Amazing facts about the city for those who ask ‘where is Visakhapatnam?’

Where is Visakhapatnam? This seems to be the popular question asked by people hailing from other states. Many people from the northern part of the country are still under the impression that South India comes under Madras, and all of us are Madrasis. It takes a great deal to explain how Vizag is not in Madras, and it is a fast growing city in Andhra Pradesh, which is another Indian state and does not come under Madras.

Visakhapatnam is a port city, situated on the coast of Bay of Bengal, in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The city is located on the northeastern part of Andhra Pradesh, close to the border of Odisha. Visakhapatnam is home to a population of over 20 lacs. It is one of the fastest growing Indian cities, not just in terms of population, but also with respect to the various facilities such as educational institutions and the industries located here. The city is well connected to various parts of the country due to wide availability of road transport services and railways. Visakhapatnam Railway Station, which is a part of the East Coast Railway (ECoR) Division, is the proposed headquarters of the new South Coast Railway Zone (SCoR). The city is also home to the Visakhapatnam International Airport. Post the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the city has been the hub for industrial development in the newly formed state.

Vizag is known as the Jewel of East Coast, hidden within the folds of verdant hills and blue sea. So for those who still wonder where is Visakhapatnam, here are some interesting facts about the City of Destiny to give them a better idea.

Only natural harbour on the east coast of India:

Visakhapatnam has the only natural harbour on the entire eastern coast of India. This accounts for one of the four natural harbours in the country. Visakhapatnam Port was established in 1933 due to this very fact. It is the fifth busiest cargo port in India. The city is also home to Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), the oldest shipyard in India.

Second largest coastal city in India:

Spread across 682 sq.kms, Visakhapatnam is the second largest coastal city, after Porbandar in Gujarat. There are a number of beaches that dot the city’s coastline.

Headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC):

The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) was established on 1 March, 1968, in Visakhapatnam. The four Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal come under the responsibility of the ENC. It is also a strategically important dockyard for two nuclear powered submarines. The command is responsible for all the naval forces in the Bay of Bengal and parts of the Indian Ocean.

One of the four smart cities in Andhra Pradesh:

Visakhapatnam has been nominated as one of the four smart cities in the state for the National Smart Cities Mission. This is an urban renewal program, by the Government of India, to develop smart cities across the country.

Major tourist attraction in the state:

Visakhapatnam is a well known tourist attraction across the state. One can say that the beach is the soul of Vizag. The people of Visakhapatnam can boast about the number of hill stations, Buddhist spots, waterfalls, and the famous beaches around the city. It is famous for Araku Valley, Bheemili Beach, Thotlakomda Buddhist site, and many other tourist attractions.

Home to some reputed Central and State educational institutions:

Apart from being a tourist spot, the city is also home to some of the most reputed educational institutions. The Andhra University in Visakhapatnam is one of the most reputed universities in the country with alumni such as M. Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Vice President of India, N.S. Raghavan, co-founder of Infosys, and many other prominent personalities. Some of the other reputed institutions are the Indian Institute of Management, Visakhapatnam (IIM-V), Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), and Indian Maritime University (IMU).

One of a kind defence controlled airport:

The Visakhapatnam International Airport is majorly controlled by the Indian Navy, which is jointly used for both defence and civil aviation. An interesting fact is that the air traffic of civil aviation is under the supervision of the Indian Navy.