Kailasagiri

Kailasagiri is a hill top park in the city of Vishakhapatnam. The hill is at 360 feet and it overlooks beaches, forests & the city of Vishakhapatnam. It is one of the best tourist spots in the city for a bird's eye view of the bay.

The Kailasagiri Park is well known for its panoramic view, peaceful atmosphere and its scenic beauty, making it a beautiful tourist attraction in Vishakhapatnam. The place offers plenty of leisure activities which is also one of the reasons for people visiting the place. For small children, circular train is there for fun and enjoyment. Moreover, among adventure games, it gives visitors really good paragliding facilities.
Apart from that there are huge idols of Lord Shiva and Parvathi which gives the place a religious flavor. According to the visitors' views, its a great place to visit in Vishakhapatnam to observe the development of the hills over the years. The Kailasagiri Park is a park situated on top of a hill which faces the east coast. Its a place that offers a mixture of things including places of religious importance, adventure games like paragliding, enjoyment for little kids, wide view of the whole city and many other things for the visitors
Parking Facility

Parking facility available: 70/- for big cars and 50/- for small vehicles.

How to Reach Kailasagiri

The best way to reach the place is by road; one could hire a taxi for the same. The hill top can be reached by ropeway or by road.

Religious Importance

Lord Shiva Parvathi statue is the major attraction of the park. The idol stands on top of the hill at an elevation of 40 ft.The floral clock one of the biggest of India with a diameter of 10 ft. The floral clock also play an important role in giving an artistic look with the lush green patches to the Shiva Parvathi statue. It works as a land mark for the tourists and attract huge crowd.

Ropeway at Kailasagiri park

The Rope Way facility is also there for the tourists. The cable car route takes you to the top of the hill to have a bird eye view of the whole city. It is the first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh.

Toy Train Amusement Ride at Kailasagiri Park

The toy train ride at Kailasagiri Park is one of the newest attractions added. It is charged at Rs 40 for adults and Rs 30 for children. The toy train ride offers a good view of the Kailasagiri park and of the whole Bay of Bengal at Vizag

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is located amidst Kambalakonda Reserve Forest in Visakhapatnam. This Zoological Park is named after The Former Prime Minister Of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi. It was declared open to the public on 19 May 1977.[2] It covers an area of 625 acres (253 ha). It is situated in Visakhapatnam amidst the scenic Eastern Ghats of India. It is surrounded by Eastern Ghats on 3 sides and Bay of Bengal on the fourth side. Nearly eighty species of animals numbering to about eight hundred are present in the zoo. The Zoo Park has different sections for primates, carnivores, lesser carnivores, small mammals, reptiles, ungulates and birds caged in their natural ambiance.

The Zoo Park is about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the Visakhapatnam railway station on the NH5 near Madhurwada. It has two Entrance and Exit gates oppositely. One towards NH5 and the other towards Beach road at Sagarnagar. It is open to public on all days of the week except Monday. A Biosphere learning center and a Library are present inside the Zoo Park near the Canteen.

EXHIBITS:
In an area of 625 acre the zoological Park located among the KAMBALAKONDA WILDLIFE SANTUARY. There are nearly 80 Species of Animals, Birds and Reptiles in the Zoo. The zoo has enclosures of primates, carnivores, lesser carnivores, small mammals, reptiles, ungulates and birds aviaries with a well planned layout, a Jungle along a water body inside the Zoo park. The animal exhibits in the Zoo park are as follows:

Birds:
Endemic: Pelicans (Rosy and Grey), Painted Storks, Peafowls, Ducks, Spotted Doves, love birds, Parakeets, Eagles, Vultures.

Primate
Endemic: Common Langur (Hanuman Monkey), Bonnet Monkey (Common Indian Monkey), Rhesus Monkey.
Exotic: Baboons(Sacred and Olive)

Herbivores :
Endemic: Barking Deer, Elephant, Wild Boars, Gaur, Sambar Deer, Spotted Deer, Nilgai, Eld's deer (Thamin Deer).
Exotic: Hippopotamus.

Carnivores
Endemic: Tigers (Leucistic and Bengal), Asiatic Lions, Leopards.
Exotic: Puma, Jaguar.

Lesser carnivores
Endemic: Jackals, Wild dogs, Striped Hyenas.

Bears
Endemic: Sloth bear, Himalayan Black bear.
Reptiles
Endemic:Pythons, Snakes, Land Tortoises, Terrapins, Water Monitor Lizards, Monitor Lizards, Mugger Crocodile, Gharial. Along with this a Nocturnal Animal House consists of Owls, Porcupines, Civets in the Zoo Park at Visakhapatnam.

The INDIRA GANDHI ZOOLOGICAL park also performs activities such as celebrating WORLD FORESTRY DAY,WORLD SPARROW DAY,WORLD WILDLIFE WEEK each year.there is also an education centre –Bio scope in-order to raise awareness among the visitors about the wildlife.The centre has an auditorium screening film shows(daily 11am to 1pm and 3pm to 4pm),library and interpretation centre.
Facilities:
Drinking water RO’s with purified cool water at many locations inside the park.There are also benches ,shelters and wheelchairs available at the office.Battery operated eco-friendly vehicles are available @200/head for roaming in the zoo.

vizag beach

Visakhapatnam, fondly called the ‘Jewel of the East Coast’, is the largest city of Andhra Pradesh both in terms of population and area. Also known as Vizag, this coastal city witnesses huge tourist footfall each year and reaching Visakhapatnam from any part of the country is not a problem. 

Those travelling by air can book their tickets up to Visakhapatnam Airport while those who prefer travelling by trains can buy tickets till Visakhapatnam Junction. Travellers coming in from neighbouring towns and cities can avail state and private bus services, which are pocket-friendly as well as comfortable.

By air: 

Visakhapatnam Airport, about 8 km away from the city centre, links the city with various cities in India and abroad. There are several domestic and international carriers providing their services from here. Major airlines like Air Costa, Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo and Jet Airways provide regular flights for Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Tirupati, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Flights are also available for foreign destinations such as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur that are operated by SilkAir and Malindo Air. Taxis and buses are easily available from outside the airport.

By road:

Visakhapatnam enjoys good road connectivity with various nearby cities and towns. Several state and private buses are available from cities such as Hyderabad (588 km), Chennai (790 km), Kolkata (882 km), Vijayawada (335 km) and Puri (442 km). Well-maintained NH 5 connects Visakhapatnam with Kolkata, which takes around 14 hours.

By train: 

Visakhapatnam has its own railway station, called the Visakhapatnam Junction, which is connected to several prominent Indian cities. Located about 12 km away from the city centre, this station has several frequent trains plying from New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata, among others. Janmbhoomi Express and Konark Express from Hyderabad, Samta Express from Delhi, East Coast Express from Chennai and Prasanthi Express Bangalore are some of the best trains for Visakhapatnam. Buses and taxis are easily available from outside the railway station.

Gandhi Hill,

Gandhi Hill, which has been neglected over the years, might get an aesthetic look soon, with Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao promising to revive its past glory.

He made this assurance while participating in the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations organised atop the hill here on Friday by the Gandhi Hill Foundation.

“We will invite Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to visit the historic place to take stock of the amenities required at the hill,” he said. He also advised teachers to take necessary steps to propagate the ideology of Gandhi among students.

The first Gandhi Memorial with seven Stupas in the country was constructed on this hill at a height of 500 ft. The project was unveiled by then President Zakir Hussain on October 6 in 1968.

Regardless of its great significance that is reflected in the Gandhi Memorial library, it remained neglected. The planetarium, a toy train atop the hill and some other facilities remain the objects of neglect. Gandhi Hill Foundation Chairman and MP Gokaraju Gangaraju deplored the apathetic attitude of successive governments to the development of the historic place.

Students, who took part in the programme, wanted officials to conduct similar events regularly to spread Gandhian principles. Krishna District Collector Babu A. said a survey would be conducted from October 9 to 31 to identify houses and areas that lacked personal toilets and make them open defecation-free.

Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, Joint Collector G. Chandrudu and other senior officials attended. Meanwhile, M. J. Naidu Super Specialty Hospital organised 3K run from BRTS Road to Meesala Rajeswara Rao Bridge in connection with its anniversary coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti celebrations.

Bhavani Island

The State government is contemplating introducing floating restaurants and cottages as part of tourist attractions at the Bhavani Island in Vijayawada.

The government is also proposing to develop a fountain and multimedia show on the banks of the Island to act as a catalyst to increase the tourist footfall.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has asked the officials to explore the possibilities of setting up the floating restaurant and cottages.

He also wanted them to study the experiences in other States.

Mr. Naidu called for a review meeting on tourism with officials at the Secretariat near here on Tuesday.

The officials told him that plans were being prepared to set up musical fountain with provision for water screen of suitable size for the purpose of displaying laser and high lumens projections on water screen.

The proposed fountain would be 75 metre wide and 25 metre tall with world class features on the lines of Bellagio fountain at Las Vegas and the Burj Khalifa Lake fountain in Dubai. The laser show content would be highlighting themes relevant to Andhra Pradesh culture, they said.

Grandiose plans

Mr. Naidu said the government had grandiose plans to develop the tourism industry in the State in a big way. Floating restaurants and cottages were a step in that direction. The government also has plans to conduct water sports in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Rajahmundry. The officials should prepare proposals for the water sports to attract the tourists, he said.

The State should offer a unique experience to the tourists who visit the capital. The objective of tourism development was to give visitors an authentic, high-quality experience that they remember for a long time. The sector would not make rapid strides unless there were new and innovative attractions.

The government objective was to stand in the first three places in the country as far as the tourism sector was concerned, he said.

The government set a target of reaching the 12th position by 2020 in attracting the foreign tourists. AP should be in the first three slots by 2029. It should be in the first position in attracting domestic tourists by 2029. The State witnessed 3.24 lakh foreign tourists’ footfall up to March 2017. As many as 15.80 crore domestic tourists visited the State up to March 2017, he said. Mr. Naidu said the government intended to impart training to 2,370 cab drivers and guides and hotel operators

Prakasam Barrage

Machilipatnam-based Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University Professor K.S. Krishna Prasad has unearthed a rare photo album of ‘Bhumi Puja of Prakasam Barrage Project’. The album was found from the personal archives of his grandfather Kattoji Satyachari, an Executive Engineer served in the Prakasam Barrage works.

“We were told that my grandfather had an opportunity to perform Bhumi Puja of the Prakasam Barrage works on March 1, 1954. It was believed that then Chief Minister Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, who was scheduled to perform puja was then absent on the site”, Mr. Krishna Prasad claimed. “Mr. Satyachari was one of the senior officials present on the site on the auspicious time fixed to perform Bhumi Puja,” he added displaying the photo album.

Among the 12 yellowed photos by time, a photograph in which Mr. Satyachari was seen performing Bhumi Puja along with a priest is a rare photo own by the professor’s family till date. Mr. Satyachari had served as an Executive Engineer in the Prakasam Barrage works between June 18, 1953 and January 10, 1955, according to incumbency chart displayed at Krishna River Conservator’s office, Vijayawada. According to the family members of the engineer, he also worked in Dowleswaram Project as an Engineer.

Speaking to The Hindu, officials, including Krishna River Conservator, Prakasam Barrage Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent Engineer of Irrigation Department, have confirmed that they do not have the collection of photos of ‘Bhumi Puja of Prakasam Barrage’ with them. However, office of the Prakasam Barrage Superintendent has a few pictures of barrage construction works. “We are willing to share the album with the government officials concerned for preservation and to collect more information about the historical event. We are proud to own the memorabilia of my grandfather,” said Mr. Krishna Prasad.

Kanaka Durga Temple

The temple of Kanaka Durga the Goddess of power, riches and benevolence and the presiding deity of Vijayawada, is 

swarmed by lakhs of pilgrims for worship during the "Navarathri" festival which is celebrated with Religious fervour, pomp and festivity. The small but ancient temple of Kanaka Durga , a top the Indrakeeladri hill on the banks of the Sacred river Krishna in Vijayawada abounds with legends of historical interest.

Indrakeeladri is unique in that it has been the chosen abode of Kanaka Durga and Her consort Malleswara as Swayambhu (the self-existent one). Here Durga is one the right side of Malleswara as against the tradition of Goddesses taking their position on the left of their consorts. This shows that Shakthi is predominant on the Indrakeeladri.

Legend has it that the demons acquired great powers by appeasing the Gods and began harassing the sages on the earth. Goddess Parvathi assumed various forms to kill these demons. It was kausiki to kill Sumbhu and Nisambhu, Mahisasura Mardini to kill Mahishasura and Durga to kill Durgamasura. "Kanaka Durga because she was aglow with golden hues, and prayed Her to stay on earth and bless them.

 Kanaka Durga asked Keeludu an ardent devotee to take the form of hill to enable Her stay on him. Thus Keeladri became the abode of Durga. She took the form of Mahisasura Mardini with eight arms holding different weapons, riding on a lion and trampling Mahishasura on the hill of Indrakeeladri. Her consort Shiva took his place on an adjacent hillrock as Jyothirlinga. He was worshipped by Lord Brahma with jasmines (Mallelu) whereby he got the name of Malleswara Swamy. As celestial beings like Indra visited the place, the hill came to be called Indrakeeladri.

Here it was according to another legend, that Arjuna performed penance and fought with Lord Shiva, who had appeared in the guise of Kiratha to win pasupathastra, the most powerful weapon. So this place is also called phalguna theertha.

When Indrakeeladri came in the way of the River Krishna the Gods requested the hill to allow the river to pass through it to join the sea. Keeludu obliged and gave a small passage for the river.
 But the ferocious Krishna made the passage larger than permitted and carried a part of the hill four miles downstream to Yanamalakuduru, where there is now a hillrock called "Thelukonda" or floating hillrock. According to another legend, Kanaka Durga borrowed the nose-stud of the Krishna and to avoid returning it jumped up the hill. Krishna vowed to take back her ornament by raising her level to the hill top by the end of kaliyuga

Adi-Sankaracharya visited the temple and installed the Srichakra and initiated workship of Kanaka Durga in vedic ways.
Hiuan Tsang, a Chinese traveler wrote that he has seen many stone inscriptions in the vicinity of the temple that revealed historic events.
Palakethu Bhupaludu made two inscriptions in the period 1150-1240 A.D. One related to unimpeaching Madhava Varma the ruler 

of this area. The son of poor women was killed when he fell under the wheels of the chariot of the king's so