This  east coastal city is the commercial industrial heart of Andhra Pardesh's isolated north-east corner  the fastest developing cities in Asia, and is home to India's largest shipbuilding yard. Originally it was two separate towns- the northern and more urbane Waltair and the southern port town of Visakhapatnam also known as "Vizag".  From a small fishing village,  it has burgeoned into a bustling port and also an important industrial and commercial city. The hilly seaside area of Waltair is edged by long beaches affording views across the Bay of Bengal and the busy Kolkotta-Chennai shipping lane. it is also known for country's largest ship building yard. At Simhachalam Hill, 10km north of the town, there's an 11th century Vishnu temple in fine Orissan style. The best beach is Rishikonda, also about 10km north. It is over 600 kms from Hyderabad. The most conspicuous landmark at Visakhapatnam is the Dolphin's nose. Visakhapatnam was named after the God of Valour, Visakha. Once a small fishing village, it formed part of the Kalinga empire, under Ashoka in 260 BC., passing successively from the Andhra kings to Vengi to the Pallavas, Cholas and Gangas. In the 15^th century, Visakhapatnam became part of the Vijayanagar empire.
 

Facts of the Vishakhapatnam