Vijayawada

Overview:

Vijayawada, the largest railway junction in South Central Railway, is called the cultural capital of Andhra Pradesh. Often referred to as Bezawada, the city is famous for its juicy mangoes, delectable sweets and gurgling springs. Vijayawada is believed to have been founded by Arjuna to commemorate Lord Shiva’s ‘darshan’, which the lord duly granted after the great warrior prayed to him on the Indrakiladri hill. The word Vijayawada literally translates to ‘place of victory’. It is believed that Arjuna prayed for the blessings of Lord Shiva on the Indrakiladri hill. He established Vijayawada to commemorate the lord’s ‘darshan’. According to another myth, Devi Durga rested here after slaying a demon. Hence the place derived its name from the word ‘vijaya’, which means victory (of good over evil). Apart from the legends, the history of the city dates back to the Chalukya dynasty under the rule of Krishnadevaraya. It is believed to have been the cultural as well as religious capital of the kingdom. Many foreign travelers including Huyen Tsang are known to have visited Vijayawada. The city developed further in terms of infrastructure and other modern facilities under the British rule during the early twentieth century. Vijayawada, the third largest city in Andhra Pradesh, is also known as Bezawada. It is famous for its mouth-watering sweets, juicy mangoes and beautiful springs. It is located on the banks of the river Krishna, with the river Budameru on its north, Indrakiladri Mountain on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the east. The city is an important administrative, and trade and commerce centre of the Krishna district. Since road transport is predominant in the city and all the areas are well connected through a network of roadways, people prefer to travel by buses, auto-rickshaws, cabs, car rentals and taxis. While visiting Bangalore, many tourists also plan a short trip to Vijayawada. The distance from Bangalore to Vijayawada is approximately 660 kilometers by car. The drive from Bangalore to Vijayawada by car takes around 12 hours. Generally travelers prefer hiring cabs in Bangalore for their travel to Vijayawada. Bangalore cab services ensure that the travel is comfortable, punctual and economical. A tropical climate prevails throughout the year at Vijayawada. However, the cool and pleasant winter months starting from October and ending in February is the ideal time for exploring the charms of the town. The months of summers and the monsoons should be avoided.

Places of Interest:

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Vijayawada is Kondapalli. The village is known for its bright and colourful lightwood toys based on rural themes.

A very famous religious site in the town is the Kanak Durga Temple. It is situated along the Krishna River atop the Indrakiladri hill. The temple is devoted to the Goddess of power called as Swayambhu. The presiding deity of the temple is also considered as Vijayawada’s presiding deity. It is believed that the goddess bequeaths great health, wealth and prosperity on her devotees.

The three caves of Mogalarajapuram, near the town are famous for the arrestingly intricate and price carvings depicting Ardhnariswara, Nataraja and Lord Vinayaka. The caves date back to the fifth and sixth century AD.

Perched atop the Mangalagiri hill near Vijayawada, HinkarTirtha, a Jain temple, is also worth visiting.

The temple of Undavalli Caves lies 8 kilometres outside town is a typical Pallava temple fashioned out of a granite hill. Located in in Guntur district the Undavalli Caves date back to the seventh century. The main attraction of these four storied caves is a huge statue for Lord Krishna in his reclining posture, which is carved out of a single slab of granite.

Vijayawada also has many other sightseeing spots, some of which are outside the city. Thus, it is advisable to hire cabs or cars for visiting the tourist spots as they make for a convenient and comfortable mode of transport. Taxi cabs also ensure that tourists can visit these spots at leisure.

Things to do:

Primarily, Vijaywada is a business town, however a range of activities can be undertaken at the town by it visitors. Visitors who are religiously inclined should visit the two temple of note for offering their prayers. The ancient Buddhist centre of Amravati is located at a short distance from the town.

Preferentially the crowd with an inclination towards art and culture can visit Kuchipudi where the dance form of the same name originated.

MG Road, Besant Road and Kondapalli are the main shopping areas of Vijaywada. ‘Kalamkari’ paintings and ‘Mangalagiri’ saris can be purchased as souvenirs. Additionally, the town is popular for its 'avakkai' or mango pickle, and jars of the same can be purchased along with pearls, silver jewellery and semi precious stones.

Boating, fishing, hiking, trekking and water sports are the main outdoor activities which can be undertaken in and around the town of Vijaywada. Apart from these, a stroll through the surrounding forests and spotting some wild animals in their natural habitat can also be enjoyed by visitors.

The festival of Krishna Pushkaran which takes place every 12 years is the major festival of Vijayawada. The festival is held at the banks of the Krishna River. It is believed that taking a dip in the waters of the river will wash away all the sins committed by the devotee. Hordes of devotees come to Vijaywada to take a dip in the river and participate in the festival. A propaganda consisting numerous cultural programmes are also conducted and held, while stalls selling food, jewellery etc., line the streets.