Best Tourist Places in Vizag That You Can See in 2 Days

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Vizag or Visakhapatnam is called the “Jewel of the East Coast”. Apart from being the largest city in Andhra Pradesh and a prominent industrial hub, it is also a popular tourist destination in India. There are many tourist places around Vizag to see and spend a memorable family trip in this smart city.

I fell in love with Visakhapatnam right when I approached the city after flying over the Bay of Bengal for an hour. A long shoreline interrupted by Eastern Ghat Hills with many boats and ships anchored to the port looks mesmerizing from the sky. The spectacular Shiv-Parvati statue could be seen from our flight, standing tall at the top of Kailasgiri Hill like an iconic structure of Vizag city.

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About Vizag / Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam is a bustling city overlooking the Bay of Bengal. Vizag is the short form of Vizagapatnam as pronounced by the British due to their inability to say Visakhapatnam correctly.

There are quite a few theories on how the city was named Visakhapatnam.

According to one school of thought, Visakhapatnam came from the God of Valor Vaisakha, who was worshipped in a shore temple nearby, which is presently believed to be submerged under the sea.

Another school of thought says that it was named after the Buddhist princess Visakha (5th to 6th Century BC). The nearby areas of Vizag were an essential centre for learning Buddhism. The remains of Thotlakonda, Bavikonda and Bojjanakonda carrying evidence of that.

The Chinese traveller, Hiuen Tsang, visited Andhra during 639-40 AD. In his travelogue, he mentioned the name of ‘Visakha kingdom’, where Hinayana Buddhism was prevalent.

An aerial view of Vizag port from Dolphin's nose lighthouse.
View of Vizag port from Dolphin’s Nose Lighthouse

Visakhapatnam witnessed the reigns of many dynasties – Kalinga Kingdom, followed by Pallavas, Gangas, Cholas, and Mughals in the 16th century. It became a Dutch Colony, followed by a French Colony till the control passed to British Raj in 1804, who ruled Vizag until Independence.

Vizag is also the home of the oldest shipyard in the country and the only natural harbour on India’s east coast. The city is also the headquarter of the eastern command of the Indian Navy.

Vizag is a prominent tourist spot in India. It has beautiful beaches, hills, wildlife sanctuaries, caves, old temples, ruins of ancient Buddhist settlements, unique museums and a large fishing harbour.

List of Tourist Places to see in Vizag

There are many places in and around Vizag that you can see on your trip to this port city. It is not feasible to cover them all in just two days. I have made a list of tourist places in Visakhapatnam that you should not miss on your first visit. You can make a tour of these places in 2 days if you follow the itinerary I made below.

  • Bheemilipatnam Beach
  • Thotlakonda Ruins
  • Rushikonda Beach
  • Indira Gandhi Zoological Park
  • Kailasgiri Hill Park
  • Ramakrishna Beach
  • Matsya Darshini Aquarium
  • Simhachalam Temple
  • Aircraft Museum
  • Submarine museum
  • Dolphin’s Nose Lighthouse
  • Yarada Beach
An image of locals enjoying waves in Bheemili beach in Vizag.
Fun at the beach

Day-wise Itinerary of Places to see in Vizag

Day 1

Bheemilipatnam beach – Thotlakonda ruins – Rushikonda beach – Indira Gandhi Zoological park – Kailasgiri Hill – Ramakrishna beach – Matsya Darshini Aquarium

You can visit Mangamaripeta beach on your way to Bhemili beach. Also, you can add VUDA Park and/or Visakha museum while visiting RK beach. But in that case, you must drop one or two places from the above itinerary.

Day 2

Simhachalam Temple – Aircraft museum – Submarine museum – Dolphin Nose Lighthouse – Yarada beach

If time permits, you can add Fishing harbour and Gangavaram beach to your Day-2 itinerary.

A trip to Araku Valley from Vizag needs a full day, so I have kept it out of my two days itinerary.

Transport Options for Vizag City Tour

The easiest way to make your Vizag sightseeing tour is to hire a cab from one of the car rental services for both days. You can also take Uber rentals as per your need or book Uber cabs to move from one place to another.

Autorickshaws are also available everywhere in the city, and you can ride one to move around. If you want to book an autorickshaw for a specified time, clearly communicate with the driver beforehand. Tell him about the tourist spots you will visit and how much time you will take. Always bargain on the price they demand.

An image taken from inside of an auto-rickshaw in Vizag town. You can easily get an auto-rickshaw anywhere in Vizag city and move between all tourist places you want to see in Vizag.
Travelling in an autorickshaw in Vizag city

If you are a budget traveller, you can also take city buses run by APSRTC. The city bus network connects all the tourist places. However, buses to Bheemili or Yarada are fewer in number. So it will be better to take note of the bus timings and bus intervals before going to these places.

APTDC conducted Vizag city tour

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) conducts full-day Vizag city tour in AC and non-AC buses. You can also book this tour from their website.

Details about the places you must visit in your two days Vizag tour

Day 1

Bheemilipatnam beach

Bheemilipatnam is 30 km away from Vizag town. It has a beautiful beach near the confluence of the Gosthani river. Bheemili, as said by locals, was a prominent Dutch and British colony in the past. A lighthouse built by the British and a Christian cemetery built during Dutch settlement are proof of its rich history when Bheemili was used as a port town.

An image of Bheemili beach in Vizag
Bheemili beach

Historical evidence of the ancient Buddhist Culture have been noticed at Bheemunipatnam, dating back to the 3rd century BCE on a nearby hillock called Pavurallakonda. Also, a Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Narasimha on the eastern side of Pavurallakonda, facing the sea. As per historical evidence, the temple was constructed around the 14th century.

Thotlakonda ruins

Thotlakonda Buddhist Complex was first seen when the Indian Navy conducted an aerial survey to establish a Vizag base. After that, a major excavation was done by Andhra Pradesh State Archeology Department, revealing a sizeable Buddhist Complex that flourished almost 2000 years ago.

Leads from the complex connected with the Satvahana Dynasty and Roman Empire. The remains of the monastery indicate that it was an advanced centre of learning Buddhism. The monastery’s strategic location on a hill and near the shoreline helped the centre flourish from the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD.

An image of the ancient Buddhist stupa in Thotlakonda.
Ancient Buddhist Stupa in Thotlakonda

The Bavikonda Buddhist Complex ruins are also nearby. As the name suggests (Bavikonda means hill of wells in Telegu), it has a large tank built to collect rainwater. The discovery of an urn during the excavation, which held a piece of bone and ash inside, is believed to be the remains of Gautam Buddha which make Bavikonda one of the most sacred places in Asia for Buddhists.

Entry time: 9am – 5 pm (All Days)

Entry fee: ₹5 per head

Rushikonda Beach

Rushikonda sea beach is a crescent-shaped shoreline with a golden sand beach. Being situated 12 km from Vizag town, it is trendy among tourists for its tidy waves and water sports activities.

The APTDC resort in the hill beside Rushikonda beach is perfect for tourists who want to spend some quality time away from the main town.

An image of Rushikonda beach in Vizag.
Rushikonda beach, Vizag

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is the 3rd largest zoo in India. Located amidst Kombalakanda Wildlife Sanctuary, this zoo is one of the must-visit places to see in Vizag.

This park has been divided into separate sections for carnivores, primates, ungulates, mammals, and birds. This division makes it easier for visitors to visit each section according to their preferences.

The area of the park is more than two sq km. There are battery-operated cars to travel inside the park, or you can also take your vehicle inside by paying the entry fee. It will take 3-4 hours to cover everything if you want to explore on foot.

Image of Elephant Stable inside Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Vizag.
Inside Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Vizag

Entry time: 9 am – 5 pm (Tuesday – Sunday, Monday closed)

Entry fee:

  • Adult – ₹50
  • Children ( 3 – 12 years) – ₹10
  • Still Camera – ₹30
  • Video Camera – ₹150
  • Car (with 5 Occupants) – ₹500
  • Battery Car (Adult) – ₹50
  • Battery Car (Child) – ₹30

Kailasgiri Hill Park

A trip to Vizag will be incomplete without a visit to Kailasgiri. Kailasgiri hilltop park is approx 5 km from Vizag Town. The skyline view of Vizag town looks spectacular from the hilltop. A toy train ride gives the opportunity to quickly travel across the park while enjoying a 360° view of the city and the sea from above.

You can also avail cablecar to reach the hilltop from the beach road. This park’s major attraction is the 40 ft tall Shiva-Parvati statue, for which this place is called Kailasgiri (which means Kailas Hill – the abode of Shiva according to Hindu mythology).

The aerial view of Vizag city and Bay of Bengal from Kailasgiri Hill is amazing.
View from Kailasgiri Hill

Inside the park, there are several entertainment options for kids. You can also have food from one of the park’s many eateries while enjoying the above breathtaking view.

Along with this, there are several other attractions in and around Kailasagiri park, like the Floral clock, Titanic viewpoint, Jungle trails, Shanthi Ashram, and Shanku Chakra Nama.

Entry time: 10 am – 8 pm (All Days)

Entry fee:

  • Ropeway (round trip) – ₹80 for adult,45 for children (4-7 years)
  • 100 for Toy train

Ramakrishna Beach

Vizag is full of seabeaches, and Ramakrishna Beach is the most popular among the locals. Being inside the main town, this seabeach seems always crowded.

The view of the sunset is mesmerizing from Ramakrishna beach, and locals gather here to witness it after a day’s work. The roadside stalls along the beach road and the fun rides on the beach make it the most happening place in the evening.

Image of crowded Ramakrishna beach in Vizag.
Funtime in Ramakrishna Beach

Whereas, in the morning, you can see locals busy stretching in beachside open gym or jogging on the beach road. The road stretch between Kali Temple to the YSR statue beside Ramakrishna Beach becomes a no-vehicle zone from 5 am – 7 am.

Matsya Darshini Aquarium

Matsya Darsini Aquarium is located beside Ramakrishna Beach. This aquarium contains about twenty varied-sized tanks home to many aquatic animals and marine life.

Some marine animals are brought here from Malaysia and Singapore. You can see butterflyfish, longhorn cowfish, red squirrelfish, clownfish, electric ray, starfishes and sea anemones.

This aquarium has an in-house souvenir shop where you can buy key chains, badges, coasters and seashell jewellery.

An image taken inside Matsya Darshini auarium in Vizag.
Matsya Darshini auarium, Vizag

Entry time: 9 am – 9 pm (All Days)

Entry fee:

  • Adult – ₹30
  • Children – ₹20
  • Still Camera – ₹20
  • Video Camera – ₹50

Simhachalam Temple

Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple in Simhachalam is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Narsimha (an Avatar of Lord Vishnu). As per Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu manifested in this form to save his devotee Prahlad’s life from Hirnyakashipu.

Simhachalam temple is situated on a hill approx 300 metres above sea level. The temple looks like a fortress from the outside, with three courtyards and 5 gateways. The inscriptions over the temple wall date back as early as the 11th century.

The idol of Varaha Narasimha is covered with sandalwood paste except during the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya when it is uncovered in its original form, and devotees are allowed to visit the deity after the priests offer a grand puja.

An image of Simhachalam Temple in Vizag
Simhachalam Temple, Vizag

Entry time: 7 am – 4 pm / 6 pm – 9 pm (All Days)

Entry fee: ₹100 for Special Darshan

Aircraft Museum

TU 142 Aircraft Museum is a unique museum founded in 2017. The TU 142 Aircraft served 29 years in the Indian Navy after its first flight in 1968. It was converted into a museum once decommissioned in Visakhapatnam Beach in 2017.

This museum gives a rare opportunity to enter inside a navy aircraft. Before entering the aircraft, you can see a display of various types of equipment and parts of aircraft placed in an exhibition hall. Pieces of equipment like sonobuoys, propellers, engines, survival kits, anti-submarine missiles, date recorders etc., are displayed with all details.

An image of a miniature model showing the ways of naval operations, placed inside Exhibition Hall of Aircraft Museum in Vizag.
Inside the Exhibition Hall of Aircraft Museum, Vizag

Entry time: 2 pm – 8:30 pm (Monday – Friday) 10 am – 8:30 pm (Sat/Sun)

Entry fee:

  • Adult – ₹70
  • Children – ₹40

Submarine museum

The INS Kurusura submarine museum at RK beach is a pride of Vizag. It is the first submarine turned into a museum in Asia and the second in the world. INS Kurusura served Indian Navy for 30 years since 1970 and was converted into a museum in 2001.

Various parts of the submarine – the radar room, sonar room, control room, and the weapons used during the war are on display in this museum.

The museum depicts the milestones of the evolution of submarines through artefacts, photographs and written scripts. It also showcases the life inside a submarine and the hardships faced by the submariners in the sea.

You can enjoy a tour inside INS Kurusura when your guide explains the history and the ways of functioning of the submarine in great detail.

Image of INS Kurusura submarine from outside. This decommissioned submarine is now converted into a museum which is must-visit tourist place to see in Vizag.
INS Kurusura, Vizag

Entry time: 2 pm – 9 pm (All days except Monday)

Entry fee:

  • Adult – ₹40
  • Children (Below 12 years) – ₹20
  • Still Camera – ₹50
  • Video Camera – ₹200

Dolphin’s Nose Lighthouse

There is no better place for an unparallel view of Vizag port and seashore than Dolphin’s Nose Lighthouse. This lighthouse is on a hill known as Dolphin’s Nose because of the way it looks from far away.

It was built in the nineteenth century. Now it is surrounded by a beautiful park where you can relax sometimes. This place gets crowded at the weekend, and you may have to stand in queue for hours before you can climb to the top.

Image of my son posing in front of Dolphin's Nose lighthouse in Vizag.
Dolphin’s Nose Lighthouse, Vizag

Besides being an army base, this place is also popular as a picnic spot among locals. Some other attractions nearby this hill are Ross Hill church, the temple in Venkateswara Hill and the Ishak Medina Tomb.

Entry time: 3 pm – 5 pm (All Days)

Entry fee: Adult – ₹10

Yarada Beach

Yarada beach is the most beautiful sea beach among all the beaches in Vizag. Located south of Dolphin Hill, this beach is most serene and comparatively less crowded.

Swimming is not allowed on this beach due to the high current and steep slope. The lush green surroundings with the golden sand beachfront in between two adjacent hills combined with crystal clear water and deep blue sea make Yarada beach a perfect place to relax under the winter sun. And Do not forget to experience the magical sunset at Yarada beach.

Image of beautiful Yarada beach. An absolute paradise for all beach lovers. A place that you must see in your trip to Vizag.
Yarada beach, Vizag

Few More Places to See in and around Vizag

As I already said, there are many other places to see in Vizag, but it is not possible to explore them all in 2 days. I am mentioning a few more tourist spots below, which are equally worth visiting during your Vizag tour, but you have to stay extra days or drop some other spots from your itinerary to accommodate these place in 2 days.

VUDA Park

Sprawling over a large area near Ramakrishna Beach, this park built by Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority is a favourite place for Vizag city dwellers. It has beautifully manicured gardens inside with a musical fountain, boating club, yoga centre, children’s play zones, roller skating rink and MGM Dizzee Theme World to attract tourists.

Entry time: 9 am – 8:30 pm (All Days)

Entry fee:

  • Adults/Children – ₹20 (9 am to 2 pm)
  • Adults/Children – ₹60 (2 pm to 8:30 pm), including a ticket for Musical Fountain Show

Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary

Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary is a perfect place for nature lovers and bird watchers. Once, it was under the control of the Maharaja of Vizianagaram, and now is under the supervision of the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department.

The entry to the forest is near the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, which comes in the sanctuary territory itself. The main attraction of this sanctuary is Indian leopards.

Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary needs a complete day to visit if you want to experience both day and night safaris there. You can also stay in a log hut inside the sanctuary.

Entry time: 9 am – 4:30 pm (All Days)

Entry fee:

  • Adult – ₹10
  • Children – ₹5
  • Vehicles entry into the Sanctuary – ₹200 (includes the entry fee for 5 members)
  • Trekking – ₹15 per person

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Visakha Museum

If you are interested in the history of Vizag city, which dates back to 260 BC, you should visit Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Museum, popularly known as the Visakha Museum, for all the historical treasures and artefacts it possesses. It is situated near AppuGhar in a building that was once a ruined Dutch bungalow.

Entry time:

Entry fee: 11 am – 7 pm (Mon – Thur), 12 pm – 8 pm (Sat/ Sun), Friday closed

  • Adult – ₹10
  • Children ( 5 – 12 years) – ₹5

Gangavaram Beach

Gangavaram Beach is an unexplored beach for tourists and is more visited by locals. Near Gangavaram village and Vizag steel plant, this place has a perfect secluded atmosphere to relax and rejuvenate under shady palm trees.

Mangamaripeta beach

Mangamaripeta Beach is another offbeat place in Vizag, famous for its rock arch among locals. Geologists say that these rocks are part of the Eastern Ghats, which are eroded by marine activity over a span of many thousand years.

Fishing Harbour

Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour is one of the largest in India. The fishing trawlers start unloading fishes from 5 am, and this place gets very crowded by 6 in the morning. If you can adjust to the intense fishy smell, then you should visit there once. You can also buy fishes from the adjacent fish market.

Image of the busy fishing harbour in Vizag.
Fishing Harbour, Vizag

Trip to Araku Valley

Araku Valley is an enchanting place with undulating hills, beautiful streams, lonely waterfalls, sprawling coffee plantations, rich landscape and romantic weather. It is 120 km from Vizag town. Located at an altitude above 900 metres from sea level, Araku Valley is a must-visit place if you are going to Visakhapatnam.

The journey through the Eastern Ghats is an experience itself. During your train ride from Vizag to Araku, you will pass through many tunnels, bridges and streams. This is one of the most beautiful train journeys in India.

Read More: My Day Trip to the Beautiful Araku Valley from Vizag

But if you can not manage booking in Visakhapatnam-Kirandul Passenger, don’t be disappointed. The road journey along the sharp bends and curves in wet Eastern Ghat roads with amazing landscapes is nothing less spectacular.

Image of Araku Valley which is approximately 120 km away from Vizag city.
Araku Valley

Now, if you plan for a day trip to Araku Valley, then another full day has to be added to your itinerary. You can visit places like Borra Cave, Katiki Falls, Araku Tribal Museum, Padmapuram Garden, Ananthagiri Coffee Plantations, Gandikota View Point during your Araku Valley tour.

How to reach Vizag

Being the most populated city in Andhra, Pradesh Vizag is well connected with other cities in India by road, rail and air.

Road

Visakhapatnam is well connected with Chennai, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata by road. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) runs buses to Vizag from almost every other city and town in the state. The reservations can be made online.

There is also a Volvo bus service to Vizag from Chennai, Bangalore, Vijayawada and Hyderabad, which is very comfortable.

Distance of cities from Vizag

  • Vijaywada – 340 km
  • Bhubaneswar – 440 km
  • Hyderabad – 610km
  • Chennai – 790 km

Rail

Vizag is very well connected with the rest of India by rail network. Visakhapatnam Railway Station (VSKP) comes under South Coast Railway Zone and a major stop in Howrah-Chennai mainline.

Air

Vizag (VTZ) is connected by direct flights from Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Tirupati, Pune and Bhubaneshwar. It is also connected with Colombo, Dubai, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur by direct international flights.

Image of a lonely sailing boat over Bay of Bengal in Vizag.
Lonely Boat, Vizag

When to make your Vizag Trip

The best time to travel Vizag is between October to March when the sky is clear, and the temperature is pleasing. Summer can be sweltering and humid in Vizag. In monsoon, Visakhapatnam receives heavy rainfall with occasional cyclonic storms.

Where to stay during your Vizag Trip

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) runs hotels and resorts in almost all major tourist places in the state. In Vizag, they have Haritha Hotel in Beach Road near Appughar and Haritha Beach Resort beside Rushikonda beach.

Apart from APTDC hotels, there are several budget and premium hotels on Ramakrishna Beach road or near Jagadamba junction. You can book your accommodation online or on the spot as per your budget.

I stayed in Nirala Saikate, a Bengali guest house right opposite Ramakrishna beach. It’s a budget accommodation with a beautiful view of the sea from the balconies. This guesthouse is more popular among Bengali tourists for home-like foods.


Have you been to Vizag? How was your trip? Do you want to add anything more to my “places to see in Vizag” list? Tell me about your tour itinerary……….!!


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Book your trip: Resources

  1. Flight

    Use Skyscanner or Google Flights to book your flight.

  2. Accommodation

    Booking.com and Agoda are perfect to book your hotel. If you want to stay in a hostel, then Hostelworld would be of great help in finding one at your convenience.

  3. Travel Insurance

    World Nomads is perfect for travel insurance. You can get comprehensive protection with them. Let them take care of unexpected situations while you concentrate on your trip.

  4. Package Tour

    You can book a package tour from Intrepid Travel. They are a reputed company in arranging small group tours and customise it as per your requirements. You can also use Klook to book your private transport, city tours, heritage walks, food walks and other experiences like a cooking lesson or a Yoga session.



This Post Has 4 Comments

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