Vijayawada is the major commercial hub in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the most rapidly growing metropolises in the country. The city is situated on the banks of the River Krishna and surrounded by Indrakeeladri Hills of the Eastern Ghats. Vijayawada presents an amalgamation of cultural heritage and cosmopolitan verve. The city is home to several natural caves and rock-cut temples.
Things to do in Vijayawada
Visit the Kanaka Durga Temple for the holy darshan. Explore the historical sites such as the Undavalli Caves, Kondapalli Fort and Mogalarajapuram Caves. Tour the Mangalagiri Hill and witness the spectacular views. Further, go on a trip to Rajiv Gandhi Park. Embrace the natural beauty at Kolleru Lake which is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India. Enjoy the fun rides at VMC Disney Land and Haai Land.
Tourist attractions in Vijayawada
The main tourist attractions in Vijayawada are Undavalli Caves, Kanaka Durga Temple, Bhavani Island, Victoria Museum, Kondapalli Fort, Subramanya Swamy Temple, Rajiv Gandhi Park, Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Sri Panakala Narasimha Swamy Temple, Hazratbal Mosque and Kolleru Lake. The Undavalli Caves is a monolithic rock-cut architecture dated back to the 4th-century. It is one of the earliest examples of Gupta architecture.
Places to shop in Vijayawada
Vijayawada is famous for Mangalagiri sarees, sandalwood works, Kondapalli toys, Kalamkari artworks, leather puppets and Etikoppaka toys. Kondapalli Market, MG Road and Besant Road are the prime shopping districts in the city. For the widest collection of handicrafts, visit Lepakshi Handicraft Emporium in the Gandhi Nagar area of the city. The store is managed by the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation. The popular shopping malls in Vijayawada are PVP Square, Trendset Mall, LEPL Centro and D-Address Mall.
Best time to visit
The period from October to March is the best time to visit Vijayawada.
Modes of transport
Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) and Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses are the major transport mediums in Vijayawada. Further, auto-rickshaws, private taxis and app-based cabs are available across the city.
Weather in Vijayawada
Vijayawada experiences hot and humid summers. The temperature during this season rises to 47 degrees Celsius and the average humidity remains at 78%. The city gets medium to heavy rainfall under the influence of the south-west and north-east monsoons from July to September. The weather becomes quite good in winters. The lowest temperature in this season stays around 12 degrees Celsius.
Airport in Vijayawada
Vijayawada Airport (IATA: VGA) is located at Gannavaram, about 13 km from the main city. IndiGo operates around 50 non-stop weekly flights between Vijayawada and cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.