VISHAKHAPATNAM Primarily an industrial city, Visakhapatnam, as per the Hindu Mythology, is the city named after the god Vaishaka and is popularly known as Vizag. Visakhapatnam city, head quarters of the Eastern Naval Command, has the biggest ship building yard in the country. The major port in Vizag handles huge volumes of Cargo every day. It is an industrial main centre in South India.
Visakhapatnam has a rich cultural and historical heritage. Once part of the ancient empire of Kalinga, it has been ruled by eminent kings such as Ashoka and Krishnadeva Raya. It had also been a Dutch colony in the 18th century. Now a comfortable urban hangout, the city offers the best of both ancient and modern worlds.
It is a paradise for tourists of all kinds, whether natural lovers, environmental lovers, wild animal enthusiasts, bird watchers or those who look for physical modern entertainments. Natural beauty is abundant in this majestic city, with ranges of pretty big hills, golden beaches along the Bay of Bengal coastline and natural valleys. The city has maintained its greatest appeal to the tourists all along the centuries. The beaches are against a setting of low ranges of scenic hills and lush greenery spotted with quiet coves and creeks.
Vizag is surrounded by three amazing hills, Sri Venkateswara Konda, Ross hill and Dargah konda. Each hill carries the legacy of housing the shrines dedicated to three different religions. Venkateswara temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva on Venkateswara Konda; Church of the Virgin Mary on Ross hill and the tomb of a Muslim saint, Baba Ishaq Madina Dargah on Dargah Konda.
The popular tourist attractions are Kailasagiri Hill Park, VUDA Park, Mudsarlova, Dantapuram, Simhachalam Temple,Rushikonda Beach and Araku, a scenic hill-station. The city boasts of a submarine museum known as 'Smritika' at Rama Krishna Beach, the first of its kind in South Asia.
Borra Caves is highly renowned for its attractive stalactite and stalagmite formations and is located at 1400 meter above sea level in Anantagiri area of Visakhapatnam. Bearing archaeological importance, the Borra Caves have historical and religious significance also. In 1807, William King George of the Geological Survey of India discovered some Paleolithic implements assumed to be a million years old.
Local folks throng to this place to worship the Shivalinga and the idol of the holy cow Kamadenu, which is place deep in the caves. The stone formations in the Borra Caves bear a resemblance to the udder (sthani) of a cow and hence it got the name Gosthani.
A memorial, also known as ‘Victory at Sea’, dedicated to the great soldiers who sacrificed their lives to the cause of national integrity and border protection, renowned as War memorial is located in Vizag on the left of the beach road and facing the submarine museum.
This memorial is established to commemorate the victory on 1971 at the sea Indo Pak war. Many war related materials are displayed here, including a fighter plane, missiles, few bombs and a tank.
Attraction in Vishakhapatnam
Borra Caves
Borra Caves is highly renowned for its attractive stalactite and stalagmite formations and is located at 1400 meter above sea level in Anantagiri area of Visakhapatnam. Bearing archaeological importance, the Borra Caves have historical and religious significance also. In 1807, William King George of the Geological Survey of India discovered some Paleolithic implements assumed to be a million years old. Local folks throng to this place to worship the Shivalinga and the idol of the holy cow Kamadenu, which is place deep in the caves. The stone formations in the Borra Caves bear a resemblance to the udder (sthani) of a cow and hence it got the name Gosthani.
Buddhist Excavations
 |
| Bhavi Konda |
Bhavi Konda, Thotla Konda, Bojjana Konda, and Salihundam located around Visakhapatnam were places of Buddhist excavations. These were hamlets of Buddhism during the second century AD. Excavation during 1906 in these places brought out many Buddhist monuments such as stupas and chaityas. It is believed that some of the corporal remnants of the Buddha were conserved at these sacred Buddhist places.
The visitor is blessed with the view of architectural remnants of the Buddhist period dated from 200 BC to 700 AD, one of the earliest of its class in South India.
Dantapuram, another Buddhist excavation site, is pretty placed at the confluence of river Vamsadhara with the Bay of Bengal not far away from Vizag. The excavations in this holy place have exposed many stupas and antiquities.
On the eastern hill, there are a series of rock-cut caves, numerous groups of monolithic dagobas, standing on rock platform in tiers above each others and, crowning all, a rock-cut stupa with extensive structural remains. On the western side of the eastern hill is a stairway, partly rock-cut and partly structural, which leads up to a large double-storied cave. The cave is entered by a doorway and is flanked on each side by huge dwarapalas.
The visitor is blessed with the view of architectural remnants of the Buddhist period dated from 200 BC to 700 AD, one of the earliest of its class in South India.
Dantapuram, another Buddhist excavation site, is pretty placed at the confluence of river Vamsadhara with the Bay of Bengal not far away from Vizag. The excavations in this holy place have exposed many stupas and antiquities.
On the eastern hill, there are a series of rock-cut caves, numerous groups of monolithic dagobas, standing on rock platform in tiers above each others and, crowning all, a rock-cut stupa with extensive structural remains. On the western side of the eastern hill is a stairway, partly rock-cut and partly structural, which leads up to a large double-storied cave. The cave is entered by a doorway and is flanked on each side by huge dwarapalas.
War Memorial
 |
| War Memorial |
This memorial is established to commemorate the victory on 1971 at the sea Indo Pak war. Many war related materials are displayed here, including a fighter plane, missiles, few bombs and a tank.
Araku Valley
 |
| Araku Valley |
Blessed with enchanting streams, beautiful waterfalls, wealthy landscape and lovely weather, Araku valley that is placed at a height of 3100 feet in the effluent hills of Anatagiri, is a scenic hill station near Vizag in Andhra Pradesh.
Renowned for the inhabitance of 17 tribal societies, Araku attracts many environmentalists, nature lovers and tourists. Dhimsa dance with colourful costumes and rich cultural performances accompanied with rhythmic pleasing songs is very popular. A famous festival celebrated in the region is Itika Pongal.
Araku Tribal Museum, Rishikonda Beach, Padmapuram Gardens, Sangda Falls, Matsyagundam and Paderu form the major attractions.
Renowned for the inhabitance of 17 tribal societies, Araku attracts many environmentalists, nature lovers and tourists. Dhimsa dance with colourful costumes and rich cultural performances accompanied with rhythmic pleasing songs is very popular. A famous festival celebrated in the region is Itika Pongal.
Araku Tribal Museum, Rishikonda Beach, Padmapuram Gardens, Sangda Falls, Matsyagundam and Paderu form the major attractions.
Bheemli Beach
The calm and serene Bheemunipatnam Beach is located at the confluence of Gosthani River and the Bay of Bengal. Bheemunipatnam is featured by the ruins of a 17th century fort and cemetery, and history reveals that this was a Dutch settlement earlier period.
The beach, known also as 'Bheemli', is renowned as the safest and calmest location for swimmers.
The beach and refreshing climate united with the agreeable nature with the lusting greenery all around and the lined palm groves makes it an admired beach.
The beach, known also as 'Bheemli', is renowned as the safest and calmest location for swimmers.
The beach and refreshing climate united with the agreeable nature with the lusting greenery all around and the lined palm groves makes it an admired beach.
No comments:
Post a Comment