Hyderabad - The Second Silicon Valley of India
Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh is a bustling 400-year-old metropolis with an urban population of 4.2 million people approximately. Hyderabad is located on the Deccan Plateau and the Musi River, 650m above sea level. The physiography of Hyderabad is dominated by hills, tanks, forests, and rock formations.

The Hyderabad city is cosmopolitan, and is richly endowed with a variety of cultures. While Muslim people are concentrated more towards the old city like Charminar, Secunderabad has got a more contemporary look with a concentration of Anglo-Indians. The city of Hyderabad presents an attractive amalgam of old world charm together with the ebullience of growth and enterprise. Beautiful old edifices built in the medieval, Mughal, Colonial and Indo-Saracenic styles abound, rubbing shoulders with large glass and chrome temples of commerce. Read More About Hyderabad

Hyderabad Tourist Attractions

How To Reach Hyderabad
Hyderabad - An important centre in the air transport network of south India is well connected with domestic and international airlines. Hyderabad, being the capital city of Andhra Pradesh, has excellant road services to adjoining states and has a strong rail network with all major cities of India.

By Air : Hydrabad is an important centre in the air transport network of south India. There are flights in either direction between Hydrabad and Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Bhubaneswar, Nagpur, and Vishakhapatnam. Hyderabad has an international airport too.

By Rail : The twin cities of Hydrabad and Secunderabad are extensively covered by the railway network connected with Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai and other cities in India. Hydrabad is well connected by rail with all the important places within the state also. The city bus service operates from the railway station.

By Road : On the crossroads of National highways 7 and 9, Hydrabad is well connected. Buses of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation and Private buses operate to all centres in the region.

Vishakhapatnam is built along the seashore of the Bay of Bengal, and is bounded and broken by the bold headland called the Dolphin's Nose (357m above the sea level). The city boasts of a beautiful beach with a long beach road ending at nearly Bheemunipatnam on the northern end. The surrounding area is dominated on the west by the well-forested Eastern Ghats and farther east is drained by numerous rivers, among them the Godavari and Indravati.

The city is also known as "Vizag" and is surrounded by three hills, each of which has a shrine dedicated to a different religion - Venkateswara temple (also spelt as Venkateshwara) on Venkateswara Konda, Baba Ishaq Madina Dargah on Dargah Konda and Church of the Virgin Mary on Rose hill.

The History
According to the history, the city was named after the god of 'Valor-Vishakha'. It was a part of the Kalinga Kingdom, under Ashoka's rule in 260 B.C. It passed on later to the Andhra Kings of 'Vengi'. After this Pallava, Chola and Ganga dynasties ruled the city. In the 15th century, Vishakhapatnam became a part of the Vijayanagar Empire.

The Europeans, the Dutch, the French and the English established themselves from the 17th century onwards and used this as a major trading center to export textiles, ivory, tobacco, indigo etc. This port is well documented in the histories of these colonial powers as well as in Indian historical records. This coast played a major role during the reign of the Asaf Jahis and the Golcondas.

A Prominent Shipbuilding Centre
Vishakhapatnam is an important shipbuilding centre; the first steamer to be built in India was launched in Vishakhapatnam's harbour in 1948. Vishakhapatnam's port has grown greatly in importance because it has the only protected harbour on the Coromandel Coast. Agriculture is the mainstay of the region's economy. There are major industries like Ship Building, Oil Refinery, Fertilizer, Petro Chemicals, Steel Mills and a Naval base. The suburb of Waltair, at the north end of the bay, is the site of Andhra University.

Vishakhapatnam is the true spot where one can find the beauty of Andhra. From lakes to cool beaches, from beautiful hill ranges to caves and valleys enclosures, Vishakhapatnam has them all. A visit to Vishakhapatnam will definitely be exciting, enriching and refreshing experience with all its sun kissed beaches, caves and temples.

Prime Attractions