Vizag Like a Local: 8 Famous Places You Can’t Skip + How to Do Them Right
By Krishna
5/23/20263 min read
Vizag Like a Local: 8 Famous Places You Can’t Skip + How to Do Them Right
Visakhapatnam isn’t just “beach city”. Its submarines on shore, temples on lion hills, and Buddhist sites older than the Pyramids’ tourist rush. Here’s the real deal with timings, how to reach, and when to go:
1. RK Beach / Ramakrishna Beach
Why it’s famous: Vizag’s Marine Drive. Submarine Museum, TU-142 Aircraft Museum, and Kali Temple all in 1km stretch.
Interesting fact: The INS Kursura submarine here is one of only 4 submarine museums in Asia. You actually walk inside a decommissioned Soviet sub.
How to reach: 6km from Vizag Station. Autos charge ₹80-100. APSRTC buses every 10 min from RTC Complex.
Timings: Beach 24x7. Submarine Museum 2:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Tue-Sun. Closed Mon. Aircraft Museum 10:00 am - 8:30 pm daily.
Best days: Early mornings for sunrise, evenings for street food. Avoid Sunday evenings if you hate crowds. Kartik Purnima sees 1L+ people for Karthika Deepam.
2. Kailasagiri Hill Park
Why it’s famous: Giant Shiva-Parvati statue + ropeway + entire city + sea view from 360ft up.
Interesting fact: The hill was developed in 2003 by VUDA using blasted rock from NH construction. Zero natural hills were harmed.
How to reach: 10km from station. Drive up, or take ropeway from bottom. Ropeway ₹100 round trip.
Timings: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm daily. Ropeway 10:00 am - 7:30 pm.
Best days: Weekday evenings for sunset + toy train ride. December for Kailasagiri Fest with lights + food stalls.
3. Simhachalam Temple
Why it’s famous: Only temple where Varaha + Narasimha avatars merge. Idol covered in 320kg sandalwood year-round.
Interesting fact: The real idol is visible only 1 day/year on Akshaya Tritiya during Chandana Yatra. Rest of the year it looks like a Shiva lingam.
How to reach: 16km from Vizag. APSRTC buses from RTC Complex every 15 min. 1000 steps if you walk, or road goes to top.
Timings: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm daily.
Best days: Akshaya Tritiya Apr/May for Nijaroopa Darshanam. Expect 2L+ crowd. Chandanotsavam in May is next biggest.
4. Borra Caves, Araku Valley
Why it’s famous: 150-million-year-old limestone caves, deepest in India at 80m. Stalactites shaped like Shiva lingam, brain, crocodile.
Interesting fact: Discovered by William King, a British geologist, in 1807 when his cow fell through a hole. Locals already worshipped it.
How to reach: 90km from Vizag. Train to Borra Guhalu station + 3km auto, or Vizag-Araku highway by car 3hrs.
Timings: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm daily.
Best days: Oct-Feb for pleasant weather. Avoid monsoon – slippery. Nov 14 is Karthika Pournami with tribal rituals inside.
5. Yarada Beach
Why it’s famous: Cleanest beach in Vizag, tucked behind Dolphin’s Nose hill. Zero commercial shops = peace.
Interesting fact: Navy controls the road. You have to show ID at the checkpoint because it’s near Naval base.
How to reach: 15km from city via Scindia. Bikes/cars only. No buses. Carry ID proof.
Timings: 6:00 am - 6:00 pm. Navy closes road after dark.
Best days: Weekday mornings. Weekends get packed with local bikes. Monsoon waves are wild – don’t swim.
6. Thotlakonda Buddhist Complex
Why it’s famous: 2000-yr-old Buddhist monastery overlooking Bay of Bengal. Hinayana Buddhism hub.
Interesting fact: “Thotlakonda” = Hill with stone water tanks. Monks carved 10+ rock-cut cisterns to store rainwater. Still hold water today.
How to reach: 15km on Vizag-Bheemili Beach Road. Auto/bike best.
Timings: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm daily.
Best days: Winter mornings Nov-Jan. Buddha Purnima in May sees prayers by Buddhist monks from AP.
7. Indira Gandhi Zoological Park
Why it’s famous: One of India’s largest zoos inside a forest. White tigers, hippos, and 30-acre free-range bird zone.
Interesting fact: Spread over 625 acres – you’ll need the battery car ₹80 unless you want 15k steps.
How to reach: 6km from station near NH16. City buses/auto available.
Timings: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Closed Monday.
Best days: Weekdays to avoid school picnics. Early morning feeding time 9:30-10:30 am is best for animal activity.
8. Rushikonda Beach
Why it’s famous: Blue Flag certified beach = international cleanliness standards. Water sports capital of Vizag.
Interesting fact: Named after Rushikonda Hill where sages Rishis meditated. AP Tourism runs jet ski, banana boat, kayaking here.
How to reach: 8km from city on Beach Road towards Bheemili. Frequent buses/autos.
Timings: Beach 24x7. Water sports 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Best days: Oct-Mar for water sports. Summers are too hot. Visakha Utsav in Dec has beach events.
Pro Tips for Vizag Tourists:
1. Transport: Download ‘APSRTC Live Track’ app for buses. Ola/Uber work but autos are cheaper for short hops.
2. Food: Try bamboo chicken at Araku, Karam Dosa at RK Beach, seafood at Sai Priya Beach Resort.
3. Avoid: Monsoon Jul-Sep for Borra Caves + Yarada. Summer Apr-May for outdoor spots – it’s 40°C + humidity.
4. 1-Day Plan: RK Beach morning → Submarine Museum → Kailasagiri ropeway sunset → Tenneti Park.
5. 3-Day Plan: Add Simhachalam + Rushikonda Day 2, Borra Caves + Araku Day 3 via train.