Visakhapatnam ( pronunciation) (popularly known as Vizag) is a port city on the southeast coast of India. With a population of 1,730,520, it is the second-largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh (after Hyderabad) and the third-largest city on the east coast (after Chennai and Kolkata). Visakhapatnam is located 625 kilometres (388 mi) east of the state capital, Hyderabad. The city is home to several state-owned heavy industries and a steel plant; it is one of India's largest seaports and has the country's oldest shipyard. Visakhapatnam has the only natural harbour on the east coast of India.
The city was named after Visakha, the Hindu god of valour. It is nestled among the hills of the Eastern Ghats and faces the Bay of Bengal on the east. Visakhapatnam is the administrative headquarters of Visakhapatnam district and headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy. Visakhapatnam has a nickname The City of Destiny and, more recently, the Goa of the East Coast. Like its west-coast counterpart it has attractive beaches, laterite hillocks and a pleasing landscape. It is also a focus of urban and tourist development.
Read more about Visakhapatnam: Overview, Etymology and History, Buddhist Influence, Demographics, Language, Climate, Transport, Economy, Famous and Centre Siripuram Junction, Tourism, Sports, Education