VIZAG: THE JEWEL OF THE EAST COAST

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Namaste! India is a beautifully diverse world of cultures and colours. It makes one to surrender his / her senses and fall in love with it instantly!

In this edition, we will take you on a journey through another offbeat destination in India “VIZAG: The Jewel of the East Coast”.

What is special about the beaches? It is one question but has several answers and different perspectives. To some, beaches are a hub for water sports, some just love the music of waves, while some want to capture the beauty and different shades of rising and setting sun and for some beaches simply signifies sun, sand, and tan. Depending upon the interest, one may choose among the many beach destinations in India. But what if we tell you that there is one destination in India with beaches catering to different interests. Doesn't it sound interesting? This destination is Vizag (also called Vishakhapatnam), which has a coastal line of around 45 kms.

The beauty of the city can be explored as soon as the sunrises. And what else could be the best place than R.K. beach. Right in the heart of the city, the beach offers photogenic hues during sunrise. Spend some time here in the early hours of the day admiring the dazzling morning. For more magnificent views, one can also stroll on Mangamaripeta beach. The beach is very close to the Buddhist site, Thotlakonda, which gives one a chance to dive into the history as well. One more such beach is Lawson's Bay beach, giving a chance to explore the colonial past. It is also known as Waltair beach, and few kilometres from here at Kailasagiri hillock, one can capture panoramic views of the city. For the nature lovers, Rusikonda is an ideal beach. Some more beaches to be explored here are Kaligapatanam, Bheemli beach, Palm beach, Gangaram beach etc. One can call it a day at Yarada beach, which offers the best views of sunset. Although it is little away from the city, but the beach is as tranquil as a private beach.


Not only the beautiful beaches, but the city of Vizag also has a rich history that dates back to around 6th century B.C. as a part of the Kalinga Empire. The city had change in hands from Vengi, Pallavas, Gangas, Cholas, Gajapatis, Vijayanagar Empire, Mughals, French and finally the British. However apart from traces of the above empires the city shows a deep influence of Buddhism. The Buddhist ruins here clearly show that the region had a thriving Buddhist population in the past. Being a part of ancient Kalinga, many Buddhist relics and artefacts were excavated. In the excavations at Pavurallakonda, ruins of stupas and other evidence of Buddhist artefacts dating back to the 01st and 02nd century were found.

The place is very close to Bheemili hillock and Bheemli beach, which gives one a chance to visit the trio. This is not the only one excavation site as there are many more nearby, and the prominent ones are Bhavikonda, Thotlakonda, and Bojjannakonda.


Bhavikonda means a hill of wells, which indicates that the area had wells filled with rainwater. Here one will get to see many old structures, including stupas and viharas. Another settlement nearby is Thotlakonda, where the excavation is even more huge. Stupas, big halls, pillars, kitchen complexes, and several viharas spread in around 120 acres loudly speak of an extensive Buddhist settlement here. Many other things like coins, pots, tiles, panels, ceramics, etc., were also found here.

Another place to know more about Buddhism in the area is Visakha Museum. It gives an idea about the ancient history of the Kalinga region, which is divided into two states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Watch a video on Bhavikonda Buddhist heritage site.

Interesting Fact: While Buddhist sites are the main attraction for history buffs, the town also has some interesting temples. When religion is there, legends are sure to exist. Among many, there is one legend about a king who was on his pilgrimage to Varanasi and stopped here for some time. He built a temple for the deity Vishakha (the Hindu God of valour) and the town got its name from the same. The temple submerged into the sea over the period, but the name was retained.

The natural harbour of the east coast has its own history of Maritime trade and the city is home to one of the oldest shipyards. A visit to INS Kursura Submarine Museum highlights this important aspect of the city.

What makes this visit interesting is that one will be going inside a real submarine, which is now decommissioned. Kursura was India's fifth submarine and had an illustrious history. It had played a key role in the 1971 war between India and Pakistan.

On similar lines, Aircraft Museum is also worth a visit here. It gives a chance to enter the aircraft which was decommissioned after 29 years of service. We are talking about TU 142 (an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft), which exhibits various equipment, kits, and many other things to give an idea of naval life.

Another integral aspect of Vizag is the thriving fishermen community. One can find a lot of them, whether it's the market or the harbor.

The list does not end here, and one need to visit to explore more. Around the city one can visit Araku valley, which is home to India's organic Coffee. On the way to Araku one can also explore the magnificent Borra caves.

Having a depth of around 250 feet, these are one of the deepest limestone cave formations made entirely of natural karstic limestone. Interestingly the formations inside the caves resemble deities, animals, and other creatures.

Speaking about Araku coffee plantations and what sets them apart from other plantations is the production of ‘Organic Coffee’. Around 100kms away from Vizag, the tribes at Araku valley grow coffee without using any chemical fertilizers and applying traditional cultivation methods.

Here the first organic coffee in the country was grown. In 2018, Araku coffee got an award in Paris, which was the first global recognition for Indian coffee. The visit to Araku valley can also be clubbed with Araku Hot Air Balloon Festival that is held in the valley every year in the month of January. During the three-day festival, the sky is dotted with colored balloons making the entire view picturesque.

Boasting of a plethora of manmade wonders, natural spectacles and some magnificent beaches, Vizag is a must-visit destination in South India. Come and experience this fantasy land with us! We, at Indo Asia Tours, are all about the handcrafted tours, memories, and moments you take out of your trip, and believe us, this escapade will be a life-changing one!