Visakhapatnam

Understand

Visakhapatnam (vih-SHAH-khuh-puht-nuhm) is sometimes called the Goa of the East. Just like its west coast counterpart, it has beautiful virgin beaches, laterite hillocks, smooth roads and stunning landscape. Medical tourism is a fast-developing industry. Visakhapatnam is also called the Jewel of the East Coast and the City of Destiny.

Name and history According to urban legend, the name "Visakhapatnam" comes from a temple dedicated to Vishakha, built by a local ruler at Lawson's Bay in the 4th century. The temple no longer exists, but is believed to be submerged under the bay. Visakhapatnam has changed hands of various rulers before it came under the British rule, including Jeypore (1535–1571 and 1674–1711), Golconda (1571–1674) and the Nizams of Hyderabad (1724–1757). During the British times, the city was known as Vizagapatnam and Waltair. The popular nickname "Vizag" comes from "Vizagapatnam" and has been used since the late 18th century. "Visakha", the equivalent nickname from "Visakhapatnam", is also in use.

People There is a considerable concentration of Marwaris, Odias, Bengalis, Punjabis, Tamils and Malayalis. In addition, there is a large population of migrant workers from other parts of India who have been drawn to the area by the abundance of work at locally based companies, such as Vizag Steel Plant and Hindustan Shipyard.

Getting there

By plane 1 Visakhapatnam Airport (VTZ IATA) (opposite NH 16), ☏ +91 891 2851169. Visakhapatnam has excellent connectivity to Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Delhi, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, Kochi and Port Blair, as well as international destinations like Abu Dhabi and Singapore through its customs airport, an airport with restricted access. (updated Oct 2023)

By train

2 Visakhapatnam Junction SCoR (station code: VSKP). Visakhapatnam is on the Kolkata–Chennai line and is connected to several cities of the country by rail. All trains including fast expresses stop at the station. Visakhapatnam is the headquarters of the South Coast Railway (SCoR) zone. Despite resembling a regular railway junction, Visakhapatnam is effectively a passenger terminus where passenger trains cannot travel further. It has eight platforms, and all of them can accommodate trains with up to 28 coaches. (updated May 2026) Visakhapatnam is served by almost all kinds of trains, excluding the Rajdhanis. One of the most famous trains between Delhi and Vizag is the daily Andhra Pradesh Express, often called the "Pride of Andhra" among railfans. You may want to verify the timings with Indian Railways, since they change from time to time. Train berths can be reserved online. However, this being a major destination, availability of seats is at times difficult even with a one month's advance planning.

By car

Visakhapatnam is connected to Chennai and Kolkata via Bhubaneswar and Vijayawada by National Highway 16 (dual-carriageway, 120 km/h).

By bus The Andhra Pradesh State Road Travel Corporation (APSRTC) runs buses from almost every city and town to Visakhapatnam, along with some private operators, who run buses from a few of the major cities. Please check with APSRTC for timings. There is also a Garuda fleet of bus service (Volvo) to Vizag from Chennai, Bangalore, Vijayawada and Hyderabad which is very comfortable and happy going. This is the best way to do it if you want to travel by bus. APSRTC has several other bus services which have varied luxury levels and transit speeds. You might want to check the APSRTC at least 3 days in advance to be sure you have a reservation.

Getting around

Visakhapatnam has no commuter rail service. However, apart from the bus service, taxis or autorickshaws can also be hired.

By bus APSRTC operates a lit of buses from 6 principal bus complexes in the city. They are:

Simhachalam Gajuwaka Maddilapalem Visakha Steel City Waltair Madhurawada Dwarka Bus Station or RTC Complex depot is the largest bus station and complex in the city. There are mainly two types of buses operated for suburban travel in Visakhapatnam.

City Ordinary: can be identified by its orange or red colour. It is operated on almost all suburban routes. Some of the main routes include RTC Complex–Gajuwaka (via NAD), Maddilapalem–Railway Station, RTC Complex–Gajuwaka (via Scindia), Railway Station–Madhurawada, etc. These buses stop at almost every bus stop. The frequency is more than that of Metro Express buses. These buses sometimes become overcrowded during peak hours on weekdays. Some popular route numbers include 222, 400, 99, 25, 900, 60C, 300, 6A, 28, 38 and 12D. Metro Express: can be identified by their blue and white colour. These buses run in most important routes such as 400, 211, 500, 99, 28, 38 etc. These buses don't stop at all bus stops and the fare for these buses is also a bit higher than that for city ordinary buses. Many of these buses are JNNURM funded and sport digital display boards which display route number and route details in both English and Telugu. Also most of these have cushioned seats which are comfortable and many of them also have air-suspension which makes the journey more comfortable. These buses don't get as crowded as City Ordinary buses. The junction and Maddilapalem joins the Asilametta-Ramatalkies road to the National Highway 5. Buses from Madilapalem ply to the extreme ends of the city, including Anakapalle and Thagarapuvalasa.

Fares

The bus fare to get to Madilapalem from the railway station is only ₹8. Buses operate within a 5 minute frequency in routes with high demand. The minimum frequency in which buses operate is 40 minutes, i.e., every route is covered by an APSRTC bus once in every 40 minutes. Apart from buying tickets on the bus, you may also avail an RTC-Pass, which is a special type of pass that can be renewed once in a month. With the pass, you can board any APSRTC bus and travel anywhere within the city limits. An ordinary RTC-Pass costs just ₹750. The RTC complex is to the southeast of Asilametta. RTC complex is generally referred to as complex and is connected to every other region in the city.

See

1 Dolphin's Nose Lighthouse. A lighthouse providing an aerial view of the port and the city. ₹10 for adults. (updated Jul 2025) 2 Kailasagiri (6 km (3.7 mi) away from the city centre). The ride to this hill offers a spectacular view of the sea. There is a park atop the hill, with a beautiful view of the city, the sea and Eastern Ghats merging into the sea. Sagar Nagar Beach and Rushikonda Beach are on the right and left-hand sides. There is a colossal statue of the couple Shiva and Parvati. One can take a ropeway directly facing the sea and the city. On the hilltop, there is a beautiful toy train offering a tour of nature. Several viewpoints give a pleasant look at nature, especially in the evening, when the city is lit up. This is less commercial than other hill stations and there is less hassle from tourist guides. There are several points from which the beautiful rocky beach down beneath can be seen. This provides spectacular views of sunrise, sunset and the pristine waters. Many movies were shot here. Hillocks in the park, which are about 50 ft (15 m) in elevation, give a beautiful view of the sea, beach road and the beach park. The hilltop includes a children's play area, a doll museum and a couple of eating areas. It has several viewpoints offering wonderful views of the city on one side and winding beaches adjoining green hills on the other side. (updated Jul 2025) 3 Shilparamam Jathara. A crafts village showcasing and preserving the old, including woodwork, jewellery, clothes and local crafts of rural India. There are 36 stalls where you can buy assorted handicrafts and artwork. There is also an entire village where you can find realistic-looking sculptures of villagers carrying out their traditional crafts. (updated Jun 2025) 4 Telugu Samskruthika Niketanam. (updated Apr 2024)

Beach Road

5 Hawa Mahal. A summer residential palace of the royal family of Jeypore, and one of the most iconic historical buildings of the city. The palace is made of stone with twin octagonal projections on either side. The wooden windows are framed by segmented arched openings and the high Madras roofing within the halls are extensively employed by Burma teak to ensure cool comfort during the scorching hot summers of the coast. The main structure has semi-circular arched verandas and the rectangular wooden windows in the central porch with ventilators leading into the palace. The building has sixteen rooms and a massive hall that hosted dinners and parties for guests. (updated Jul 2025) 6 INS Kursura Museum, RK Beach Rd, Kirlampudi Layout, Chinna Waltair, Pandurang

Do

Beaches

More than anything else, Vizag is known for its beaches. It boasts a number of beaches that are scenic and uncrowded. A few virgin beaches span along the eastern side of the city and stretch for miles. A spectacular beach only the locals are aware of is called the "Yarada" beach. Except for the occasional RTC bus, there is no public transport available. Still, the adventurous mind finds it rewarding if they can make an effort to get there. It's a private beach coming under Agrigold plantations, therefore you need to pay a fee of ₹30/- to get onto the beach, but it's worth it. The beaches are lovely, but there are water sporting activities which started out initially like marine rafting and scuba diving, there are few beach cafes and restaurants. A water sports centre was started in Rushikonda. Vizagites are traditionally quite conservative, and though the beaches and the hills are beautiful, there is much here to interest the average tourist. Must want is the sunrise or a moonrise on a full moon day at Tennati Park (near foot of ropeway) on the Vizag-Bheemili Beach Road. It's truly a feast for nature lovers. The sea looks orange and is a wonderful sight.

Crescent Beach. (updated Jul 2025) 1 Ramakrishna Beach (RK Beach). The most popular beach of Visakhapatnam where you can find the locals hanging out during the hot summers, and relatively less hot winters. On weekends and holidays, one can see that the entire beach comes alive, but not in a Western sense where people take a plunge in the water or surf. You can see people dressed in their best clothes, just sitting on the benches, or walking along. Take an evening stroll at RK Beach; it offers good pedestrian tracks, beautiful parks, museums, beaches and some wonderful open-air restaurants. (updated Oct 2021) 2 Rushikonda Beach. 11 km away from the city, this has become a popular tourist spot that even the locals frequent. A lot safer to wade into than the R.K. Beach, cradled among hills, this used to be an excellent beach away from the madding crowds. AP Tourism Development Corporation has a beach resort (Punnami) on the hillside overlooking the beach. 3 Sagarnagar Beach. (updated Jul 2025) 4 Thotlakonda Beach. (updated Jul 2025) 5 Yarada Beach. It is perceived as a private beach but actually it is not. Tourists can visit the beach directly or through the village. Yarada is the village behind the dolphin's nose. To go to this beach, a bus facility is available from Scindia junction. Also you can hire a cab to go there. The view of the beach and Vizag city from the top of the Dolphin's no

Buy

Vizag offers a reasonably large selection of stores selling clothing, jewellery, books, Araku Coffee etc.

1 Jagadamba Centre (Jagadamba Junction). Most of the famous shopping centres and malls can be found here. Named after the Jagadamba movie theatre, one of the best movie auditoriums of the country when it was constructed and even today.. (updated Apr 2024)

Clothing There are several locations from which clothing can be purchased. However they tend to be concentrated in few locations. One such is Jagadamba Centre. Few of the many clothing stores are:

Chandana Brothers Bommana Brothers Kankatala silk palace

Jewellery Similar to clothing stores, there are several shops from where jewellery can be purchased. The centres are distributed, but the prominent ones are between RTC Complex and Railway station, Jagadamba Centre and near old Town Kotharoad. Some of the prominent stores are:

Vaibhav Jewellers Mahaveer Jewellers Tanishq Jewellers Khazana Jewellers Joyalukkas Jewellery, Sampath Vinayaka Temple Rd, Near Sampath Vinayaka Temple, CBM Compound, Asilmetta, ☏ +91 89125 61916. (updated Jan 2021) Sanghvi Kalyan Kirtilals

Memorabilia While definitely not considered a shopper's paradise, Vizag offers some unique handicrafts and can be found in the Andhra Pradesh State-owned handicraft store, Lepakshi, at Jagadamba center. It has an impressive collection of sandalwood sculptures and stone art.

Books The stretch of road called Dabagardens has many bookstores. Police Barracks has numerous small stores that buy and sell second-hand books, including technical textbooks.

Jyoti Book Depot

Pubs Waves Ironhill

Shopping malls Shoppers stop Spencers Big Bazaar CMR Shopping Mall South India Shopping Mall Shoppers Stop CMR Central, Maddilapalem. You can find Subway, KFC, and Pizza Hut here. Also a lot of shopping is possible, if you have money here, at Reliance Trends and Reliance Digital. Also one could see a movie if one has time at INOX. Visakhapatnam Central (beside CP office). Most happening place is Visakhapatnam Central, where you will get all branded apparels, fashion jewelries, life style merchandise like watches, shades and color cosmetics. It is typical of malls which you can find anywhere in metro cities. Very expensive too. (updated Nov 2017)

Eat

If spicy fare from Southern India appeals to your gastronomic senses, then Vizag has some excellent restaurants. Many of the eating joints meant or frequented by tourists are in the Siripuram area. A walk around there can give you access to a variety of cuisines.

Blue Sea Fine Dining, Pakkis Complex, Opposite ICICI Bank Road, Dwarakanagar 2nd Lane, Dwaraka Nagar, ☏ +91 891 646 5399. Daspalla Executive Court, ☏ +91 891 2717300, fax: +91 891 2717444. Eleven, 10-1-4 & 5, 4th floor, Siripuram (Infront of Ice Age), ☏ +91 8916461111. Noon to 11PM. This is one of the best new restaurants opened for Fine Dining. Food is value for money and tasty. They probably serve the best food in Vizag. Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) (Opp waltair club), ☏ +91 891-2766652. 11AM-11PM. The 'Flying Spaghetti Monster' a.k.a. FSM is Vizag's first authentic Italian restaurant. Great place with amazing Italian fare. Be sure not to miss out the Chocolate bomb. Cheap. Horizon (live music during dinner) at Dolphin Hotel, +91 891 2567000. Hotel Daspalla, ☏ +91 891 2564825, fax: +91 891 2562043. Hotel Green Park, ☏ +91 891 6615151, fax: +091 891 2563763. Hotel Jabilly Beach Inn, on R K Beach, ☏ +91 891 270 6026. noon. All rooms face the sea, pure Bengali food is available. ₹650 to 1200. Subway - Subs & Salads in Siripuram's Dutt Island, +91 891 278491. Ambica sea green - on Beach Road, Kirlampudi Layout, ph. 08912821818 Nihuusravee Home Foods, Kailash Nagar, ☏ +91 945 945 9739, [email protected]. 9am to 7pm. Traditional home food. ₹300. (updated Mar 2024)

Drink & nightlife

Some interesting bars in the city are in the Five Star hotels mentioned above and typically are expensive even by Western standards. The Park Hotel has a decent bar - try the Screwdriver. Daspalla has another bar and restaurant called Dimple that serves various drinks and can be noisy at time. Two new really cool breweries have opened up in the city.

Punnami, near Rishikonda has pub very close to the beach and serves alcohol. Vihar, Near Rishikonda, Opp. GITAM University (8 km from the city). Best hangout place with friends, only concern is it was too far from the city. Even though, worth visiting "Offshores" at Vihar. There's an Awesome beach view from the middle of the hill. Ironhill brewery- above PMJ Jewellers, Siripuram.

Sleep

Vizag has both high end hotels and affordable lodges. The Daspalla, The Grand Central Hotel and Green Park are well-known.

Budget

Mid-range 99 Residency (Value for Money Hotel), # 10-50-39/2, Waltair Main Road, Ramnagar (Next to Waltair Club), ☏ +91-891-2474448, fax: +91 891-2505545. Check-in: Noon, check-out: Noon. starting from ₹1,500 per night. Athidhi The Guest House, ☏ +91 9000415656, +91 9949662424. 1 Beach View Guest House, RK Beach main road, besides Novotel Hotel (Varun Beach) (towards collecter office route from novotel), ☏ +91 9985034321, [email protected]. All rooms face the beach. Wi-Fi available. (updated Sep 2015) Dolphin, ☏ +91 891 2567000, fax: +91 891 2567555. Dwaraka Inn (At Dwaraka Nagar). Fortune Inn Sree Kanya, Dwaraknagar, Diamond Park (Sree Kanya Road), ☏ +91-891-3988444. The Grand Central Hotel (at Jagadamba Junction). Green Park, ☏ +91 891 2564444, fax: +91 891 2563763. Hotel Akshaya, Station Rd (Opp to D.R.M.Office.), ☏ +91 2598111, +91 2598144, +91 9177892359 (mobile). Hotel Athidiinn, D.No.9-1-47, New Resapuvanapalem, ☏ +91 891-2727567, +91 9396548333 (mobile), fax: +91 891-2727678, [email protected]. Check-in: 24 hr. ₹1,500-2,200 per 24 hours. Hotel Daspalla, 28-2-48, Suryabagh, Jagadamba Junction, ☏ +91 89125 64825. Check-in: 24 hour check-in. Complementary breakfast, free WiFi, four restaurants and wheelchair accessible. From ₹4,000 per night. Hotel Saraswathi Orchid, #30-15-193,Opp: Dolphin Hotel Garden Gate, Main Road, Dabagardens (Opp: Dolphin Hotel), ☏ +91-891-2712881, fax: +91-891-6635657, [email protected]. Hotel Supreme, At R.K.Beach. Hotel Talasila Continental, Station Road, Dondaparthi, ☏ +91-891-2598598. Meghalaya, ☏ +91 891 2755141, fax: +91 891 2755824. Royal Fort.

Splurge 2 Four Points by Sheraton Visakhapatnam, 10-28-3, Waltair Main Road, ☏ +91 891 305 1111, fax: +91 891 3051000. ₹7,700-₹8,700. (updated Jun 2025) 3 Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, Beach Road, ☏ +91 891 282 2222, fax: +91 891 2822244. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. ₹9,670. (updated Jul 2025) 4 The Gateway Hotel, Beach Road, ☏ +91 891 662 3670, fax: +91 891 2564370, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Jul 2025) 5 The Palm Hotel. (updated Jul 2025) 6 The Park Hotel, Beach Rd, ☏ +91 891 304 5678, fax: +91 891 2754181, [email protected]. (updated Oct 2016) 7 Radisson Blu Resort Visakhapatnam, ☏ +91 891 667 7666. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. ₹12,980. (updated Jul 2025) 8 Welcomhotel Devee Grand Bay, Beach Rd, ☏ +91 891

Go next

Araku Valley (110 km (68 mi)) — Many tourists visit Araku Valley along with Visakhapatnam. It is a scenic valley that can be reached by train or bus. It is definitely not a day trip, but the APTDC facilities can serve as a decent lodging. November to February are the best months to visit. Hyderabad Chennai Kolkata Vijayawada Guntur