One stop travel at the vivacious Vijayawada

One stop travel at the vivacious Vijayawada

FPJ BureauUpdated: Friday, May 31, 2019, 09:38 PM IST
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It is also known as Bezawada and is a city located on the banks of Krishna River in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. The name of the city translates to ‘place of victory’ because it holds a mighty position in the southern region of India.

In order to reach here you can take flights to its airport which is 20 km from Gannavaram, the heart of the city. If you wish to take the rail route, Vijayawada railway station is one of the major rail heads located in the Chennai-Delhi route and is well connected with major railway stations.

From temples to caves, beaches to islands, Vijayawada has travel and leisure in bulk, to give you a glorious experience.

A spellbound destination for visitors with a beautiful, picturesque monument set on the Indrrakiladri Hills. The deity here is Goddess Kanaka Durga. It offers a stunning view of the amazing city which surrounds the hill. There are two routes to reach here-first are the steps while the other is the ghat. These routes have ancient inscriptions that reveal stories of the era the temple was built. The other temples at Vijayawada include Dawarka Tirumala, Ksheera Ramalingeswara Temple, Mangalagiri Temple, Markapur Temple, Gunupudi Someswara Temple and Sri Veereswara Swamy Temple.

Kanaka Durga Temple<br />Picture credits: www.crownetravels.com

Kanaka Durga Temple
Picture credits: www.crownetravels.com |

It is a place with several ruins of a rock cut temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Hindu deities. Its existence is dated to 7th century A.D. It has a Pallavas style of architecture with shrines having lingas and small images of the deities here. It is located 64 km from Kanigiri.

Bhairavakonda<br />Picture credits: www.templedarshan.in

Bhairavakonda
Picture credits: www.templedarshan.in |

It is also known as Gundala Matha Shrine or Mary Matha Shrine and is constructed on a hilly region Gunadala in Krishna district near Vijayawada. There is an iron cross, erected atop the hill, which stands as a rare distinction of the shrine. An annual feast is held here to commemorate the appearance of Mother Mary at Lourdes on February 11, 1858.

Gunadala Mary Church<br />Picture credits: www.vijayawadaonline.in

Gunadala Mary Church
Picture credits: www.vijayawadaonline.in |

This sacred mosque located in the heart of Vijayawada, is home to a holy relic of Prophet Mohammed, the founder of Islam. The devotees are allowed to see the relic only once a year. One can witness communal harmony here, as devotes of all faith pray at this mosque.

Hazratbal Mosque<br />Picture credits: www.buzzntravel.com

Hazratbal Mosque
Picture credits: www.buzzntravel.com |

A gorgeous island amidst the Krishna River is a scenic beauty one can’t afford to miss. It is located near Prakasam Barrage and spreads over an area of 133 acres. The island offers facilities like swimming and boat riding in the Krishna River. If you hands on fishing you can indulge in the same here as well.

Bhavani Island<br />Picture credits: www.holidify.com

Bhavani Island
Picture credits: www.holidify.com |

The caves go back to 7th century and are a great example of rock-cut architecture. They are situated 8 km from Vijayawada and offer a unique perspective towards religious monuments. Amongst the many caves here, it is popular for its huge monolith of Lord Vishnu. It has been made from a single granite block and is located on the second storey of the temple. The other caves at Vijayawada include Mogalarajapuram Caves, constructed in the 5th century with carvings of Lord Vinayaka and Lord Shiva in the Nataraja appearance; and Guntupalli Caves which are widely acclaimed to be one of the most beautiful Buddhist sites in the region.

Undavalli Caves<br />Picture credits: Arvind.vindhu / Wikipedia

Undavalli Caves
Picture credits: Arvind.vindhu / Wikipedia |

Ramayapatnam is a small fishing village in the Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh. A place so exotic, that the hues emitted by the sky with its vibrant colors soothe your eyes. It is a calm beach which offers absolute serenity and a panoramic view of the lighthouse here which was built in 1982. There are other beaches in Vijayawada which include, Ramapuram Beach, Kothapatnam Beach, Manginapudi Beach, Suryalanka Beach and Vodarevu Beach.

Ramayapatam Beach<br />Picture credits: kristnapaksham.blogspot.com

Ramayapatam Beach
Picture credits: kristnapaksham.blogspot.com |

A symbol of history at Vijayawada is the Kondapalli fort which was constructed in the 14th century and is located 16 km from Vijayawada. The fort served as a trading centre and during the colonial rule and a base for military training. The area around the fort is a relaxing picnic spot. The fort has three gates out of which the main one is known as as Dargha Darwaza which is about 15 feet high and 12 feet wide.

Kondapalli Fort<br />Picture credits: tourmet.com

Kondapalli Fort
Picture credits: tourmet.com |

It is built across the Krishna River and has a vivid appearance as it stretches 1,223.5 metres across the river and is the largest barrage in Asia. It also serves as a road bridge and has three canals that give Vijayawada a Venetian look. It is a wonderful place to take a casual stroll and enjoy the view of the shimmering lake.

Prakasam Barrage<br />Picture credits: allworldtowns.com

Prakasam Barrage
Picture credits: allworldtowns.com |

The hill is homage to Mahatma Gandhi which has a giant stupa known as High Gandhi Stupa which is around 500 ft tall and has inscriptions of Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings. In addition, you can also visit the Gandhi Memorial Library and planetarium. If you happen to go here in the evening, it offers a breathtaking view of Vijayawada.

Gandhi Hill<br />Picture credits: thebackpackman.wordpress.com

Gandhi Hill
Picture credits: thebackpackman.wordpress.com |

With a place that fulfills a traveler’s need to experience spiritual destinations, exotic beaches and cultural heritage that has been preserved till now, Free Press Journal requests its readers to take a step in preserving such dynamic places. 

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