India tour & travel

Vijayawada:

Vijayawada
Vijayawada, the heart of Andhra Pradesh, also known as Bezawada, is located on the banks of the Krishna River, 257km from Hyderabad . It is bounded by the Indrakiladri hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. Historically it is considered as the cultural and political centre of the state. Vijayawada is a vital rail and road link between the North and the South.

Vijayawada is the heart of Andhra Pradesh and the historical, cultural, political and literary centerRailway Bridge on Krishna, Andhra Pradesh Vijayawada or the City of Victory if literally translated gets its name from the legend, which says it was here on the Indrakiladri Hill, that Arjuna, the Pandava Prince, won the blessings of Lord Shiva for his penance. During the British rule the city experienced significant growth. Vijayawada is often considered the true gateway to the south.

Lying in the midst of the Telugu heartland, the city today remains true to its age old character. Vijayawada become one of the big business centres of the State. Commercially, culturally and industrially the city is a very flourishing one. Vijayawada is famous for its delicious mangoes and pickles as also its delicious, spicy cuisine.The towns of Kuchipudi, Mangalagiri and Kondapalli, which are famous for dance, temple and handicrafts respectively. Vijayawada is a must visit if you want to go temple hopping in Andhra.

Tourist attractions:

Kanaka Durga Temple, Kondapalli Fort Monuments, Prakasam Barrage , Gandhi Hill, Victoria Jubilee Museum Museum, Hazrathbal Mosque, Mogalrajapuram Caves, Undavalli Caves, Akkana and Madanna Caves, Gunadala Matha Shrine, Rajiv Gandhi Park, Bhavani Island are some of the numerous places of tourist interest that one must not miss while on a trip to Vijayawada.

Kanakadurga Temple:

Kangaka Durga temple at Vijayawada
Kanaka Durga, goddess of power, riches and benevolence is considered the presiding deity of Vijayawada.The temple of the goddess is situated on the Indrakila hill along the river. Inscriptions of different dynasties are found in the temple. During Dassara, one of the important festivals of these country, lakhs of devotees from the city celebrates after a holy dip in the River Krishna close by.
A temple of Lord Maleswara is also within the city area. The rock cut caves dedicated to Akkanna, Madhanna on the way to the Kanakadurga Temple remainds the Qutub Shahi rules of 17th Century. A short distance away is another cave that dates back to the 2nd century BC which hosts the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara.

Kondapalli forte monuments:

Kondapalli fort near  Vijayawada
Kondapalli village, the famous toy making centre is located 16km northwest of Vijayawada. Who can resist the charm of beautiful, handmade toys? Kondapalli toys are made of softwood, known as Tella Poniki. Kondapalli Kondapalli toys are colourful wooden creations which can enliven any interior. The toys consist of idols of Gods and Goddesses, birds, animals, vegetables and houses etc.
The fort of Kondapalli is believed to have been built by Prolaya Vema Reddy, the founder of the Reddy kingdom of Kondaveedu, in the 14 century. The fort is located 16 km away towards West from Vijayawada City and is built on a hill. It has an awesome three-storied rock tower.

Prakasam Barrage:

The barrage first completed in 1855, located on the outskirts of Vijayawada is one of the earliest major irrigation projects in Southern India.Prakasam Barrage - Completed in 1957, the Prakasam Barrage is an impressive 1223.5m long, modern regulator and road bridge that stretches across the river Krishna.
A dip in the river Krishna is considered sacred by Hindus, and hence lakhs of people bathe here during the Krishna Pushkaram which is celebrated once in 12 years.Its panoramic lake and the three canals that run through the city give Vijayawada a Venetian appearance

Gandhi Hill

The tallest structure in the Vijaywada skyline, Memorial to the Father of the Nation, is the 15.8 m stupa on Gandhi Hill , which was formerly known as Orr Hill. has the teachings of Gandhi inscribed on stone slabs .Gandhi Memorial Library, a Sound and Light Show on Mahatma Gandhi's life and a planetarium are the other attractions. Climb to the top of the hill for a birds eye view of the town , which attract the tourists.

Victoria Jubilee museum:

The Museum of the Archaeological Department situated on Bundar Road contains sculptures and painting. Pre historic materials, such as stone tools, microliths and Neolithic implements are also on display.'Buddha' Alluru inscriptions of first and second centuries, and Mahishasura Mardhani are some of the important exhibits

Hazrathbal Mosque:

One of the important places of worship for the Muslims of South India, Hazrathbal Mosque - Hazrat Bal Mosque, a site of religious significance in Vijayawada. Hazratbal Mosque is believed to house a holy relic of Prophet Mohammed is kept in the mosque in the city and displayed once a year.

Mogalrajapuram caves:

Mogalrajapuram caves located 3km east of the city centre has five rock cut sanctuaries dating back to the 7th century AD. Of the three cave temples dating back to the fifth century only one is still is good shape with the idols of Lord Nataraja, Vinayaka and others. The Ardhanareeshwara Murthy found here is considered the only one of its kind in south India.

Undavalli caves:

The Undavalli caves, in the village of Undavalli, are at a distance of 8-km from Vijayawada and nearly 280-km from Hyderabad . The renowned temple of Lord Narasimha, one of the nine avatars of Vishnu, is located on the hillock at Mangalagiri, 12k south of Vijayawada. This long east oriented multi storeyed cave with a huge Anantasaya Vishnu figure, is one of the best and earliest type here.

Akkanna and Madanna caves:

On the way to the Kanakadurga Temple are the rock-cut caves dedicated to Akkana and Madanna, who were ministers in the court of Abdul Hasan Tanashah in the 17th century.

Gunadala Matha Shrine:

Gundala Church is situated on a hillock on the eastern side of the town, at Gundala. The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes became an annual event here, attended by hundreds of people. It attracts a large number of devotees. A fair is held annually in the month of February, in which thousands of devotees participate.

Rajiv Gandhi Park:

Located near the new Vijayawada bus stand, this educative park contains built-up structures of dinosaurs and pre-historic animals. This park welcomes the tourists at the entrance of the city with its impressive horticultural network with a playing area where one can spend time relaxing and learning. The Rajiv Gandhi Park is a beautiful picnic spot.

Bhavani Island:

Bhavani Island at Vijayawada
Bhavani Island is one of the largest Islands on a river. From Vijayawada, the Bhavani Island is situated upstream of River Krishna close to Prakasam Barrage. It is Located at a distance of 4 km. Journey to the island by boat is very pleasant. Make sure you visit this picturesque island that is a fantastic picnic spot for everyone.


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