterland of Vishakhapatnam is rich in agriculture and has vast deposits of minerals and metals.

CULTURE

The people of Vishakhapatnam are filled with courage and valor. With the development of the city, into a major industrial center, in the coastal belt and the second largest in the state, the civilization level of the city has improved.

People here are decent, outspoken and friendly, with a fragrance of innocence sprayed on their character. The traditional flavor is not lost, despite the growth of city. The people also play instruments like Mori, Thuduma and Dappu.

LOCATION

The city, which is a natural harbor, is located 640 Kms from Hyderabad and 746 Kms from Tirupati.

By Air

Vishakhapatnam airport is well connected to Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata.

By Rail

Vishakhapatnam is the main railhead and connects with Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Mumbai, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and other major cities of India.

By Road

National Highway no 5, on the Chennai - Kolkata route, passes through this city adding to its communication network. Moreover, APSRTC buses connect Vishakhapatnam with most parts of Andhra Pradesh. Alongside, sea transport also provides an occasional service to Port Blair, in the Andaman Islands.

CLIMATE

The city enjoys a pleasant climate, which is very hot in summer and comparatively warm and sunny in winter. Rainfall is seasonal.

The Borra Caves in the nearby limestone hills have stalactite and stalagmite formations. A million years old, these caves are fascinating. Here the village streams disappear into the hillside and reappears in the gorge, 90m below.

t India's major ship building yard at Gandhigaram, makes all types of ocean going vessels - passenger liners, cargo vessels as well as Naval ships. The City, popularly known as Vizag, is a bustling industrial and naval port. Vizag has India's largest shipbuilding yard, the nations most powerful lighthouse, the longest metal beach road in the country and the world's highest broad gauge railway track.

It has one of the natural harbors in the world. A temple, mosque and church are located on hills, overlooking the harbor.

About 20 Kms north east of Vishakahapatnam, is the ancient Vishnu Temple of the 11th century, built in Chalukyan and Orissa style. It is also noted for its 13th century Varaha Narsimha Temple, set in the Kailasa Hills and the hot springs. Dedicated to Lord Narasimha, the main deity here, is a combination of the Varaha and Narasimha incarnations of Vishnu, whose face is always covered with sandalwood paste. The real shape of the deity can be viewed, only during the Chandanyatra festival in the months of March - April.

About 24 km from Vishakhapatnam, is Bheemunipatnam, which has the remains of a Dutch settlement, ruined fort, armory and the oldest Dutch cemetery.

This huge rock, 357 meter high, is shaped like a Dolphin's nose. The rock cuts out into the sea, forming a headland, on which is the lighthouse. This lighthouse has a beam, that can be seen 65 Km out at sea.

Visakhapatnam's beaches are lovely and serene. They are ideal for swimming and water sports. Among the beaches, the Ramakrishna Beach occupies a large part of the sea front and is a popular promenade at dawn and dusk.

About 60 Kms from Vishakhapatnam, is Amravathi, the old capital of the Andhra Sathavahana kings, who ruled 2000 years ago. A significant ancient Buddhist centre and former capital of the Andhra's, it carries the remnants of a 2000 year old marble stupa, which is exquisitely carved, with lamps decorated all around. As there is no direct route from Vijaywada, one has to travel 30 km to Guntur and then a farther 30 km to reach Amravathi, though there are buses plying every hour from Vijaywada.

It was founded in 1926, in the Uplands area of Waltair. The red stone buildings are built like a fortress and are well laid out on a large campus.