Plan Your Travel To Visakhapatnam
Places To Visit In Visakhapatnam
Bheemili Beach
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.
With wild winds and unforgiving waves, most of the beaches of Visakhapatnam are not very safe and tend to have dangerous ides. Bheemilli however, is more at peace and has calm waves, making it a perfect getaway for all the swimmers-at-heart. A salty, refreshing climate, united with the agreeable nature and lush greenery all around dotted with lined palm groves, make Bheemilli a famous and loved beach.
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Bojjannakonda
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. The area comes under the maintenance of the Archaeological Survey of India. It gives insights into the practise of Buddhism in Visakhapatnam. The stone stairway leading to the caves is well maintained and secured with railings, although it is not much of a climb.
Bojjannakonda set of caves is located on Bojjannakonda Hill. The caves form a notable establishment of Buddhists in the region and stand out for its large group of monolithic stupas that surround a Maha Stupa which has a dome made of bricks. The three phases of Buddhism - Mahayana, Hinayana and Vajrayana are featured on the caves, chaityas and the monasteries. The surroundings are tranquil and motivate many to meditate when they visit the attraction.
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Borra Caves
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.
A marvellous creation of nature, the Borra caves were formed when river waters flow through a limestone area, and the calcium carbonate turns into calcium bicarbonate, which is easily washed out by the running water. The most striking feature of the caves is its exquisite variety of speleothems ranging in size.Borra Caves are deemed to be among the largest in the country and are perched at a whopping elevation of about 705 metres. They are basically karstic limestone structures extending to a depth of 80 m and are considered to be the deepest cave in India. The combination of sunlight and dark conjures amazing dancing shaped in the depths of the Borra Caves, which is a sight in itself. Natural skylights in the caves make way for colourful imagery that imparts them a unique enigma of their own. Animal lovers will find bats as well as the golden geckos hiding in the shadows of the niches. The journey up to the primary destination with its picturesque location and a thrilling hike is a treat in itself. Visit this destination and explore the unique beauty of Araku Valley in all its glory.
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Buddhist Excavation
Havi Konda, Thotla Konda, Bojjana Konda, and Salihundam located around Visakhapatnam were places of Buddhist excavations. The excavations of 1906 that took place have brought out many Buddhist monuments such as stupas and chaityas.
It is believed that some of the corporal remnants of the Buddha were conserved at these sacred Buddhist places. Dantapuram, another Buddhist excavation site, has been beautifully placed at the confluence of river Vamsadhara with the Bay of Bengal. The excavations in this holy place have exposed many stupas and antiquities.
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City Shopping
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.
Vinis Fashion Mall along Waltair Uplands Road is perfect for shopping for clothing, cosmetics, and footwear. Jagdamba Junction is the most popular shopping destination among the locals and you can buy the local Pattu saris here. For a shopping experience drenched in the local culture, you should visit the Lepakshi Emporium, which a state government undertaking.You can find native handicrafts, musical instruments, paintings, durries, wood carvings and toys here. Cheria paintings that narrate mythological events, Brass Pooja pots, wall hangings, and vases are a few other things that you can find here.
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Dolphin's Nose
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.
A renowned powerful light house highly useful for the shippers and has a light beam that can be seen as far as 64 km out at sea is also placed nearby. There is also a hill nearby named the Dolphin hill and is a restricted Armed forces residential area. The backside of the hill has a scenic, beautifully placed, secluded beach called yarada.
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Gangavaram beach
One of the most beautiful beaches of the town, this one with palm trees and picture perfect sceneries attracts many film and TV serial makers. This beach with soft sands and cool breeze always provides a secluded atmosphere.
One also finds here, a modest rock-like structure here, similar to a small island, fascinating most of its visitors.
Indira Gandhi Zoological Park
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. Perhaps nothing ever delighted us as children than a visit to the zoo, and this destination does precisely that. 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.
This park also has a separate section for butterflies and moths, which also makes up for an exciting study. This part of the park is open only during the day, as moths and butterflies cannot fly during the late hours of the day. The walls are adorned with pictures and information about these gentle creatures to spread awareness about them. The animal population here is perfectly complemented by the surrounding foliage of the Eastern Ghats, which surrounds this place on three sides. Located in the state of Andhra Pradesh, the zoological park is named after the former Prime Minister of India. The park opened its gates to the visitors on 19th May 1977. The area of the entire park sums to about 625 acres. It is almost always flocked by tourists, who visit this park to witness the myriad of creatures. There is even a mini train inside the park to view all of its premises.
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Itika Pongal
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'.
Itika Pongal Festival - Dates
Tribal dancers of Araku Valleysource
The Itika Pongal festival is celebrated by the indigenous tribal communities of the Araku Valley of the Visakhapatnam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The people belonging to these tribes decide the exact dates on which the festival is celebrated. It is ambiguous as to which calendar is followed by the communities to celebrate the Itika Pongal festival, and how they calculate the dates. However, the festival falls in April of the western Gregorian calendar. Thus, the month of April is the perfect time to visit the Araku Valley, to witness the tribal culture amidst the beauty of nature.
Where is the Itika Pongal Festival Celebrated?
A glimpse of the Tribal Museum in Arakusource
The Itika Pongal festival is unique to the indigenous tribes of the Araku Valley. Araku Valley is a hill station and valley region, situated among the lush greenery of forests of the Eastern Ghats on the eastern coast of India. The valley is situated in the Visakhapatnam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, and is a center of attraction for tourists, owing to its romantic climate and naturally adorned beauty.
About Araku Valley
Being a major producer of rice in the country, the South-eastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is rightly known as the 'rice bowl of India.' The state is spread over an area of 160,205 sq, kilometers, and houses a part of the thick mountain ranges of the Eastern Ghats. Among the naturally ordained greenery, lie beautiful hill stations and valleys, which serve as home to various tribal communities of the region to this day. One of the most significant of these natural habitats is the Araku valley, which is located close to Andhra Pradesh's border with the state of Odisha, in the Visakhapatnam district. Araku Valley holds immense importance in the sense that it is a hill station and valley region where indigenous tribal communities with their age-long traditions and art forms can still be found in their crudest of state, apart from the rich flora and fauna that the region has to offer. Tea plantation estates along the way make the journey to Araku Valley even more refreshing to take.
Itika Pongal - Culture & Traditions
Dwellings in the Araku Valleysource
Nearly nineteen tribal communities inhabit the Araku Valley. The age-old tradition of hunting is taken up during the Itika Pongal period, setting aside other forms of livelihood, such as agriculture.The people of these tribal communities dress up in colorful clothes and come out to celebrate Itika Pongal, as they have been celebrating it since time immemorial. They perform their traditional dance forms, known as the 'Dhimsa' and the 'Mayur' dance. The dance is performed in groups, and only women take part in the celebration. The set of dance forms is a unique feature of the tribe of Araku Valley and is one of the oldest forms that have survived through time to remain in existence even today, much like the festival of Itika Pongal in which it is carried out.Itika Pongal is the perfect time to witness the indigenous tribes in their traditional attires, performing the traditional activity of hunting the nearby forest areas, and recreating with their traditional Dhimsa and Mayur dance forms.The Araku Tribal Museum is a major tourist attraction, where crafts and clothes of the tribal communities can be found. The Araku Tribal museum is not to be missed if one is visiting the Araku Valley. Same goes with the Itika Pongal festival if one is making a trip to the Araku Valley in April.
The Significance of the Itika Pongal Festival
A portrayal of the tribal dance of Araku Valleysource
The Itika Pongal festival of Araku Valley is a must experience celebration for the ones who love nature and has an interest in tradition and culture of the tribal communities. The annual celebration has kept the customs and rituals of age long tradition alive, making the festival and the community a much sought-after lot for the contemporary studies of the past. The hunting festival of Itika Pongal makes one realize, upon witnessing it, the long-lost ways of life that once existed and formed a basis for all communities of the world. The celebration serves as a scene of curiosity and a peek into the old customs and traditions on one hand, and prods the people and authority for their conservation on the other hand, as has manifested in the establishment of the Araku Tribal Museum. The Dhimsa and Mayur dance forms, among other indigenous art forms of different communities, have always remained a center of analysis for the lovers of dance among the contemporary lovers of dance.
How to Reach Araku Valley
The Araku Valley is situated at an approximate distance of 115 kilometers from Vizag and can be reached by both railways and roadways.The nearest railway station to the Araku Valley is the Araku Railway Station, which is very close to the valley, only at a meager distance of 2 kilometers.The nearest airport from the Araku Valley is the Visakhapatnam Airport, which is at an approximate distance of 115 kilometers from it.The Itika Pongal festival is the nearest a modern urban man can come to take a peek of the ancient ways of life and ancient art forms. The indigenous tribes dwell in places which largely remain undisturbed from urban life. Thus, if one is willing to witness a festivity of the ancient times, performed with ancient rituals and dance forms, then the Itika Pongal festival is the best occasion to curb his curiosity. Of course, there are other reasonable reasons as well that make one visit Araku Valley, the natural beauty of the valley and the hills being one of them.
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Kailasagiri
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.
Among the attractions available, the best ones include Titanic Viewpoint, Floral Spot, Gliding Point, Jungle Trails, Shanti Ashram, Shanku Chakra Nama and more. You can also reach here in a ropeway ride that is another major attraction. Besides, there is also a Toy Train available for the kids. You can also enjoy horse riding here other than admiring the bounteous natural beauty. Bollywood films have been shot at the Park for its scenic views and the beautiful location which is at a juxtaposition of the Bay of Bengal and Kailasagiri hills.
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