Vizag(Visakhapatnam) Tourism: Tourism of Vizag(Visakhapatnam) | AP Tourism

Visakhapatnam Tourism:

Visakhapatnam is a also Well known as Vizag and Valteru Names. it is a port city and industrial center in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, on the Bay of Bengal. It’s known for its many beaches, including Ramakrishna Beach, home to a preserved submarine at the Kursura Submarine Museum. Nearby are the elaborate Kali Temple and the Visakha Museum, an old Dutch bungalow housing local maritime and historical exhibits.

RK Beach:

RK Beach also known as Ramakrishna Beach is situated on the East coast of Bay of Bengal in Visakhapatnam. It is located near Dolphin’s Nose. Dolphin’s Nose is a hill in Visakhapatnam between Yarada and Gangavaram Port. The hill is named Dolphin’s Nose because it resembles a dolphin’s nose.

Before independence the British Army used it as a Military Camp. There is a Hindu Temple, a Church, and a Mosque on a nearby hill. In 1804 British and French forces fought near this hill. and the battle is called the Battle of Vizagapatam. A lighthouse on this hill guided ships to enter Visakhapatnam Port. Recently Government of India is planning to start lighthouse tourism.

One of the most popular beaches of Vizag is Ramakrishna beach, more commonly known as RK beach. RK Beach gets its name from the Ramakrishna Mission ashram situated near the beach. It is one of the very pleasant and most crowded beach in the country With its serene waters and cool atmosphere, the beach offers a wonderful view of the countryside.

Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam:

The Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam is a Hindu temple situated on the Simhachalam hill, which is 300 metres above the sea level in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It is dedicated to one of the Hindu trinity deities Vishnu, who is worshipped there as Varaha Narasimha. As per the temple’s legend (which is divided into 32 chapters), Vishnu manifested in this peculiar form, with a boar head, human torso and a lion’s tail, after saving his devotee Prahlada from a murder attempt by the latter’s father Hiranyakashipu. Except on Akshaya Tritiya, the idol of Varaha Narasimha is covered with sandalwood paste throughout the year, which makes it resemble a linga.

Simhachalam is one of the 32 Narasimha temples in Andhra Pradesh which are important pilgrimage centres. It was regarded as an important centre of Vaishnavism in the medieval period along with Srikurmam and others. The temple has been recognised by historians with the help of a 9th-century AD inscription by the Chalukya Chola king Kulottunga I. In the later half of the 13th century, the temple complex underwent radical physical changes during the reign of the Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I. It later received patronage from many royal families, of which Tuluva dynasty of Vijayanagara Empire is a notable one. The temple underwent 40 years of religious inactivity from 1564 AD to 1604 AD. In 1949, the temple came under the purview of the state government and is currently administered by the Simhachalam Devasthanam Board.

Simhachalam temple resembles a fortress from outside with three outer courtyards and five gateways. The architecture is a mixture of the styles of the Kalinga Architecture/Odishan(Orissan), Chalukyas and the Cholas. The temple faces west instead of east, signifying victory. There are two temple tanks: Swami Pushkarini near the temple and Gangadhara at the bottom of the hill.

Simhachalam is the second-largest temple, after Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh, in terms of income earned. Devotees believe that the deity is capable of giving progeny to women and fulfilling the wishes of devotees. Kalyanotsava and Chandanotsava are the two major festivals celebrated in the temple, followed by Narasimha Jayanti, Navaratrotsava and Kamadahana. The festivals celebrated in Simhachalam have an influence of the Dravida Sampradaya. Apart from those by well-known poets, the temple is found in many literary references and lyrical works (dedicated by anonymous writers), which are preserved in the Government Oriental Manuscripts Library, Chennai.

Kailasagiri:

Kailasagiri is a hilltop park in the city of Visakhapatnam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The park was developed by the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) and comprises 380 acres (150 ha) of land covered with flora and tropical trees. The hill, at 173 metres (568 ft), overlooks the city of Visakhapatnam.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh awarded Kailasagiri as its “Best Tourist Spot” in 2003. On average, around three hundred thousand Indian and foreign tourists visit the park every year. To protect the environment, VMRDA has declared the hill a plastic-free zone.A cable car connects to the top of the hill, the first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh.

Visakhapatnam Port:

Visakhapatnam Port is one of 12 major ports in India and the only major port of Andhra Pradesh.It is the deepest landlocked well protected port . It is India’s second largest port by volume of cargo handled. It is located on the east coast of India and is located midway between the Chennai and Kolkata Ports.

Although the need for building a port on the east coast to access Central Provinces was felt by the British in the 19th century, the proposal of Col. H.Cartwright Reid of British Admiralty for constructing a harbour at Visakhapatnam was approved by the Government only after the First World War. The Inner Harbour was built by the Bengal Nagpur Railway between 1927 and 1933 to facilitate the export of manganese ore from the Central Provinces. The port, built at a cost of ?378 lakhs was inaugurated by Lord Willingdon on 19 December 1933.

During the Second World War, the military significance of the port increased. After India’s independence, the port witnessed growth under the various Five Year Plans. Over time, the port has grown from one with 3 berths handling 1.3 lakh tonnes per annum to one with 24 berths and annual traffic of 65 million tonnes. The port was notified as a major port in 1964 under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. Under the Act, the Visakhapatnam Port Trust is in charge of running the port.

Visakhapatnam Port has three harbours – the outer harbour, inner harbour and the fishing harbour. The outer harbour has 6 berths capable of handling vessels with a draft up to 17 meters while the smaller inner harbour has 18 berths that are Panamax compatible. Vizag Seaport owns two berths in the inner harbour; berth EQ-8 is fully mechanised and berth EQ-9 berth is not.

The Dolphin’s Nose Hill to the north of the entrance channel protects the harbour from cyclones that strike the east coast. The port is located on the area of a creek through which the coastal river Narava Gedda joins the sea.

Satellite port at Bhimili:

The Visakhapatnam Port Trust plans to develop a satellite port at Bheemunipatnam to decongest traffic at Visakhapatnam. The project is expected to cost ?2,000 crores and is to be undertaken through a Public- Private Partnership (PPP) venture.

Tenneti Park:

Tenneti Park also known as (Vuda Tenneti Park) is an Urban park in the city of Visakhapatnam, India. Situated on the Beach Road in Jodugullapalem, it the first children’s park, and one of the oldest parks in the city. It is located beside Sea Shore of Bay of Bengal. GVMC installed LED screens in the park to boost Tourism in the city

Beach Road, Visakhapatnam:

Beach Road (also known as, Visakhapatnam Beach Road) is a major highway road in Visakhapatnam. It is home for Tourist destinations such as RK Beach and Kailasagiri. The Beach Road has cultural importance with the presence of buildings and structures such as, Rajiv Smruthi Bhavan (city’s cultural hub), Annamayya Mandapam, AU Convention Center and organising rallies, city parades etc.

Rushikonda Beach:

Rushikonda Beach located in Visakhapatnam on the coast of Bay of Bengal in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The beach is maintained by the state tourism board, APTDC.

Dolphin’s Nose:

Dolphin’s Nose is a hill in Visakhapatnam between Yarada and Gangavaram Port. The hill is named Dolphin’s Nose because it resembles a dolphin’s nose.

Before independence the British Army used it as a Military Camp. There is a Hindu Temple, a Church, and a Mosque on a nearby hill. In 1804 British and French forces fought near this hill. and the battle is called the Battle of Vizagapatnam.

Lighthouse:

A lighthouse on this hill guided ships to enter Visakhapatnam Port.Recently Government of India is planning to start lighthouse tourism.

Yarada:

Yarada is a neighborhood situated on the Visakhapatnam City, India. It is famous for its beach and a hill road to reach the beach. It is one of the scarcely populated beaches in the city. The area, which falls under the local administrative limits of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and is well known for Yarada Beach. Yarada is a part in Gajuwaka Mandal.

Yarada Beach:

Yarada Beach is situated on the west coast of Bay of Bengal in Yarada, a village at a distance of 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Visakhapatnam. It is located near Gangavaram beach, Dolphin’s Nose, and Gangavaram Port. This is a very picturesque beach in Andhra pradesh. A scientific study of the characteristics of the sediments deposited at the beach was conducted from May 2009 to May 2010. The study found that the location of Pigeon Hill has a major impact on how deposits are added to the beach and removed through erosion.

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park:

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is located amidst Kambalakonda Reserve Forest in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the third largest zoo in the country.

The zoological park is named after the former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. It was declared open to the public on 19 May 1977. It covers an area of 625 acres (253 ha). It is situated in Visakhapatnam amidst the scenic Eastern Ghats of India. It is surrounded by the Eastern Ghats on three sides and Bay of Bengal on the fourth side. Nearly eighty species of animals numbering to about eight hundred are present in the zoo. The Zoo Park has different sections for primates, carnivores, lesser carnivores, small mammals, reptiles, ungulates and birds caged in their natural ambiance.

The zoo park is about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from the Visakhapatnam railway station on the National Highway 5 near Madhurawada. It has entrance and exit gates situated oppositely, with one towards National Highway 5 and the other towards Beach Road at Sagar Nagar. It is open to public daily except Monday.

625 acres (253 ha) land area with abundant flora & fauna. Nearly 80 species of mammals, birds, and reptiles are present in the zoo (more than 800 animals).

In collaboration with Stardust Ventures LLP, Vizag zoo launched a web portal, to engage the community with latest events. It also allows general public to adopt an animal for certain time period.

In an area of 625 acres (253 ha) the zoological park located among the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary of Eastern Ghats, the zoo has enclosures for primates, carnivores, lesser carnivores, small mammals, reptiles, ungulates and birds aviaries with a well-planned layout map, a jungle along a water body inside the zoo park. The animal exhibits in the zoo park are as follows:

Birds:
Endemic: Pelican (rosy and gray), Painted stork, Peafowl, Duck, Spotted dove, Lovebird, Parakeet, Eagle, Vulture.

Exotic: Budgerigar, Macaw, Ostrich, Emu.

Primates:
Endemic: Bonnet monkey (common Indian monkey), chimpanzee, Rhesus monkey.

Exotic: Olive baboon, Mandrill, Ring-tailed lemur (lemur catta), Goeldi’s marmoset. Most Recent inclusion is the new primate species i.e.., three Chimpanzees which were brought from Tisch Zoo in Jerusalem under an agreement done by the Government of India with Israel’s Nature Parks Authority.

Herbivores:
Endemic: Barking deer, Elephant, Wild boar, Gaur, Sambar deer, Spotted deer, Nilgai, Swamp deer, Eld’s deer (thamin deer), Indian rhinoceros.
Exotic: Hippopotamus and Giraffe.

Carnivores:
Endemic: Tiger (Leucistic and Bengal), Leopard and Cheetah.
Exotic: Puma and Jaguar.

Lesser carnivores:
Endemic: Jackal, Wild dog, Striped hyena, Rusty-spotted cat, Dhole, and Jungle cat.

Bears:
Endemic: Sloth bear, Himalayan black bear.

Reptiles:
Endemic: Python, Cobra, King cobra, Rat snake, Indian star tortoise, Tortoise, Terrapin, Water monitor lizard, Monitor lizard, Green iguana, Mugger crocodile and Gharial.

Along with this, Butterfly park and Nocturnal Animal House which has Owls, Porcupines, and Civets are special attraction.

Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary:

The Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary is a forest located near Visakhapatnam. It has been under the control of Andhra Pradesh Forest Department since 10 March 1970. Earlier the land was under the control of Maharajah of Vizianagaram. It was named after the local hillock Kambalakonda. It is a dry evergreen forest mixed with scrub and meadows and covers an area of 70.70 square kilometers. The indicator species is the Indian leopard.

The sanctuary is located from latitudes of 17.34° N to 17.47° N and longitudes of 83.04° E to 83.20° E. The location corresponds to an area west of National Highway 16 on the northern side of Visakhapatnam and Pendurthi in Visakhapatnam district. It can be reached by road about 3 km from Visakhapatnam, opposite to zoo park. The sanctuary has a dry evergreen forest mixed with scrub and meadows. The terrain is hilly with steep slopes.

There is diverse flora and fauna in this sanctuary representing the Eastern Ghats.

Kondakarla Ava:

Kondakarla Ava is a famous Lake and Bird Sanctuary in Visakhapatnam of Andhra Pradesh state in South India. It comprises a unique and endangered forest type. It is located in the foothills of Eastern Ghats.

Kondakarla Ava is located in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh, in Kondakarla village, Atchutapuram Mandal. It is managed by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and Kondakarla Panchayat. The Sanctuary comprises a unique and endangered forest type and the wet evergreen forests. It is recognized as an Eco Tourism destination.

Wet evergreen forest type with species like Shelducks, Common Teals, Northern Pin Tails and Asian Open Bills are found in the sanctuary and Typha angustata, Nymphoides indica, Azolla filiculoides, Pistia stratiotes are also found here.

Mudasarlova Park:

Mudasarlova Park is an urban park in the Indian city of Visakhapatnam. It is spread over 20 acres (8.1 ha) of land. it was constructed in 1902 and is one of the oldest parks in this Coastal Andhra. The water reservoir in the park supplies drinking water to the city. It was named one of the best picnic spots for local citizens. The land for the construction of Mudasarlova was donated by Sri Pusapati Ananda Gajapati Raju (Ex-MP, Visakhapatnam) from his family trust.

Mudasarlova Park has the oldest Water reservoir in Visakhapatnam. It supplies 1 million gallons water per day. this reservoir constructed by the British in 1901.

The Floating solar power plant was built in 20 acres of the reservoir, among the oldest man-made water bodies, on the outskirts of the city, at a cost of 11.34 crore.

Bheemili Beach:

Bheemili Beach is located at the origin of the Gosthani River, at a distance of 24 km from Visakhapatnam in Visakhapatnam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The beach reflects the British and Dutch settlements of the 17th century.

Appikonda:

Appikonda is a neighborhood situated on the southern part of Visakhapatnam City, India,and is about 30 km from the Visakhapatnam. Appikonda is famous for Someswara Swamy Temple.

Someswara Swamy Temple, Appikonda:

Sri Someswara Swamy Temple is a temple to Shiva located in Appikonda, Visakhapatnam. This temple was built in 1070 by King Kulottunga I of the Chola dynasty, and referred to as the Chola Monument. Someswara Temple is very popular. In this region, for Maha Shivratri more than 1 lakh (100,000) devotes will visit during the festival. The temple was declared a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.