4 Places To Visit In Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam, better known as Vizag, is a popular tourist city and a thriving commercial shipping hub in Andhra Pradesh. It has the distinction of housing the oldest shipyard in the country. This modern city is well-connected to the rest of India and has its own share of historic monuments, cultural centers, manmade structures, and natural scenic locations.

Following is our list of top 4 tourist-worthy places in Visakhapatnam that you should really checkout if you are a first-time visitor to this beautiful city.

1. Simhachalam

The famous Hindu king, Krishnadevaraya built this magnificent temple and this shrine is dedicated to Lord Narasimha, one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. According to Indian mythology, this place is the sacred abode of this powerful Hindu deity. This beautiful temple lies atop a low-lying hilly region and the scenery around the place is quite breath-taking!

2. Beaches

The coastal city of Vizag is blessed with several pristine beaches which lie along its long coastline that meets Bay of Bengal. Here, you can lounge around, take a stroll, frolic in the water or indulge in exciting water sports. Following are the most-popular beaches in this city that you should definitely go to:

• Yarada Beach

Reputed for its scenic beauty, calm ambience, and golden sandy expanse, this beach is the first-choice among tourists and locals looking for a pleasant beach-side sojourn. The captivating scene of lush-green hills on its three sides and sparkling-blue seawater on the fourth, gives an illusion of being on a tropical island. If you’re a big fan of Mother Nature or on a romantic gateway with your beloved, then watching the sun rising or setting on its horizon will definitely become a memorable and cherished experience!

• Rishikonda Beach

It’s a must-visit and most-thronged site for all water sports loving tourists and adventure junkies. This bustling seafront also has its share of verdant shrubbery to entice nature-loving holidaymakers. Located nearly 8km from the mainland, it is an ideal place to participate in some adrenaline-pumping activities such as water-skiing and wind-surfing. If you’re a non-adventurous beach-lover, you still have the popular and safer options like sunbathing and swimming to try out!

• Ramakrishna Beach

Nicknamed as R.K. beach, this beach also draws huge crowds of tourists and sightseers, all year round. There is a huge well-kept park in its vicinity that houses the famous War Memorial. Formerly, known as, Victory at Sea, this elegant memorial has a good-sized replica of Amar Jawan Jyoti at New Delhi.
Interestingly, the popular hill-station, Kailasa Giri, is located nearby R.K. beach and Rishikonda Beach. This tourist haven not only offers enchanting view of Bay of Bengal but also provides entertainment facilities for both, adults and children, alike. You can have fun riding on road trains and ropeway trolleys or spend your time exploring ‘Tenneti Park’, doll museum, and food joints. This place also has a gigantic sculpture of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati that you shouldn’t miss to see.

3. Indira Gandhi Zoological Park

Spread over a whopping 625 acres of land, this zoological park is an abode to many species of animals and birds. Its unique natural locale makes it resemble a wildlife sanctuary more than a typical zoo. It will take you only a 30-minutes drive from the city hub to reach this scenic spot. You can watch a broad range of Indian wildlife such as Himalayan black bear, Indian elephant, monkeys, tigers, and crocodiles. Apart from these jungle beasts, this zoo also boasts of an impressive collection of indigenous and exotic species of parrots in varying sizes and colors. If you’re a nature lover, wildlife enthusiast, or bird-watcher, then you will surely find this place akin to paradise!

4. VUDA Park

It’s a 55-acre special park that will charm you with its scenic beauty, play area, and sweet-smelling flowering shrubs. This ecological sanctuary is dotted with more than 2500 trees with thick foliage and a wide range of flora covers almost 37-acres of its total space. It’s a great place for doing your exercises, walking, jogging or playing outdoor games. There is an indoor multi-gym and a yoga center within its premises for fitness freaks, health-conscious persons, and people looking for ways to de-stress their lives.

Besides, these tourist hotspots, this old-port city houses various museums dedicated to its cultural heritage as well as maritime history. Situated at a walking distance from Ramakrishna Beach, the Submarine Museum is a place worth once-in-a-lifetime visit. It is actually a Russia-made submarine named INS Kursura that was converted into a museum in 2001 by the Government of India. You can also visit Swarna Jyoti Museum a.k.a Naval Museum if you are interested in knowing about Indian Maritime history. This place has a fairly-impressive collection of old documents, photographs, and miniature models of warships and sea-vessels.