UdayAgastya77 · Sunrise, Tenneti Beach, Tennetti Beach, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India,.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sunrise,_Tenneti_Beach,_Tennetti_Beach,_Visakhapatnam,_Andhra_Pradesh,_India,.jpg

City Guide · India

Visakhapatnam (Vizag)

A working port city with beaches in front of it and the Eastern Ghats behind. The one Andhra city that is a holiday rather than a stop.

StateAndhra Pradesh

Best timeOctober to February

Suggested stay3 nights

Swimming beachRushikonda, between the flags

Airport12 km from the centre

Cyclone seasonOctober to December

Overview

Why Visakhapatnam

Vizag is a steel town, a naval base, a container port and a beach city at the same time, and it does not apologise for any of it. The coast runs south-west to north-east under a line of hills, so the city has genuine topography — you go up to look down, which almost nowhere else on this coast does. Behind it the Eastern Ghats rise into coffee and tribal country, reached by one of the great railway journeys in India. <strong>It is the only city in Andhra Pradesh that most people come to for a holiday rather than for a temple or a transfer.</strong>

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Things to do

What to do

Three days here, or two plus the Araku railway.

The beaches

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Kailasagiri

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The submarine and the aircraft

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Simhachalam

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The Araku railway

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Itinerary

Three days in Visakhapatnam

Day 1

The city and the coast

RK Beach and the submarine in the morning, Kailasagiri for the late afternoon and the view down the bay, and the promenade after dark when the whole city is on it.

Day 2

Up the line

The Araku railway if you can get on it, or the road, for the Ghat climb, Borra caves and the valley. It is a long day either way and worth it.

Day 3

Temples and the quiet coast

Simhachalam in the morning, Bheemili and the Dutch cemetery in the afternoon, and Yarada or Rushikonda to finish.

Getting there

The best-connected city on this coast.

Air and rail

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Getting around

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Local intel

Specific to Vizag rather than to the coast generally.

Best timeOctober to February

Dry and comfortable. April to June is very hot and humid.

Cyclone seasonOctober to December

This is an active cyclone coast. Watch forecasts and take local advice seriously.

How long3 nights

Two if you skip Araku; four if you stay up in the valley.

SwimmingRushikonda, between the flags

RK Beach is a promenade, not a swimming beach. Currents here are real.

Araku115 km, 4–5 hrs by train

The railway is the reason to go; the road is faster and duller.

FoodAndhra coastal

Hot, sour with tamarind, and heavy on seafood. Milder food is available and must be asked for.

Culture

Culture and context

A city built by the sea and by the state.

Port, steel and navy

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The Dutch and the Company

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Hudhud

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Tips

Practical tips

The sea and the season.

The water

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Practical

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Nearby

The coast and the Ghats.

Simhachalam

16 km inland

Bheemili

25 km north along the coast

Borra Caves

92 km, on the Araku road

Araku Valley

115 km — an overnight rather than a day trip

Vijayawada

350 km south

Rajahmundry

200 km south

FAQ

Common questions

Which Vizag beach can I actually swim at?

Rushikonda, about eight kilometres north, where lifeguards operate and the beach is flagged — and only between the flags and while they are on duty. RK Beach in the city is a promenade rather than a swimming beach whatever you see people doing on it. The Bay of Bengal along this coast has strong currents and there are drownings every year, so this is not a formality.

Is the Araku train worth it over driving?

If the journey is what you want, yes — it climbs the Eastern Ghats through dozens of tunnels and bridges and passes above the Borra caves, and it is an ordinary passenger service rather than a tourist special, which is most of its appeal. If you want to stop where you like and get back the same evening, the road is faster and much duller. Book ahead for a seat.

Can Araku be done as a day trip from Vizag?

It can, at 115 km each way, and it makes for a very long day with little time in the valley. Staying a night up there is the better trip and it is what this programme recommends — the valley in the early morning is a different place from the valley at midday with the day-trip buses in.

When is the cyclone risk?

October to December is the active season on this coast, and it is a real risk rather than a formality — Cyclone Hudhud hit the city directly in 2014 and stripped its tree cover. Watch the forecasts, take local advice seriously, and be aware that the greenery along the beach road is largely replanted since.

How hot is the food really?

Andhra coastal cooking is genuinely hot and sour with tamarind, and it is not toned down for visitors by default. Ask explicitly for less chilli and it will usually be accommodated. The seafood is the thing to eat here — the port lands it and the city knows what to do with it.

Is the submarine museum worth doing?

Yes, and it is the most distinctive hour in the city. INS Kursura is a real decommissioned submarine you walk through on the seafront, and the aircraft museum sits beside it. Both are ticketed and both close one day a week, and the day has changed over time, so check before making the trip specifically for them.

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