by “A gem of South India”-Visakhapatnam Tourism
Visakhapatnam, also commonly known as Vizag, is one of the oldest port cities in the country. Situated in the heart of Andhra Pradesh, Vizag was announced as the state capital of Andhra Pradesh on January 31, 2023.
The city is known for its picturesque beaches and serene landscape, as well as a rich cultural past. The port of Visakhapatnam is renowned for being home to the oldest shipyard in all of India.
One of the top attractions in Visakhapatnam is the Araku Valley, which is only a short distance from Visakhapatnam. Araku Valley, a hill station with gushing waterfalls, clear streams, beautiful green gardens, and some difficult trekking trails, is located at a height 910 metres above sea level.
Along the coastline, Visakhapatnam is littered with numerous beaches, the most well-known of which is Yarada Beach. Yarada beach, one of Visakhapatnam’s most beautiful tourist destinations, is bordered by imposing hills on three sides and the Gulf of Bengal on the other.
Yarada beach is one of the finest features about Visakhapatnam’s beaches since it is far less crowded and cleaner than other well-known beaches around the Indian coastline. It is the ideal location to relax on the golden sands and take in a magnificent sunrise or sunset.
The Borra Caves are among the top tourist attractions Visakhapatnam has to offer if you enjoy history. The largest and oldest of all the caves found in India are the Borra Caves, which are located in Araku Valley and are tucked away among the Ananthagiri Hills.
The caves, which are made entirely of karstic natural limestone, are kaleidoscopic in nature. The light hitting the rocks and the waterfalls together produce an exceptionally colourful effect, giving the entire setting a feeling of enchantment and mysticism.
The Katiki Waterfalls, which are not far from the Borra Caves, are rushing waterfalls that are around 50 feet tall and entirely encircled by the valley’s rich vegetation. A sight for sore eyes is the beautiful water tumbling down the rocks, surrounded by the dazzling green vegetation.
As a seaside region, Visakhapatnam’s cuisine focuses on traditional Andhra South Indian dishes as well as seafood. Although if Visakhapatnam isn’t exactly known for being a shopping mecca, you may still discover a variety of items to bring home.
You can buy a wide range of goods, including handicrafts, paintings in the Kalamkari style, wooden toys, and even stunning Pochampalli and Ikat sarees.
Overview of Borra caves, Visakhapatnam
Perhaps even older than the history of the Araku Valley itself is the history of the Borra Caves. The caverns were found by British geologist William King in 1807 and are thought to have been created by continuous water flows over millions of years.
It’s also very interesting to learn how the Borra Caves were created. Calcium carbonate in the limestone combines with humic acid in the water to dissolve the minerals, gradually fracturing the rock.
As a result, the caves contain a variety of rocks and shapes. The Dandakaranya – Bolangir – Kibur railroad track crosses the Borra Caves, which are around 200 metres long overall.
In the Borra Caves, anthropologists have also discovered stone tools from the middle Paleolithic Era, which dates back between 30000 and 50000 years.
Visakhapatnam has 10 interesting historical facts:
1.The first map of Visakhapatnam, from the mid-1800s, shows four carriage tracks leading to the city.
2.In 1883, employees of the East Coast State Railway Company settled in Waltair. Later, in 1907, the Madras Railway Company took over the Waltair-Madras railway services, while the Bengal Nagpur Railway operated the Waltair-Calcutta services.
3.European officers of the East Coast State Railway Company arrived in Waltair in 1883. In 1907, the Madras Railway Company took over the East Coast Railway’s railway services from Madras to Waltair. The Waltair to Calcutta services were then taken over by the Bengal Nagpur Railway.
4.Due to an increase in Waltair exports, a demand for a harbour arose, and Bengal Nagpur Railway was entrusted with building the new harbour, work on which began in 1910 and was completed in 1933.
5.Scandal Point, a popular meeting place for Visakhapatnam residents, was named after the popular legend that gossip spread at breakneck speed from this location.
6.Scandal Point, a popular meeting place for Visakhapatnam residents, was named after the popular legend that gossip spread at breakneck speed from this location.
7.A cinema made of palmyrah columns and tin roofs called Lighthouse/Tin-shed talkies stood near the Lighthouse as the city’s source of entertainment. Tickets ranged from 4 Annas (front seat) to Rs. 1 (back seat), and those who couldn’t afford them were said to disrupt the screenings by throwing stones.
8.The Collector of the city held a fete in the Collector’s office grounds in Vizag on 8 March 1941 to raise funds for World War 2.
9.On April 6, 1942, five Japanese aircraft conducted air raids at 13:00-13:45 hrs and 17:25-17:45 hrs, with the main targets being the newly-built harbour and Scindia Shipyard.
10.Visakhapatnam had a population of around 70,000 people in 1942.
