Also known as Viśākhapaanamu, shortened and anglicized: Vizag or Vizagapatnam or waltair is a port city located in Coastal Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the eastern shore of India, nestled among the hills of the Eastern Ghats and facing the Bay of Bengal to the east. The land of the golden beaches was just over half a century ago a small fishing village. One would be amazed at the manner in which this port city with a natural harbour developed into one of the fastest growing cities in Asia.The city is about 650km northeast of Hyderabad and is also the administrative headquarters of Visakhapatnam District. It is also the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.

Also known as the mostly defunct colonial British name, Waltair. During the colonial era, the city had at its hub the Waltair railway station, and that part of the city still goes by the name of Waltair. It is also popularly referred to as "Vizag", a shortening of its full name. It is sometimes also referred to as the "City of Destiny"

The city is home to several state owned heavy industries, and has one of the country's largest ports and its oldest shipyard. It has the only natural harbour on the eastern coast of India.

Vizag is primarily an industrial city, apart from being a tourist destination. Tourists are attracted by its unspoilt beaches, nearby scenic Araku Valley and Borra (Boralu) caves, the 11th-century Simhachalam temple and ancient Buddhist sites spread across the area.

The city boasts a submarine museum, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, at Rama Krishna Beach.

This region, formerly part of the great Kalinga empire that stretched up to the river Godavari, has also been mentioned in Hindu and Buddhist texts from the 5th and 6th centuries BCE, as well as by Sanskrit grammarians Panini and Katyayana in the 4th century BCE.

This city was ruled by several dynasties: the Kalingas during the 7th century, the Chalukyas during the8th century, the Cholas, the Qutb Shahis of Golconda, the Mughal Empire and the Nizams of Hyderabad.

Vast stretches of beaches right next to the city on one side and undulating green hills on the other have made Vizag, as it is endearingly called, a tourist haven.

An ideal destination, it caters to the religiousminded, the Buddhist pilgrim, the fun-lovers and adventure-seekers. A number of beaches and a long stretch of road along the sea-shore up to Bheemunipatnam town, the second oldest municipality in the country, are a pleasure to experience.

No trip to Vizag is complete without a sojourn at Araku, 110 km away, a lovely valley nestled amidst the high Eastern Ghats. Simhachalam temple, Rishikonda beach, the Dolphin's Nose hillock projecting into the sea enchantment unlimited - that is Visakhapatnam.

Local legend says that an Andhra king (9-11th century) on his way to Benares rested there. So enchanted was he with the sheer beauty of the place that he ordered a temple to be built in honour of his family deity, Visakha. Archaeological sources, however, reveal that the temple was possibly built between the 11th and 12th centuries by the Chola king, Kulottunga Chola I. A shipping merchant, Sankarayya Chetty, built one of the mandapams, or pillared halls, of the temple. Although it no longer exists (it may have been washed away about a hundred years ago by a cyclonic storm), elderly residents of Vizag talk of visits to the ancient shrine by their grandparents. Noted author Ganapatiraju Atchutarama Raju contradicted this [1].

In the 18th century, Visakhapatnam was part of the Northern Circars, a region of Coastal Andhra that came first under French control and later that of the British. Visakhapatnam became a district in the Madras Presidency of British India. After India's independence it was the biggest district in the country and was subsequently divided into the three districts of Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram and Visakhapatnam.

Its traditional importance in ship-building is confirmed by the fact that India's first ship, the "Jala Usha", was launched in Vizag.

Vizag is also one of India's main fishing ports, has a dedicated harbour for the fishing industry and handles a large percentage of India's seafood exports.

THOTLA KONDA
In the same district of Visakhapatnam, 16 kms along the picturesque Vizag-Bhimili road lies Thotlakonda, where a number of stupas, viharas and chaityas belonging to the Hinayana school were found. A unique discovery providing evidence of maritime trade during that period was Satavahana coins bearing on the obverse of a ship with two masts, anchored to the shore. The site can be approached via the road running along the coastline between Visakhapatnam city and Bheemunipatnam (Bhimili), the second oldest municipality in the country.

BHEEMUNIPATNAM OR BHEEMILI
The historical town is set on the confluence or river Gosthani and Bay of Bengal. One can see temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha atop a big laterite hill. According to a legend Bhima one of five pandava brothers of Mahabharta epic killed demon  bakasura and installed this shrine.
It is also known for the 17th century ruins of a Dutch fort and settlement. A cemetery here has some tombs, embossed with the skull-and-cross bones motif of the sea pirates. The beach here is quite calm and considered to be the safest for the Swimmers. A drive on the beach road from Visakhapatnam to Bheemunipatnam is quite fascinating, the 24 km. long beach road is said to be the second longest in the country.

The Hippopotamus is a special attraction to the zoo. The Crocodile complex has all the three Indian Crocodile species. The Reptile section has Pythons, Snakes, Land Tortoises, Terrapins, Water Monitor Lizards, Monitor Lizards etc. Elephant, Bison, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Nilgai, Barking Deer and Thamin Deer are the collection in Herbivores section.

A varied collection of birds from the Eastern ghats in the large walk-through aviaries is a special attraction in the Zoo. Grey Pelicans, Rosy Pelicans, Pied Horn bills, Painted Storks, Peacocks, Ducks, other ground birds and little beautiful love birds, Budgerigars, and Cockateels form the bird collection in the Zoo.

One of the main attractions of the park is the Musical Fountain with a huge gallery to rest and take in the beauty. (at 6.30 p.m. Rs.5/-).

You can utilize the VUDA Health Club (Rs.250/- monthly) and Swimming pool (swimming permitted for Rs.5/-) which are avilable at Vuda park. The centeral lake in the park offers boating, Boat club (boating permitted for Rs.5/-)

Vaisakha Kala Vedika Trust (Free) (conducts classical music & dance everyday in the evening from 6 p.m.) Every evening cultural programs such as classical music, dance, and poetry are conducted at the Visakhi Kalavedika open auditorium. For those who go for picnicing, there are a variety of restaurants and food stalls.