A major port city on India's eastern coast, home to the Eastern Naval Command and Andhra Pradesh's financial center. Located along the Bay of Bengal with 2 million residents.
Visakhapatnam, commonly known as Vizag, lies along the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh. Start your day watching fishing crews unload their nets at Ramakrishna Beach, then step inside the INS Kursura Submarine Museum to explore its cramped quarters. Ride the train through Araku Valley’s coffee fields, or visit the Simhachalam Temple, where 11th-century carvings cover its walls. The city stretches between the Eastern Ghats and the ocean, with Kailasagiri Park’s cable cars gliding above palm trees and apartment buildings. Street vendors here sell spicy prawn curries alongside Tamil-style idlis, reflecting the mix of communities that call Vizag home.
Beaches and Waterfronts
Ramakrishna Beach, known locally as RK Beach, draws crowds in the evenings for walks and snacks like roasted peanuts served in paper cones. North of the city, Rushikonda Beach has gentle waves suitable for swimming, and instructors rent surfboards for beginners. Yarada Beach remains quieter, accessible by a road that curves past small villages and hills dotted with cashew trees. At Mangamaripeta Beach, arrive early to see the sun rise over the water, casting light on fishing boats returning to shore. The INS Kursura Submarine Museum, open daily from 2 PM to 8:30 PM, charges 40 rupees for entry to its engine rooms and torpedo bays.
History and Landmarks
Simhachalam Temple, 16 kilometers from the city center, holds daily rituals where priests apply sandalwood paste to the deity’s statue. The Visakha Museum near the port displays navigation tools and ship blueprints from Vizag’s time as a British naval base. On the outskirts, the Thotlakonda Buddhist site includes stone foundations of ancient prayer halls and water tanks carved into the hillside. Beach Road’s War Memorial lists the names of soldiers who served in conflicts from World War II to the Kargil War. Across the street, the TU 142 Aircraft Museum lets you walk through a decommissioned plane used for maritime surveillance until 2017.
Parks and Day Trips
Araku Valley, reachable by a six-hour train ride, grows much of Andhra Pradesh’s coffee, and guided plantation tours explain the harvesting process. The Borra Caves, 90 kilometers north, have walkways lit to highlight stalactites shaped like hanging roots. Near the city, Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary’s trails wind through dry forests where parakeets and peacocks nest. Indira Gandhi Zoological Park houses lions, crocodiles, and a reptile house with king cobras behind glass enclosures. For a quick escape, take the cable car up Kailasagiri Hill to see sculptures of mythological figures and a garden with over 100 types of flowering plants.
Street Food and Restaurants
Small stalls along RK Beach serve crispy mirchi bajji, green chilies dipped in chickpea batter and fried until golden. In Araku Valley, tribal vendors cook chicken stuffed into bamboo tubes over open fires, infusing the meat with smoky flavor. At RTC Complex, try biryani layered with mutton and mint, served on banana leaves. Sweet shops near Daba Gardens sell Pootharekulu, delicate rice wafers folded around powdered sugar and crushed nuts. For a hearty meal, visit local favorites like Rayalaseema Ruchulu, where spicy goat stew comes with steamed rice and tangy pickles.
Sports and Festivals
Cricket matches at the ACA-VDCA Stadium often fill the 27,000-seat arena, especially during the Indian Premier League season. Neighborhoods like MVP Colony host informal cricket games on weekends, using chalk-marked wickets and tennis balls. Each January, the Navy Marathon routes pass the Dolphin’s Nose lighthouse and coastal cliffs. During Diwali, families gather on Beach Road to light sparklers and watch fireworks explode over the sea. Ugadi celebrations in March or April include street markets piled with fresh mangoes and vendors painting henna designs on visitors’ hands.
Transportation and Weather
Visakhapatnam International Airport has daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, with taxis available outside the terminal. Trains from Chennai or Kolkata arrive at the central station, a short auto-rickshaw ride from most hotels. Buses from Vijayawada take six hours, passing through farmland where farmers grow turmeric and sugarcane. Plan visits between October and March for cooler days, rarely exceeding 28°C. Summer months from April to June feel hot and humid, with monsoon rains peaking in July and August.
