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Vijayawada is the third largest city in Andhra
Pradesh , India , located on the banks of the Krishna River, and
bounded by the lndrakiladri Hills on the west and the Budameru River
on the north. Situated along the Madras-Howrah and Madras-Delhi rail
route, this is the largest railway junction of the Sourth Central
Railway. The city is in Krishna District , about 275 km from the
state capital Hyderabad and is spread over an area of 58 kmē (urban
area), with a population of 825,436 (2001 census).
How to Reach Vijayawada 
By Air - The nearest domestic airport is at Gannavaram, 20 km
from the city connected to and from Hyderabad and Vishakhapatnam.
By Train - The largest railway junction of the South Central
Railway, it is well linked by a number of express and super fast
trains to and from all the major cities of India.
By Road - Situated at the crossroads of National Highways 5
and 9 and a network of good motorable roads, it is well connected
with the major cities of Andhra Pradesh and India.
History of Vijayawada
The discovery of pre-historic remains belonging to the stone-age man
all along the banks' of the river from Machilipatnam to Nagarjuna
Sagar provides evidence that this part of the river valley was
inhabited by the stone age man. Vijayawada literally translates to
"The Place of Victory". A legend narrates that Vijayawada was
established by Arjuna around the Malleswara temple and Indrakiladri
hills in commemoration of Lord Shiva's Darsan he had, and thus named
after him as Vijayawada.
Besides being an important religious centre for Buddhists and
Hindus, Vijayawada is also a centre of Andhra culture. The Chalukyas
of Kalyan once conquered this place, and the famous Chinese Xuanzang
(Hsuan-tsang) had visited this place in 639 when Buddhism was at its
zenith in the region.
During the British Raj the city experienced significant growth. In
particular, the completion of the Prakasam Barrage in 1959, and
railway bridge on the Krishna River have helped the region expand
its agricultural and commercial base. And Vijayawada Railway station
is one of the busiest railyway junctions in India. The regions
around the city have fertile soil and are irrigated by the river.
Places to visit in Vijayawada
Kanaka Durga Temple - One of the most popular temples in and
around Vijayawada, it is located on a hill (Indrakeeladri)
overlooking the city as well as the River Krishna. One can either
motor up the ghat road or take to the steps on foot. Inscriptions of
different dynasties are found in the temple. During Dasara Festival,
thousands of devotees from the city and its environs throng the
temple after a holy dip in the River Krishna close by.
Gunadala Matha Shrine - In 1925, Rf. Arlati, the Rector of
St. Joseph's Orphanage at Gundala, installed a statue of Our Lady
and later a church was built and consecrated in 1971, now popularly
known as St. Mary's church. Since then the Feast of Our Lady of
Lourdes became an annual event here, attended by hundreds of people.
The church is situated on a hillock on the eastern side of the city.
Prakasam Barrage - Built across the river Krishna, Prakasam
Barrage has created a panoramic lake. Its three canals that run
through the city give Vijayawada a Venetian look.
Undavalli Caves - Eight kilometers from Vijayawada, these
caves are said to be carved in 7th century A.D. Buddhist monks used
this two-storeyed cave structure as a rest house during the monsoon.
A huge monolith of the Lord Buddha in reclining posture is a
magnificent sight.
Rajiv Gandhi Park - Created by the Vijayawada Municipal
Corporation with great care, this park welcomes the tourists at the
entrance of the city with its impressive horticultural network. A
mini zoo and a musical water fountain are added to it.
Gandhi Hill - The first Gandhi Memorial with seven stupas in
the country was constructed on this hill at a height of 500 ft (150
m). The 52 ft (16 m) stupa was unveiled on 6 October 1968 by Dr.
Zakir Hussain, the President of India. Gandhi Memorial Library, a
Sound and Light Show on Mahatma Gandhi's life and a planetarium are
the other attractions.
Victoria Museum - A place for archaeology lovers, Victoria
Museum has a carefully preserved collection of ancient sculptures,
paintings, idols, weapons, cutlery, and inscriptions.
Mogalarajapuram Caves - These caves are said to be excavated
in 5th century A.D. The caves are reputed to be the first of their
kind in South India. The idols of Lord Nataraja, Vinayaka &
Arthanareeswara are carved here.
Bhavani Island - Perhaps one of the largest islands on a
river, Bhavani Island is located on Krishna River close to the city.
AP Tourism is converting this 133-acre (54 hectare) island into an
attractive tourist spot and a River Front Resort. Journey to the
island by boat is very pleasant.
Hazarat Bal Mosque - A holy relic of the Prophet Mohammed is
kept here which is displayed once a year. A large number of
non-Muslims too join the celebrations
Mangalagiri - 12 km from Vijayawada is the renowned temple of
Lord Narasimha in Mangalagiri, on a hillock. The unique feature of
this temple is that the mouth of the idol accepts half the quantity
of panakam (jaggery dissolved in water) offered by devotees,
irrespective of the size of the vessel.
Hinkar Thirtha (Jain Temple), Mangalagiri - A Jain temple
here with great artistic work, it is slated to be the biggest Jain
temple in the region.
Kondapalli Fort - Kondapalli village is situated 16 km from
Vijayawada. A 7th century fort on the hill with an impressive three
storeyed rock tower was witness to the glory of many dynasties. It
served as a business centre. Finally the fort was used as a military
training base by the British rulers. A good picnic spot, the village
is famous for toy making with light-weight wood available on the
hill forest. These toys are famous world-over as "Kondapalli toys".
Amaravati - Amaravati, formerly called as Dhanyakataka and
Andhranagari, is one of the most important Buddhist sites in the
country. Acharya Nagarjuna constructed the country's largest stupa
here, 2000 years back. Amaravati is considered the most sacred
pilgrim centre for Buddhists in South India. It also has an
Amareswara temple.
Where to Stay in Vijayawada
Accommodation is available at the moderate, Luxury, Deluxe, class
hotels, lodges in Vijayawada.
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