Visakhapatnam
A port city on the Bay of Bengal where the Eastern Ghats meet the coast — beaches, a hill park and a naval history.
About
Visakhapatnam is the largest city on the Andhra coast and one of India's major ports, with a long-established naval presence. The setting is unusual: hills come down close to the shore, so the city has both a working harbour and a string of beaches, with viewpoints above them. Kailasagiri, the hill park overlooking the bay, and the decommissioned submarine INS Kursura, preserved on the beach as a museum, are the two sights most visitors take in. It also works as the base for Araku, inland by rail.
Worth your time
- Kailasagiri hill park and the views over the bay
- RK Beach and the shore drive
- INS Kursura submarine museum
- Departure point for the Araku railway
Visakhapatnam is a working city rather than a resort, and it rewards being treated as one — the harbour, the naval history and the industry are as much part of it as the beaches.
Pairing it with Araku is the standard trip, and the railway between them is better done as a return journey than a one-way transfer.
Boat services, permits, entry fees and road access change with the season and at short notice. Check anything your plan depends on before setting out.