by Vijayawada is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It’s located on the bank of Krishna River, and it has a population of over 1 million. Vijayawada falls in what’s known as the “Tri-city”. It shares borders with Eluru and Guntur, which are also cities in Andhra Pradesh. The city is quite close to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka too.
Vijayawada was established by Madhavaramma Telugu King Pulakesi in the 6th century. Vijayawada reached its peak of prosperity during the 19th century when it was known as “The Manchester of the East”. The city is also called as “Famous City” or “Model City”. Vijayawada also has a very high literacy rate. The best places to visit in Vijayawada are some museums, temples, and parks.
Some Best Places To Visit in Vijayawada
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Kondapalli Fort
Kondapalli Fort was originally built by Kondaveedu, who was a local king. He ruled over this region for six generations. Kondaveedu’s son built the present fort in 14th century, and it’s now recognized as one of the biggest forts in India. The fort has high ramparts, which were constructed with granite stone. It has four huge gates on all sides and it was used to control the flow of goods into and out of the Vijayawada region.
Timings: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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Bhavani Island
Bhavani Island is an island that was built on the Krishna River. It’s located in a place called Pavitra Sangamam, which means “divine confluence”. The island is actually a man-made structure that was constructed during the time of British Rule. Bhavanisagar Dam was built in Bhavani Island, and it’s one of the biggest dams in India.
Timings: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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Koneru Lakshminarasimha Swamy Temple
Koneru Lakshminarasimha Temple is one of the most visited temples in Andhra Pradesh. It’s dedicated to Lord Lakshminarasimha, and it was built by Koneru Ganganna in the 17th century. This temple has a huge Nandi statue, which was constructed using black granite stone. The main idol was made using an alloy of gold, but then it was shifted to a safer place during the time of British Rule.
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Undavalli Caves
Undavalli Caves are a series of caves in Andhra Pradesh. The caves are believed to have been created about seven to 10 thousand years ago, and it’s located in the Tenali Mandalam area. There are around 11 cave pillars, which were carved using granite stone.
Timings: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
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Rajiv Gandhi Park
Rajiv Gandhi Park is a large park in Vijayawada. It’s named after former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated in 1991. The park provides an amazing view of the Krishna River and it’s also a popular picnic spot. There’s also a huge statue of Rajiv Gandhi in this park. The statue was sculpted by famous sculptor Kanaka Murthy, who is the father of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) scientist Nambi Narayanan.
Timings: 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM
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Mangalgiri Fort
Mangalgiri Fort is located over the Mangalgiri Hill in Vijayawada. It’s an old fort in the city and it was used to control the flow of goods from the river port. The fort was also used as a watchtower to guard against enemies. If you enter Mangalgiri Fort, then you’ll find an ancient temple that has been converted into a church for Christians. There’s also a temple inside this fort that’s dedicated to Goddess Kali.
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ISKCON Temple
The ISKCON Temple was inaugurated by famous spiritual leader Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1973. The temple is a beautiful structure that has a huge lecture hall and a cave-like place for spiritual activities. There’s also a huge idol of Lord Krishna in front of this temple, which can be seen from almost all parts of the city.
They have free food distribution on every Sunday, which attracts many visitors.
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Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry is the eighth-largest city in Andhra Pradesh. It’s a port city, and it has a population of over one million people. Many business groups are located in this town, and it has the fastest growing economy in the state. The famous Rajahmundry Beach is located on the Coringa River, and it attracts a large number of tourists every year. Some best places to visit in Rajahmundry are beaches, temples, parks and horticulture gardens etc.
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Haail Land
This place was named after Hyder Ali, the last ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. The city was established by his son Tipu Sultan in the late 18th century. The best places to visit here are Haail Land, Tipu Sultan Park and many temples like Siddheshwara Temple and Chintalapuri Maha Siva Temple.
Timings: Open 24 hours
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Hazrat Bal Mosque
The Hazrat Bal Mosque was built in 1451. It’s a beautiful mosque that was built using white marble stone. The mosque has four large domes on the roof, which are made from black granite stone. The interior of this mosque has been decorated using golden and silver tiles, which creates an amazing look.
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Kolleru Lake
Kolleru Lake is known as one of the biggest lakes in the region. It’s situated on the border of West Godavari District and Krishna District. The lake has an area of about 10 square miles, and it’s famous for its scenic beauty. The lake has been a part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, and it’s also recognized as a carbon-friendly lake.
Things To Do In Vijayawada
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Boat Riding At Bhavani Island
Boat riding at Bhavani is a wonderful experience. This place was originally built from the Krishna River, and it’s beautifully carved from the mountain. The best time to visit this place is during monsoon season because then you can enjoy a calm and tranquil atmosphere on the lake. The best time to visit Bhavani is between the months of May–October.
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Shop At Besant Road
Besant Road is the main shopping place in Vijayawada. It’s a major commercial street in the city, which runs for about 3 kilometers. This area is filled with shops, restaurants and other places of entertainment.
The place has many famous restaurants and hotels, which are very famous in the city. If you want to try the best dishes and cuisines from across the nation then you must visit Besant Road.
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Delve Into History At Bapu Museum
The Bapu Museum is a wonderful place to visit in Vijayawada. The museum was built in the memory of famous freedom fighter Ayuthaya Bapu. It’s located on the banks of the Krishna River, and it gives you an amazing view of the beautiful water bodies. The museum has many paintings, sculptures, artifacts and other things that tell us about the historic past of Andhra Pradesh.
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Learn The Mystery Of Mogalarajapuram Caves
Mogalarajapuram Caves are a group of natural caves, which were carved from sandstone. The best time to visit here is during the monsoon season because this place attracts a lot of rainfall.
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Marvel At Prakasam Barrage
Prakasam Barrage, also known as the Guntur-Bapatla Barrage, is a marvelous structure that was built for irrigation purposes. It’s the largest barrage in the nation, and it diverts the water from River Krishna into River Penner.
There’s also a huge park and zoo near this barrage, which attracts a large number of visitors every year. You can visit this place during any time of the year because it will always attract you with its mesmerizing beauty.
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Enjoy The City View From Gandhi Hill Top
Gandhi Hill Top is a wonderful place to visit in Vijayawada. This place is famous for its scenic beauty, and it has an amazing view of the nearby places and the Krishna River. This hill top has been named after Mahatma Gandhi, who was shot dead in 1948. The Gandhi hill top has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
In Conclusion
Vijayawada is one of the best cities in Andhra Pradesh, and most people prefer to live here because of the intense industrial development, cheap accommodation and its amazing historical past. The city has an amazing mix of modern and old-world cultures.
This place has everything you need for your tour, so you must visit this place once in a lifetime.
