RUSHIKONDA BEACH
The most beautiful beach around Visakhapatnam, Rushikonda Beach, attracts many tourists all year round with its azure blue water and scenic beauty. The beach is also famous for water sports like water skiing, jet skiing and wing surfing.
BHEEMUNIPATNAM BEACH
Bheemunipatnam or ‘Bheemli’ is a sleepy fishing village near Vizag, and a former Dutch settlement. Bheemli’s untouched beaches are blessed with unending expanses of golden sand, and beautiful deep blue waters. The coastline is bordered by tall swaying palms that add to the beauty of the place immensely.
YARADA BEACH
Yarada Beach is situated 15 km from Visakhapatnam, on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. It is a quiet beach, ideal for relaxing by the waves and sipping on cool coconut water from the palms nearby. The Dolphin’s Nose Rockland and lighthouse are nearby tourist attractions.
RAMAKRISHNA BEACH
Ramakrishna Beach gets its name from the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram nearby. It is situated almost in the heart of Vizag, it’s the local favorite seaside spot. Museums, temples and several small eateries are located along the beach. The Matsyadarshini Aquarium and the Submarine Museum are major tourist attractions in the area.
ARAKU VALLEY
Araku Valley, situated about 112 km from Visakhapatnam, is one of the most important natural attractions in Andhra Pradesh. Apart from being a gorgeous hiking destination, and the home of at least 19 tribes, it is famous for the picturesque train journey up to the valley. The train winds its way through imposing hills, 46 tunnels and forests that are rich in biodiversity, coffee farms and touches Asia’s highest railhead before reaching Araku.
BORRA CAVES
on the way to Araku, at a distance of 90 km from Vizag, you will find yourself within the naturally sculpted walls of the multi-million-year-old Borra Caves. Enjoy the stalactites and stalagmites in all their illuminated glory, in the midst of beautiful hills, valleys and the Gosthani river.
ANANTAGIRI HILLS
Anantagiri, located on the way to Araku Valley, is endowed with rich natural beauty. Extensive coffee plantations, enhancing waterfalls, beautiful gorges and gurgling rivulets make unwinding at this place a divine activity. Anantagiri is home to many rare medicinal plants and herbs, making it a health resort as well.
ETIKOPPAKA LACQUER CRAFT
Lacquer craft is the application of lacquer on wood in pleasing shades and colours to create a distinctive appeal. The beauty of this craft lies in painting the smooth wooden shapes. Lac bangles, lacquered bottles and containers are a must-see on your visit to Andhra Pradesh.
DHIMSA DANCE
Dhimsa is a tribal dance form performed by women of Visakhapatnam. A group of 15-20 women form a circle and dance praising the deity for the welfare of their domestic life. This expressive dance is dominated by the movements of feet and hands of the group performing the dance in a circle.
LAMBASINGI
Lambasingi is a small village in the Eastern Ghats of Visakhapatnam, the area is cooler than surrounding plains and is covered in moist deciduous forest cover. There are several coffee, pine and eucalyptus plantations around the area and some small attempts to grow apple and strawberry.
TRIBAL MUSEUM
Tribal museum is a wonderful place which explores the tribal culture of Eastern Ghats, to showcase tribal lifestyle in motion, starting with a kitchen that displays utensils made of iron and mud, Jewelry and hunting tools. The passages within the museum that connect various sections are constructed of mud walls adorned with drawings and artwork made by tribal. The most impressive section of the Tribal Museum is the one that exhibits the local tribal Mayur and Dhimsa dance.
KAILASAGIRI HILL
Spread over 100 acres on a hilltop, kailasagiri offers a panoramic view of the surroundings that every nature lover craves for. It is always bustling with people enjoying the tranquil atmosphere and scenic beauty around. The major attraction is the 40 feet tall statue of Shiva and Parvathi. The experience of taking a ropeway while enjoying the breath-taking view of the city is something that everyone should cherish. Other attractions around are Floral clock, Titanic view point, Jungle trails etc.
TATIPUDI RESERVOIR
Located in River Gosthani, constructed during 1963-68 with a capacity of 3.175 TMC water. The project is aimed to irrigate a total ayacut of 15,378 acres of Vizianagaram district and to provide drinking water. Gosthani Sarovar Vihar can arrange you a pleasure boat trip.
BOJJANAKONDA
Around 41 km Vizag, numerous monolithic votive stupas, rock cut caves and buildings were discovered that dated back to the 1st century AD. Sankaram ((name derived from Sangharama) is an important place of Buddhist historical findings. The main stupa is carved out of a rock, and numerous images of Buddha are carved on the rock face of the Bojjanakonda Hill nearby.
INS KURUSURA SUBMARINE MUSEUM
It is established at the beach of Rama Krishna and constructed by Russians in the year 1969. INS Kurusura served the Indian Navy for 31 years and then it was decommissioned and turned into a museum in 2001. Various parts of the submarine like the radar room, sonar room, control room, and the weapons used during war are in display in this museum. The museum showcases the life inside a submarine and hardships faced by the submariners in the sea. There are around 6 guides in the museum who explain the history and activities of the submarine in great detail to the visitors.
TU-142 AIRCRAFT MUSEUM
TU 142 Naval Aircraft Museum also known as the “Pride for the City” offers a delightful experience for sightseeing lovers, history buffs and experience seekers interested in learning everything about the lives of Navy people. Located on the beach road, this museum gives you a chance to enter the aircraft that was earlier used for the Indian Navy. The TU 142 Naval Aircraft has served the Indian Navy for a long period of 29 years, it was converted into a museum after it was decommissioned at the Visakhapatnam Beach.
THOTLAKONDA
Thotlakonda situated 16 km away from Vizag and 5 km from Bavikonda, along Visakhapatnam-Bhimli road, Thotlakonda houses a number of stupas, chaitya, viharas, congregation halls and a refectory belonging to the Hinayana School of Buddhism. Apart from age-old stupas, Thotlakonda also offers a panoramic view of the sea.
BAVIKONDA
Bavikonda, located 5 km from Thotlakonda, is an extensive Buddhist settlement. The vihara consists of three arms in the layout of a Trisala and a big congregation hall measuring 11 m * 5.2 m, where lectures and debates were said to have been held. These Maha stupas also had four entrances facing the cardinal directions
SIMHACHALAM
One of the ‘richest’ deities of the region is Sri Varaha Lakshminarasima Swamy, the lion-headed avatar of Lord Vishnu, whose temple stands atop the verdant Simhachalam Hill. The deity is constantly covered with sandalwood paste, except during the Chandanotsavam in April-May, when devotees can have a glimpse of the deity in all its majesty.
RAMANARAYANAM
Ramanarayanam temple is situated 35 km from Vizag, this sprawling temple is built in the shape of a bow and arrow. Spread over 20 acres, the temple took nearly a decade to build, and features the entire story of the Ramayana told through 3D sculptures.
VIZIANAGARAM PORT
The Vizianagaram Fort is a spacious and sprawling campus with a cluster of stone buildings. The fort is a generous contribution of the surviving Rajus and many of the buildings within it have been converted into educational institutions. Inside is the Rani’s Mahal, a structure shaped like a hemisphere, with windows high enough to touch the ceiling.The Vizianagaram Fort is a spacious and sprawling campus with a cluster of stone buildings. The fort is a generous contribution of the surviving Rajus and many of the buildings within it have been converted into educational institutions. Inside is the Rani’s Mahal, a structure shaped like a hemisphere, with windows high enough to touch the ceiling.