Visakhapatnam – India’s first Naval Base
Visakhapatnam has the oldest shipyard in India as well as the only natural harbour on the entire eastern coast of India. It is also the headquarters of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Command zone. This city is of such great importance to both Indian maritime trade and defence that it has been selected for development into a smart city under the Indian Government’s ‘Smart Cities Initiative’. Visakhapatnam is also popularly known as the ‘Jewel of the East Coast’. It has several other accolades like being ranked the 3rd cleanest city of India in 2017.
Things to do in Visakhapatnam
The famous ‘Soviet built-I-641 class Submarine’, named INS Kursura, after 31 years of service was retired to Visakhapatnam and adorned as a submarine museum, named ‘Smritika’, in Visakhapatnam. Entering this real-life submarine is an eerily enlightening experience for tourists. Or, you could simply admire the views from Dolphin’s nose rock.
Popular tourist attractions of Visakhapatnam
The Kailasagiri Hill Park is a popular park atop the hills of Visakhapatnam from where you can admire the crystal blue panorama of the Bay of Bengal on one side and the humdrum of the busy city on the other. You might also consider venturing into the 150 million-year-old Borra Caves to admire its karst limestone structures.
Places to shop in Visakhapatnam
The Poorna Market, Marripelam Market, Ramnagar Market and Khurupam Market are some of the most sought after local flea markets and shopper’s stops by tourists visiting Visakhapatnam.
Best time to visit Visakhapatnam
The winter months of December to February are considered the peak season to visit Visakhapatnam while the extended tourist season lasts from October to March. It is advisable to avoid visiting during summers because of the extremely hot temperatures during this time.
Mode of transport
The APSRTC provides seamless bus transit around all the major areas of the city. Other than that, app-based cab service and taxis are very much preferred by tourists here. Besides, auto-rickshaws are always available for short local travel.
Weather in Visakhapatnam
The city receives rainfall for approximately 52 days a year and the temperatures during summers can hit an average of 36.2°C. Contrastingly, the winter months of January to December experience an average of 25 °C.
Airport in Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam Airport (IATA: VTZ) is open only from 8 am to 8 pm and yet serves around 1000 passengers in a single terminal. Among all Tier-II cities, this airport is the biggest with an area spanning 20,400 square metres.