Overview

Visakhapatnam (AKA Vizag, Viśākha or Wāltair) is the financial capital of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is also the most populated and largest city of Andhra Pradesh. It lies between the Eastern Ghats and the coast of the Bay of Bengal. It is the third largest city in the east coast of India after Chennai and Kolkata and the fourth largest city in South India. It is one of the four smart cities of Andhra Pradesh selected under Smart Cities Mission. Serving as the headquarters of its eponymous district, it is the most populous city in the state. With an estimated output of $43.5 billion, the city is the ninth largest contributor to India's overall gross domestic product as of 2016. Visakhapatnam serves as the headquarters for the Eastern Naval Command. Visakhapatnam's history stretches back to the 6th century BCE, when it was considered a part of the Kalinga Kingdom, and later ruled by the Vengi, the Pallava and Eastern Ganga dynasties. Archaeological records suggest that the present city was built around the 11th and 12th centuries with control over the city fluctuating between the Chola Dynasty and the Gajapati Kingdom, until its conquest by the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century. Conquered by the Mughals in the 16th century, European powers eventually set up trading interests in the city, and by the end of the 18th century it had come under French rule. Control passed to the British Raj in 1804 and it remained under British colonial rule until India's independence in 1947. The city is home to the oldest shipyard and the only natural harbour on the east coast of India. Visakhapatnam Port is the fifth-busiest cargo port in India, and the city is home to the headquarters of the Indian Navy's Eastern Command and South Coast Railway zone. Visakhapatnam is a major tourist destination and is particularly known for its beaches. It has been nicknamed the "City of Destiny" and the "Jewel of the East Coast".[11] It has been selected as one of the Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under the Smart Cities Mission. As per the Swachhta Sarvekshan rankings of 2017, it was the third cleanest city in India in 2017. It fell to 7th position in 2018 and to 23rd position in 2019.