CRICKET

in the
C TY
VISAKHAPATNAM
Visakhapatnam may be an industrial city, but it has diverse attractions
from pristine beaches and the countrys oldest shipyard to the only natural
harbour on Indias east coast. Once a part of the Kalinga kingdom, it also
has a fascinating mix of Buddhist and Hindu history.

TRANSPORT Quick Facts

GETTING THERE STD Code: 0891
Air: Vizags airport is 17 km from the city. All major domestic Helpful Websites
airlines have daily flights to and from Vizag.
www.lonelyplanet.com/
Train: Vizags train station is on the western edge of town,
india/andhra-pradesh/
near the port. Visakhapatnam Junction station is on the vishakhapatnam
Kolkata-Chennai line.
www.aptdc.gov.in/vizag
local TRaNspoRT
Auto: Autos are a convenient way of getting around the
lack of meters being the only impediment (minimum charge Make a short trip to
Araku Valley, which is
`2030). However language gap can be a problem at times if
Andhras best train ride
you do not know Telegu. through the magnificent
Taxi: They are available easily and can be hired at `810/km. Eastern Ghats, 120km from
For detours to places such as Araku Valley, fixed packages Vizag. It is covered with thick
starting from `3000 are available. coffee plantations, waterfalls
and umpteen viewing points.
coNNEcTIvITy
RTC Complex has several internet cafes (per hour `15), some
open 24 hours. Most major hotels offer free wi-fi.
I autos are the most convenient way to get around gettyimages/ Frdric soreau

TOP EXPERIENCES
Indira Gandhi Zoological
Park This massive zoological
park can be explored from
your car; you can stop at the
moated enclosures at your
own pace to see the animals.
Once inside, you can also
opt for a battery operated
vehicle. The lush expanse of
more than 600 acres is part
of the Kambalakonda Wildlife
Sanctuary.
Kailasagiri This park is
located high up on a hilltop
and reaching there involves
a ride up an aerial tramway,
but if youre not up for that
you can also drive. It has a
toy train, ropeway, horse
rides, exhibits, swings, eating
joints and sculptures of
Shiva and Parvati. You can
get panoramic views of the
city, the curved coastline of
I besides swimming rushikonda beach oFFers water rides; gettyimages/ yug_and_her
the Bay of Bengal and the
green hills.
RK Beach The Ramakrishna
Beach runs along the
main seaside avenue of
the city. Seating areas,
a park, sculptures and
sightseeing options make
this an interesting spot to
explore. The Kali Temple,
Matsyadarshini Aquarium and
the Victory At Sea memorial,
built as a homage to the war
martyrs of the 1971 war, are a
few of them. The beach is not
safe for swimming, but a stroll
is recommended.
Rushikonda Beach
Stretching right below Sugar
Loaf Hill, this spectacular
moon-shaped beach stretch
is the most popular tourist
hot spot, 20km from town.
With its growing popularity,
it now has a busy picnic vibe
and its worth a day trip. There
are plenty of eating joints,
shacks selling knick-knacks
made of shell and coconut
vendors. APTDC also offers
two water rides: a motor boat
and a jet ski. The full length
of the beach can be seen
from a restaurant on the hill.
Swimming is forbidden here
due to the strong currents.
Ins Kurusura Submarine
Museum Highly
recommended on the
itinerary, this unique
submarine museum lies on RK
Beach. The 91.3m-long and
8m-wide technical wonder
was once a Soviet built
submarine, used by the Indian
Navy. Its the only place in
India where you can enter the
300ft submarine, and see how
the insides work. Guided tours
of the submarine are a special
hit with children.

ACCOMMODATION
THE paRk
%2754181; www.
theparkhotels.com; Beach
Road; rooms from `9000
One of the prettiest hotels in
the city, it is inspired by the
regions Buddhist legacy. The
elegantly styled rooms and
chic ambience of The Park,
along with its location by the
beach make it one of the best
luxury addresses for your stay
in Visakhapatnam.
GaTEWay HoTEl
k
%6623670; www.
thegatewayhotels.com;
Beach Road; rooms
patnam
from `8000 Each of the
thoughtfully placed rooms
I the restaurants at Park hotel are a
Favourite with locals; the Park
at The Gateway has a view
of either the sea or the pool.
Black and white sketches of
Andhra themes adorn the
walls of the galleries, ensuring
that the mood of the hotel
matches your travel plans.
NovoTEl
%2822222; www.novotel.
com; Beach Road; rooms
from `6500
Novotel is the latest addition
to the beachside hotels at
Visakhapatnam and has stylish
interiors and facilities. You
can also avail discounts with
the flexi prices policy. The
hotel has a pool and many
restaurants. Ask for a sea-
facing room to make your
stay complete. Another plus is
the spa that offers a range of
soothing therapies.
BEsT WEsTERN
RamacHaNdRa
%2579777; www.
bwramachandra.co.in; 8-8-
36, main Road, Gajuwaka;
rooms from `3500
Access to Best Western lies
in the busy Gajuwaka area,
but the spic and span smart
rooms, with rich interiors,
ample buffet spread at
breakfast and service a notch
above the rest, make this a top
pick for the family. The rooms
are small so check if you are
planning to add an extra bed
for children.
JukasoTEl
%3050100; www.jukaso.
co.in; 47-10-19,2nd lane,
dwarakanagar; rooms from
`3000
Trendy Jukaso Hotels uniquely
designed rooms, modern
facilities and excellent
hospitality make it a good
choice for travellers who want
to stay in the middle of town.
apTdc BEacH REsoRT
%2788826; www.aptdc.in;
Rushikonda Beach; rooms
from `2000
Though the APTDC property
is not plush, it has a vantage
spot on a hill, with a brilliant
view of the Rushikonda Beach.
The spacious rooms have
private balconies. There is no
wi-fi facility or pool, but an in-
house restaurant and access to
the beach makes up for this.

EATING
sEa INN
%2790403; Rushikonda,
along vizagBheemli Road
Also known as Raju ka dhaba,
after the owner, this is your
one-stop shop for local food.
Try the prawn biryani and fried
seafood dishes. Theyve been
around for two decades. Its
unpretentious, clean and the
food is lip-smacking.
NEW aNdHRa HoTEl
sree kanya lodge, Bowdara
Road
An unassuming little place
with really good and really
hot Andhra dishes. Meals and
biryani are top-notch.
a day at the beach. It serves
an interesting selection
of chocolate cakes, which
includes a Snickers cake, a Kit
Kat cake and an Oreo cake.
HydERaBad HousE
%6463939; siripuram vIp
Road
Head here to try the famous
Hyderabadi biryani. The menu
is mostly non-veg.
SHOPPING
lEpaksHI
%2508037; main Road,
Jagdamba centre
The Andhra Pradesh chain
of emporiums is your best
bet at picking souvenirs from
Visakhapatnam. Not only can
you get your hands on local
favourites like Kondapalli
toys and saris, but also knick-
knacks from other South
Indian states. Pochampalli, Ikat,
Dharamavaram, Venkatgiri and
Nadyupet are the must buy
varieties of saris.
EasTERN aRT musEum
%2562775; 10-1-9/1, Waltair
uplands Road
For handicrafts from across
India and Andhra Pradesh, the
Eastern Art Museum offers
both reasonable and slightly
higher priced items.
I ikat saris are a PoPular Pick in the city;
getty images/ mitchell kanashkevich;

vENkaTadRI vaNTIllu
praveen plaza, cB m
compound, vIp Road
For an authentic Andhra dosa
or tiffin, head to this restaurant
that seems more like a local
canteen. Try their speciality
sponge dosa.

pasTRy, coffEE N
coNvERsaTIoN
dutt Island, siripuram
Better known as PCNC, this
charming cafe is done up with
cane and wood furniture. You
can read a book as you enjoy
a coffee, drop by for a quick
dessert or even stop in the
morning and get sandwiches
and other snacks packed for