Tourism

Visakhapatnam has a range of tourist attractions including beaches, cliffs, parks on the hill top facing the sea, long drives along the beautiful beach road, a zoological park and wildlife sanctuary, a submarine museum, hill stations, limestone caves, mountain ranges and colourful valleys, all within a distance of 100 km from the city. There are two 5-star hotels, The Taj and The Park, and a full range of other accommodation
Kailashagiri is a park developed by VUDA on a hill top adjacent to the sea offers views of the Bay of Bengal, Vizag city and the Eastern Ghats. A rope way connects this park from the bottom of the hill.
The Beach road from East point colony to Coastal battery is studded with parks, statues, etc, is a favorite evening gathering point. Along the road can be found India's only submarine museum, INS Kursura, as well as the Visakha museum and Matsyadarsini (an aquarium). VUDA park, at the beginning of the Beach Road, has a musical fountain, and entertainment for children. It has a roller skating ground, which has served as the venue for several national and international skating competitions.
Rushikonda beach, 6 km away from Vizag city, has become a favorite evening spot. Bhimili-Vizag beach Road, 30 km in length offers one of the best views of the sea, sand, hills and greenery. Many parks are constructed adjacent to this road. Tenneti park beach park is a park constructed on the cliff of Kailashagiri. There are several points from which the beautiful rocky beach down beneath can be seen. Many Telugu, Tamil and Hindi movies were filmed here.

Church on Ross Hill


Simhachalam Temple

Ross Hill, adjacent to the Inner Harbour, was named after Mr. Ross, who built a house on it in 1864. Darga konda, has a mosque and a shrine of a Muslim sage Ishaque Madina, who was revered for his prophecies. Sri Venkateswarakonda has a temple, which was built by Capt. Blackmoor in 1886.
Simhachalam is a hill shrine 16 km north of the city. The beautifully-carved 16-pillared Natya mantapa and the 96-pillared Kalyana mantapa are highlights at the Simhachalam temple.
Indira Gandhi Zoological Park: Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, situated in between the National Highway -5 & Beach road, spreading over an area of 625 acres, exhibits about 700 animals belonging to about 89 species.
Outside the city, 112 km from Visakhapatnam, Araku Valley is an important tourist destination. It is a pleasant hill station at an elevation of over 3200ft. famous for its scenic gardens, valleys, waterfalls and streams.

Buddhists sites


Buddhist stupa at BojjannaKonda


Thotlakonda
Visakhapatnam is surrounded by ancient Buddhist sites, most of which have been excavated recently. The imprint of Buddhist legacy is so strong here that the interest of archeologists in this area is growing by the day.
The Buddhist Complex on the hill-top of Mangamaripeta, locally known as Thotlakonda lies about 16 km from Visakhapatnam on Vizag Bheemili Beach Road. After its discovery (during an aerial survey), the Government of A.P declared the 120 acre site as a protected monument in 1978. The excavations in 1988 to 1992 exposed structural remains and artifacts, classified as A) Religious, B) Secular and C) Civil. These structures include the Stupa, Chaityagrihas, pillared congregation halls, bhandagaras, refectory (bhojanasala), drainage and stone pathways.
Bavikonda is an important Buddhist heritage site located on a hill about 15km, northeast from Visakhapatnam city. Here the Buddhist habitation is noticed on a 40 acres flat terraced area. The Hinayana school of Buddhism was practiced at the monastery between the 3rd Century B.C., and the 3rd Century A.D. Bavikonda has remains of an entire Buddhist complex, comprising 26 structures belonging to three phases. A piece of bone stored in an urn recovered here is believed to belong to the mortal remains of the Buddha.
In 1907 a British archaeologist, Alexander Rea, unearthed Sankaram, a 2000-year-old Buddhist Heritage site. Located 40 km from South of Vizag, it is known locally as Bojjannakonda. The three phases of Buddhism flourished here, viz. Hinayana, Mahayana & Vajrayana. This complex is famous for its numerous Monolithic Votive Stupas, Rock cut caves, and brick build structural edifices. Excavations yielded several historic potteries and Satavahana coins dating back to the 1st century A.D. Similarly at Lingalakonda, there are innumerable rock-cut monolithic stupas in rows spread all over the hill. The Vihara was active for about 1000 years, spanning the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana phases of Buddhism.
Pavuralakonda or 'the hill of the pigeons' is a hillock lying to the west of Bhimli, at about 24 km from Vizag. The Buddhist settlement found here is estimated to have witnessed human habitation between 1st century BC to 2nd century AD. Sixteen rock cut cisterns for impounding rain water are found on the hillock, which offer a panoramic view of the coastline.
Gopalapatnam, situated on the left bank of River Tandava, is a village surrounded by brick built stupas, viharas and other Buddhist remains. Ancient pottery was also excavated from these sites.