Vishakapatnam is better known as Vizag while many people still know the place as Waltair. Visakhapatnam and Waltair are twin cities like the state capital Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Initially it was under the governance of Kalinga King, then Bahamanis captured it. In 1768 the East India Company took control over it. The British called it Vizagpatnnm, hence the industrial and port area of Waltair was familiar as Visakhapatnam or Vizag.ln llth Century King of Andhra, on way to Varanasi built a temple and offered pujato Kartikeya. the Commander in Chief of the gods. He is also called Bishakha Swamni.The name Bisakhapatnam is derived from him. But sea swallowed that temple. Nilgiri is right through the city, spread from south to west. Surrounded by hills, the city is hemmed by the sea at
the east. The centre of attraction to the tourists is Ramakrishna Beach. The port of Vizag ranks fourth immediately after Chennai in lndia. Manganese and lron ore are exported from here to international market. One can go inside the port on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday between 15-17-00hrs. Special permission is required to visit port on other days of the week. Visakhapatnam is called the Brighton of India. Ship building factory of Hindustan Ship-yard company is located here.Tourists can visit the Ship-yard between 16—00—18-00 hrs from Monday to Saturday.
Headquater of Eastern Command of lndian Navy Sub—marine base, Steel plant, Oil refinery of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation are some of the large establishments in Vizag/Visakhapatnam. ln 1926 Andhra University with its large fort like campus in Gothic architectural style was built here. The latest attraction is however, 3 days Visakha Festival on the 3rd week of January.
The Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Rose Hill, built is 1864 in also a place of interest to the tourists. The church is on Three hillocks, i.e, on the three peaks of Eastern Ghat mountain range.
