Vijayawada
The moment you mention Vijaywada to locals, they will talk about beautiful springs, mouthwatering sweets and juicy mangoes. Also, known as Bezawada, this city is located on the banks of Krishna River and overlooks the Bay of Bengal. The Indrakeeladri Hill forms a spectacular backdrop to the city on the west.
The name of the city translates to 'place of victory' and it holds and important position in South India because it is home to the region's largest railway junction. The city name has mythological connections, as it is claimed that Arjuna was blessed by Lord Shiva at the top of the Indrakeeladri Hill and after that Arjuna created Vijayawada. According to another myth, Goddess Durga rested here after killed a demon and that is why the place got its name. Nonetheless, Vijayawada is a veritable paradise for people to learn more about the region's history and culture. The city is renowned for some beautiful temples, Buddhist shrines and of course, the famous Prakasam Barrage.
Accommodation
Berm Park
Discover the wonders of Vijayawada and its neighbouring areas when you stay at Berm Park. The hotel boasts of beautifully decorated suites, deluxe rooms and standard rooms. The location of the hotel is beautiful with hills enveloping it.
Kanaka Durga Temple
Kanaka Durga Temple
The temple of Kanaka Durga is located in Vijayawada and leaves visitors spellbound. The beautiful and picturesque temple lies on top of Indrrakiladri Hills and enshrines Goddess Kanaka Durga. The hill offers some amazing vistas of the city. There are two routes to the temple. One can take the stairs leading to the temple which can be difficult and arduous. The one route is driving up the Ghat road. Along both routes there are ancient inscriptions that reveal the stories from the ancient times. Local legend claims that Arjuna, the mighty warrior from the Mahabharatha, received his divine weapon, the Pasupatha, at this site and after getting the weapon, he constructed the temple to honor Goddess Durga.
Amaravati
Amaravati is a small town located on the banks of Krishna River. It is about 33 kilometres from Vijayawada and has historical importance. It used to be the site of an ancient Buddhist settlement, which was known as Chintapalli. The stupa at this site was said to be bigger than the one at Sachi. This stupa was built in the 3rd century BC during the reign of King Ashoka. It had gateway at each cardinal point. While these structures are no longer there, one of the gateways was meticulously reconstructed. The carvings on the gateway highlight the life of Buddha. There is a small museum that has collections right from the 3rd century to the 12th century AD and one of the images of Buddha has lotus symbols on the feet with long ear lobes and tight curls. The museum is fascinating.
Bhavani Island
Spread over an area of 133 acres, Bhavani Island is a river island that offers a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. It is a place to rest, relax and enjoy oneself with its mangroves, well-manicured gardens, pristine woodlands, rolling meadows and shimmering water bodies. Bhavani Island is a popular picnic spot, where children can run around carefree while adults can enjoy the energising and refreshing ambience. Situated in Krishna River, the island is quite close to Prakasam Barrage. There are great boating facilities, which allow visitors to explore the river. The swimming pools on the island are well-maintained and clean. Visitors, who do not want to spend time in the pools, can opt for other watersports or try their hand at fishing and angling.
Accommodation
Haritha Resort, Bhavani Island
Enjoy boat tours and lush natural beauty when you stay at the Haritha Resort at Bhavani Island. Guests will enjoy the unique wooden architecture of the treetop cottages that are elevated on stilts. There also are regular air-conditioned suites that will win guests over with their décor and outstanding service.
Prakasam Barrage
The Prakasam Barrage is built across the Krishna River and is imposing in appearance. It stretches 1,223.5 metres across the river, over a lake and is the largest barrage in Asia. The barrage also serves as a road-bridge. The barrage was built in 1855 and was enhanced in 1957.The three canals that run into the barrage traverse Vijayawada to give the city a Venetian look. The barrage makes a wonderful place to walk leisurely and enjoy the shimmering lake and balmy breeze. Prakasam Barrage is responsible for transforming Krishna Delta into a fertile area and is major grain producing-region of the state.
Undavalli Caves
The Undavalli Caves date back to the 7th century BC and are prime example of rock-cut architecture. The caves are about 8 kilometres from Vijayawada and offer a unique perspective into ancient religious practices. The caves are carved out of sandstone on the side of a hill. While there are many caves, the largest is the one that is most popular for its huge monolith of Lord Vishnu in the reclining posture. This monolith is made from a single granite block and is located on the second storey of the temple, which has a total of four stories. It is believed that the caves were originally used by Jain monks because of its Udayagiri and Khandgiri architectural styles. The main cave is a prime example of Gupta architecture style, which concentrated on primitive rock-cut monastery cells.
Kuchipudi
The ancient hamlet of Kuchipudi is renowned as being the birthplace of one of the most popular dance forms of South India, the Kuchipudi dance. This beautiful and serene village is about 60 kilometres from Vijayawada and is home to the Kuchipudi dance school. According to the locals, Siddhendra Yogi, the founder of Kuchipudi dance, used to live in this village. He is responsible for establishing a base for the dance form and over the years, Kuchipudi not only flourished in India, but also around the world. Visiting this hamlet, visitors can marvel at the site where this extremely expressive dance form originated. The experience of visiting the site of the dance school can be very enriching.
Vijayawada
St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Church, Gunadala, also known as The Mother of Good Health, Mary Matha's Shrine and Gundala Matha Shrine is built on a hillock. Located in Krishna District, close to Vijayawada, this church houses a museum, which has many valuable gifts as well as ancient relics. Most of the gifts housed in the church were presented by devotees. It is said that Father Arlati Pime, who was the rector of St. Joseph Orphanage, made a pathway leading to the hillock and place small statue of Our Lady in 1925. This paved way for the local devotees to visit the statue and laid the foundation for the shrine. On February 11, every year, the church hosts an annual feast to commemorate the appearance of Mother Mary at Lourdes. People from all faiths participate in this festival, which attracts more than 50,000 devotees each year.
Rajiv Gandhi Park
Although a fairly recent park, the Rajiv Gandhi Park in Vijayawada is a major attraction. Located at the entrance of the city, the Park is renowned amongst the locals for its beautifully landscaped lawns and lush greenery. The park has many walking trails, a mini zoo and replicas of pre-historic animals and dinosaurs. The fertile soil of the Park was specially brought in from the banks of Krishna River and it is claimed that because of this the greenery in the Park is flourishing. Many locals are attracted to the Park for its musical fountains, which operate from 7.30 pm until 8.15 pm from Tuesdays through Sundays. The Park stays closed on Mondays. The vibrant flowers, skating ring, aquarium, mini train, target practice area, playpen for kids and a rock fall are other attractions of the zoo.
Victoria Museum
This beautiful archaeological museum was established in 1887 in Vijayawada. It houses many artefacts and archaeological treasures that are extremely well preserved. The main attractions of the Museum are Mahishasura Mardhini (Goddess Durga) and Buddha images. In addition, the Museum has exhibits of pre-historic tools, stone and copper plates, gold and silver coins, weaponry, textiles and pottery. The Museum is home to a huge granite image and a white limestone image of Lord Buddha. The latter shows Lord Buddha in a standing position and was excavated in Alluru. In addition, there are some magnificent sculptures dating back to the 4th and 5th centuries of Lord Shiva that are worth checking out. The Museum is open from Saturdays through Thursdays, from 10.30 am until 5 pm. Entry into the Museum is free.
Gandhi Hill
As the name suggests, this hill is a homage to Mahatma Gandhi, who is the Father of the Nation. The memorial was inaugurated on October 1968 by the then president of India, Dr. Zakir Hussain. Located in Vijayawada, Gandhi Hill is home to seven stupas. One of the stupas, known as High Gandhi Stupa, stands at a height of 500 feet and has inscriptions of Mahatma Gandhi's teachings, just like all the other stupas on the hill. In addition, visitors can visit the Gandhi Memorial Library and planetarium. There is even a sound and light show that is held at the hillock. Gandhi Hill offers an amazing and breathtaking view of Vijayawada, especially in the evenings.
Mogalarajapuram Caves
The Mogalrajapuram Caves are renowned for three temples, which are said to be constructed in the 5th century. One of the temples in the cave has an amazing carving of Ardhanariswara and is supposed to be one-of-its-kind in Southern India. The temples have beautifully carved images of Lord Vinayaka and Lord Shiva in the Nataraja appearance. The caves are located about 5 kilometres from Vijayawada and although in ruins, the Mogalrajapuram Caves offer a unique opportunity to take in the beautiful treasure trove of carvings and sculptures.
Hazratbal Mosque
The beautiful white Hazrat Bal Mosque is located in the heart of Vijayawada city. This mosque holds a special place in the lives of Muslims, as it houses a holy relic of Prophet Mohammed, the founder of Islam. As the Muslims consider the Prophet to be the last messenger of God, this mosque is considered extremely sacred and holy by Muslims. The relic is displayed once and year and attracts people of all faiths. Thousands of believers throng to the Mosque to get a glimpse of the holy relic, as believers consider this day to be auspicious for praying and paying respect. The fact that Muslims and non-Muslims pray side by side on this day is a true indication of the communal harmony that exists in the city of Vijayawada.
Kondapalli Fort
This fort was constructed in the 14th century and has served many dynasties ruling the region. It is located in Kondapalli village, which is about 16 kilometres from Vijayawada. The fort was used as trading centre and during the colonial rule, it served as a base for military training. The area around the fort is a relaxing picnic spot.The fort has three entrance gates. The main gate is known as Dargha Darwaza and is made from a single granite block. It is about 12 feet wide and 15 feet high. The gate gets its unique name from Gulab Shah's tomb. The other notable gate of the fort is the Golconda Darwaza, which is fortified with battlements and towers. This gate functions as a gateway to the neighbouring village of Jaggaiahpet.
Mangalagiri
Located on Vijayawada-Guntur road, Mangalagiri is an elephant-shaped hill. It is considered to be an auspicious hill by the Hindus, as it houses the extremely beautiful Sri Panakala Narasimhaswamy Temple. The main deity in the temple is Narasimhaswamy, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This holy temple has the honour of being one of the eight main holy temples in India. At the foothill of Mangalagiri, there is another temple called the Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, In addition, the hill is home to a massive Jain temple, which is known as Hinkar Tirtha. Mangalagiri is popular for its religious structures and the lush greenery, which is extremely soothing and beautiful.
Manginapudi Beach
The massive coastline of Andhra Pradesh is one of the main attractions of the state, and this attraction can be enjoyed at Manginapudi Beach, which is located close to the city of Vijayawada. The beach is renowned for its historical heritage and calm, shallow waters, which are ideal for swimming, boating and other water activities. The beach is about 11 kilometres from Machilipatnam, which used to be a thriving port centuries ago, as it served as an entry point into India. Manginapudi Beach has a natural bay, which makes the beach very attractive. In addition, there is a park on the beach which has lush greenery, fountains and lighting features.
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