Things to Do in Visakhapatnam

The Rishikonda Beach also known as Rushikonda Beach is a stunning shore located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Vishakhapatnam, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.. The Rishikonda Beach is thus rightly named as the 'Jewel of the East Coast'.  This place is a favourite among water sports lovers because of the range of activities that are offered here.

Located in the scenic locales of Vizag, Kailash Giri is a beautiful hilltop park perched at a height of 360 ft. Sprawling over 100 acres of lush green land area, the park is perched on a hilltop and it offers scenic panoramic vistas of the surroundings and the beach below. The highlight of the place are the magnificent 40 feet statues of Shiva and Parvati painted in white.

Submarine Museum is located in Visakhapatnam in the south-eastern state of India. The museum is inside an actual submarine, INS Kurusura, which was India's 5th submarine. The museum is situated on RK beach, near the War Memorial in Visakhapatnam.The museum has artefacts, pictures and articles that share stories of strength, sacrifice and patriotism of the warriors.

Ross Hill Church is a splendid attraction in Visakhapatnam that draws tourists and religious followers in large numbers. It is one of the few locations that can be climbed to get a fabulous view of the quaint city and the Port area. The attraction is frequently visited by photographers and nature lovers especially to view the beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

Yarada Beach is an entrancing site which is surrounded by hills on three sides and the Bay of Bengal on the fourth, covered with lush greenery and soft golden sands all over. It is an ideal location especially for the nature lovers as one gets to view enchanting sunrise and sunsets on this coastline.

Very similar to a dolphins nose, this 174 m high rocky headland is situated in the south of Vizag. The nose seems to be protruding out towards the Bay of Bengal giving it a rather fascinating look.

Victory at Sea War Memorial is located on Beach road and is frequently visited by tourists on their way to the beach. The monument has a pyre lit permanently in honour of the Indian martyrs. Missiles, Fighter Plane Models and Tankers are also kept around the memorial.

The long beautiful and pristine Bheemunipatnam Beach is located at the assemblage of Gosthani River and the Bay of Bengal. It also houses the remains of a 17th century fort and cemetery, reveling history dating back to the Dutch era.

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is a scenic location set amidst the Eastern Ghats and is a part of the Kambalakonda Forest Reserve. It acts as a home for approximately eighty different species of animals spread over an area of 625 acres and is one of the largest zoological parks in Andhra Pradesh. The Bay of Bengal is situated close by, which makes it an ideal destination to study flora and fauna right beside each other.

Katiki Falls originates from River Gosthani about 90 kilometres from Visakhapatnam. The waterfall is located near the Borra Caves and is a famous attraction for picnickers and nature lovers. The natural landscape surrounding the waterfall is lush green and goes through an uneven path that adds an element of adventure to the visitors trekking their way to the waterfall.

Located on the east coast of India, the Borra Caves are situated in the Ananthagiri hills of the Araku Valley in Visakhapatnam district. Breath taking hilly terrain, beautiful landscape, semi-evergreen moist deciduous forests, and wild fauna of the Borra Caves are a visual feast.

This memorial is dedicated to the 'Victory at Sea', during the Indo-Pak war in 1971. A renowned War memorial, it is located in Vizag on the left of the beach road and facing the submarine museum. Many war related materials are displayed here, including a fighter plane, missiles, few bombs and a tank.

Situated in the city of Vishakhapatnam, the Simhachalam temple is an ornate shrine which is revered to be one of the most important temples in the region. The edifice is perched atop a hill 800 metres above the sea level and is dedicated to Lord Narasimha, who is an incarnation of Vishnu himself.

The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority or VUDA park, is a popular attraction in Visakhapatnam and a favorite amongst the tourists. One of its main attractions, here, is a musical waterfall.

Fondly called the ‘Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh’, Lambasingi is a quaint hamlet nestled in Chintapalli Mandal in the richly forested Arakku Valley at an elevation of 1025 m above the sea level. On of the best kept secrets of Andhra Pradesh, the dainty village is known for its majestic hills, apple orchards and panoramic views of the adjoining valleys.

The TU-142M aircraft of The Indian Navy served for 29 years before it was decommissioned and placed at the Visakhapatnam beach sea and converted into a museum. Located opposite the Submarine Museum, TU 142 Museum has been one of the most popular tourist locations in the area.

Bojjannakonda is a small group of six rock-cut caves that dates back to 4th Century AD when Buddhism was flourishing in the region. The caves have beautifully carved statues of Gautam Buddha which draw tourists and believers for its aesthetic and religious importance. The caves nearby also have stupas where Buddhist monks would meditate.

Lawson's Bay beach is considered an extension of Ramakrishan beach more than often. It is a calm, serene and secluded stretch with lush greenery and whitish sands. The majestic sea with shallow crystal clear water and calm waves here is ideal for swimming, sun bathing and surfing.

Visakhapatnam's cuisine is a blend of all that's in and around with the local favorite being the Hyderabadi Biryani. On your stay do try the South-Indian relishes here such as Dosas, Idlis, and Upmas as well as popular items like Murri Mixture, Pickles and Chutneys, Booralu, Pulihara, Appadams and much more. Try out some of the listed restuaurants for an amazing meal.

Tenenti, an urban park, is located in close vicinity to the Bay of Bengal at Jodugullapalem in Visakhapatnam. It has recently been renovated for tourism purposes. In addition, one of the city's oldest parks, Tenneti, was destroyed in a cyclone Hudhud in 2014 and was reconstructed according to international standards.

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is a scenic location set amidst the Eastern Ghats and is a part of the Kambalakonda Forest Reserve. It acts as a home for approximately eighty different species of animals spread over an area of 625 acres and is one of the largest zoological parks in Andhra Pradesh. The Bay of Bengal is situated close by, which makes it an ideal destination to study flora and fauna right beside each other. With its dedicated sections for different varieties of animals such as primates, carnivores, mammals, ungulates and birds; this destination houses a vast range of animals.

Although shopping is not a widely popular activity here in Vishakhapatnam, you can still find a few good thigs to take home from here. Walter Upland, Jagadamba Junction, CMR Central and Lepakshi Emporium are some of the popular shopping destinations. This city is quite famous for its wide varieties of saris such as Pochampalli and Ikat among the rest. You can also purchase handicrafts, Kalamkari paintings and Kondapalli wooden toys.

An initiative of the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, Matsyadarshini is a beautiful aquarium and houses countless species of fresh and salt water marine life captured in glass tanks. The Aquarium, has many marine varieties including the long horn cow fish, butterfly fishes, surgeon major, peacock wrasse, the lion fish, stone fish, red squirrel fish, perch dusky, and many more.

The native tribal community of Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh celebrates a hunting festival during April of the Gregorian calendar each year. The name of the festival is 'Itika Pongal,' which is similar to hunting festivals of other tribal communities, such as the 'Jani Shikar' of Jharkhand. The 'Itika Pongal' festival serves as a perfect occasion to witness the tribal culture of Andhra Pradesh in its purest form when the women of the tribe perform their native dance form, known as 'Dhimsa'.