Vizianagaram is a northern coastal district in Andhra Pradesh. It is situated at an average elevation of 58.22 metres above sea level and covers a total area of 6,539 sq km.
The destination is surrounded by Srikakulam District in the east, Visakhapatnam District in the south-west, Bay of Bengal in the south-east and Orissa in the north-west. Champavathi, Gosthani, Kandivalasa, Nagavali, Suvarnamukhi and Vegavathi are some of the main rivers that flow through the district.
Vizianagaram is named after the princely state of Vizianagar. In Telugu, Vizia means ‘victory’ and Nagaram means ‘city’. Formed on 1 June 1979, Vizianagaram is carved from some parts of the neighbouring districts of Srikakulam and Vishakapatnam.
The history of this destination is associated with the rich past of Kalinga. During the modern era, the upper segment of Kalinga was gradually assimilated into Orissa and the lower segment into the Andhra region. An important part of Vizianagaram's history is embellished with the battle between the kings of Vizianagaram and the kings of Bobbili on 24th January, 1757. Another important historical event of Vizianagaram is the war between the French and the English.
The prominent festival of Vizianagaram is Sirimanu Utsav, which is celebrated on the first Tuesday after Vijayadasami every year. The tradition of carrying an idol of white elephant in front of Sirimanu chariot is influenced by the historical events when the kings sat on elephants and took part in the procession. Anjali Chariot and Paladhara are the two main activities of this procession. Anajali Chariot is a tradition in which five married women sit on the chariot to perform various kinds of rituals.
Besides, Vizianagaram has various tourist attractions including the 1,000 years old Sri Rama Temple, which is located on Bavikonda Hill. The Koneru Lake here was constructed during 1650-1696 by the Pusapati kings. Along with this, the rock carved temples and Buddhist stupas are the prime attraction of Vizianagaram.
Best Time to Visit Vizianagaram
The best time to visit Vizianagaram is during the months of October and March. The weather during this season is pleasant and ideal for exploring the various sightseeing attractions.
How to Reach Vizianagaram?
By Air : The nearest airport to Vizianagaram is Vishakhapatnam, 62 km away.
By Rail : Vizianagaram is a major railway station of the district. It falls on the Khurda Road-Visakhapatnam section of the Howrah – Chennai main line. A lot of trains from south India and bound to south India have their stoppage at Vizianagaram.
By Road : Vizianagaram is located just 62 km from Vishakhapatnam. The most popular and economical mode of transport in Vizianagaram is bus. The city has a well-connected network of roads.