Visakhapatnam Tourism | Places to Visit | Things To Do

Visakhapatnam or Vizag, the much famed port city in Andhra Pradesh State of India, bags the honor of being the largest city of Andhra Pradesh State as well as the third largest city along the East Coast. Visakhapatnam is the only natural harbor on the east coast. Most of heavy industries of Andhra State are housed here. Also, the state’s steel plant is located here. Being named after “God of Valor” (Visakha), the city is sandwiched between Eastern Ghats and Bay of Bengal. Since the city has panoramic beaches, scenic landscapes, laterites (soil rich in iron and magnesium) hilly regions, etc. it is also sometimes mentioned as “Goa of East Coast”. Indian Navy has its naval command center for eastern regions in Visakhapatnam.

The history of Visakhapatnam dates back to 5th century BC. During 5th century BC, the city was under the control of Kalinga Dynasty. Later it was captured by King Asoka, the Great. During his rule, Buddhism was spread across the region and tourists can see many relics, ruins and statues of Buddhism in Vizag.  As per Hindu mythology, the city was also mentioned in two great epics of India namely Ramayana and Mahabharata. Ruled by almost every kingdom, Visakhapatnam came under the rules of French and British as well. Under British rule, the current districts namely Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Visakhapatnam prevailed as one large district then.

There are varieties of hotels in Visakhapatnam ranging from Novotel, Taj Groups etc. to budget hotels. Thus, tourists can have pleasant stay within their budget. The cuisine of Visakhapatnam is the blend of Southern and Northern Cuisine. However, tourists should taste some of the local delicacies like Avakaya Pickle, Gongoora green chutney, Murku, Booralu, Appadams, Anabshahi and Pulihara. The Eatery restaurant offers some authentic food along with great starters. The Square Restaurant is where the tourist can enjoy the food with an excellent view. Tourists who want to taste some hot kebabs then opt for Zaffran Restaurant. Visakhapatnam offers some delicate artifacts made up of sea shells and beautifully designed jewelry. There are many shopping malls and complexes in Visakhapatnam.