Visakhapatnam |
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Named after Visakha, the God of Valour, Visakhapatnam is also popularly known as Vizag. Enriched with historical and cultural heritage Visakhapatnam is a destination of timeless beauty, fun and adventure. Previously a small fishing village it has today transformed into a busy and bustling industrial and |
commercial city and is the site of the country's largest ship building yard, an oil refinery and a grand steel plant. Once a part of the Kalinga empire in 260 BC Vizag passed successively from the Andhra kings to the Pallavas, Cholas and Gangas and in the 15th century became a part of the Vijayanagar empire. ACCESS Flights are available from Hyderabad, Bhubaneshwar and Calcutta. The city is well connected with all important cities of India by rail through the Visakhapatnam (Waltair) railway junction. And it is well connected by bus with all major cities of India. PLACES OF INTEREST The most well known landmark in Visakhapatnam is the Dolphin's Nose, a rocky promontory in the port, 358 km high. Other attractions include the picturesque Lawson's bay, a zoo in Visakhapatnam, the HUDA Entertainment complex and the three hillocks, Rose Hill, Daryakonda and Sri Venkateswarakonda on which a chapel, mosque and a temple have been built. EXCURSIONS Simhachalam - is an 11th century temple dedicated to Varaha Narasimha, the lion boar incarnation of Vishnu. Bheemunipatnam (24 km) - a beach resort having remains of a ruined fort and armours and the Dutch cemetery, Hollanders Green. Rishikonda - is an unspoilt beach ideal for summers, water skiers and wind surfers. Araku Valley - the home of 17 colourful tribes is filled with waterfalls and streams. Bossa caves (90 km) - Dating back to a million years ago, these caves display spectacular stalacite and stalagmite formations. Sankaram - the site of Buddhist Stupas belonging to a period between the 3rd and 7th centuries B.C. Dudma Falls - the highest waterfalls in Andhra Pradesh. ACCOMMODATION Taj Residency (5-star Deluxe), Beach Road, Visakhapatnam 530 002. Phones: 567756, 564372. Fax: 0891-564370. Welcomgroup Grand Bay, Beach Road, Visakhapatnam. Phone: 891-560101; Fax: 891-550691. The Park (5-star), Beach Road, Visakhapatnam 530 023. Phones: 554488, 55185, 554084. Telex: 049-5230. Fax: 0891-554181. Dolphin (4-star), Dabagardens, Visakhapatnam 530 002. Phones: 567000-28 lines. Cable: Dolphin. Telex: 0495-316 HOST IN. Fax: 0891-567555. Green Park, Waltair Main Road, Visakhapatnam. Phone: 564444. Cable: GREEN. Telex: 0495-404. Fax: 0891-563763. Hotel Daspalla (3-star), Suryabagh, Visakhapatnam. Phones: 564825 (6 lines), 563141 (4 lines); Cable: DASPALLA; Telex: 0495-503 DASP-IN; Fax: 0891-562043. Ocean View Inn (2-star), 7.1.43, Kirlampudi, Visakhapatnam. Phone: 554828; Cable: OCEAN View; Telex: 0495-388; Fax: 0891-63234. Hotel Meghalaya (2-star), Asilmetta Junction, Visakhapatnam. Phones: 555141-145, 559124-127; Fax: 0891-555824. Grand Bay, Beach Road Visakhapatnam. Phones: 560101, 566550; Cable: AGHVIZ; Fax: 0891-550691. |