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Vijayawada is the heart of Andhra Pradesh and the historical, cultural,
political and literary centerRailway Bridge on Krishna, Andhra Pradesh
Vijayawada or the "City of Victory" if literally translated gets its name
from the legend, which says it was here on the Indrakiladri Hill, that
Arjuna, the Pandava Prince, won the blessings of Lord Shiva for his penance.
During the British rule the city experienced significant growth. Vijayawada
is often considered the true gateway to the south.
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| Lying in the midst of the Telugu heartland, the city today
remains true to its age old character. Vijayawada become one of the big
business centres of the State. Commercially, culturally and industrially
the city is a very flourishing one.ijayawada is famous for its delicious
mangoes and pickles as also its delicious, spicy cuisine.The towns of Kuchipudi,
Mangalagiri and Kondapalli, which are famous for dance, temple and handicrafts
respectively. Vijayawada is a must-visit if you want to go temple-hopping
in Andhra. |
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Tourist Attractions:
Kanaka Durga Temple, Kondapalli Fort Monuments, Prakasam Barrage , Gandhi
Hill, Victoria Jubilee Museum Museum, Hazrathbal Mosque, Mogalrajapuram
Caves, Undavalli Caves, Akkana and Madanna Caves, Gunadala Matha Shrine,
Rajiv Gandhi Park, Bhavani Island are some of the numerous places of tourist
interest that one must not miss while on a trip to Vijayawada. |
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Kanaka
Durga Temple:
Kanaka Durga,
goddess of power, riches and benevolence is considered the presiding deity
of Vijayawada.The temple of the goddess is situated on the Indrakila hill
along the river.Inscriptions of different dynasties are found in the temple.
During Dassara, one of the important festivals of these country, lakhs of
devotees from the city celebrates after a holy dip in the River Krishna
close by. |
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| A temple of Lord Maleswara is also within the
city area. The rock cut caves dedicated to Akkanna, Madhanna on the way
to the Kanakadurga Temple remainds the Qutub Shahi rules of 17th Century.
A short distance away is another cave that dates back to the 2nd century
BC which hosts the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. |
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Kondapalli Fort
Monuments:
Kondapalli village, the famous toy making centre
is located 16km northwest of Vijayawada.Who can resist the charm of beautiful,
handmade toys?Kondapalli toys are made of softwood, known as Tella Poniki.Kondapalli
Kondapalli toys are colourful wooden creations which can enliven any interior.
The toys consist of idols of Gods and Goddesses, bird's, animals, vegetables
and houses etc. |
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| The fort of Kondapalli is believed to have been
built by Prolaya Vema Reddy, the founder of the Reddy kingdom of Kondaveedu,
in the 14 century.The fort is located 16 km away towards West from Vijayawada
City and is built on a hill. It has an awesome three-storied rock tower.
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Prakasam Barrage:
The barrage first completed in 1855, located
on the outskirts of Vijayawada is one of the earliest major irrigation projects
in Southern India.Prakasam Barrage - Completed in 1957, the Prakasam Barrage
is an impressive 1223.5m long, modern regulator and road bridge that stretches
across the river Krishna.
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| A dip in the river Krishna
is considered sacred by Hindus, and hence lakhs of people bathe here during
the Krishna Pushkaram which is celebrated once in 12 years.Its
panoramic lake and the three canals that run through the city give Vijayawada
a Venetian appearance.It
helps irrigating over 12 lakh acres. |
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Gandhi Hill:
The tallest structure in the Vijaywada skyline, Memorial to the Father
of the Nation, is the 15.8 m stupa on Gandhi Hill , which was formerly known
as Orr Hill. has the teachings of Gandhi inscribed on stone slabs .Gandhi
Memorial Library, a Sound and Light Show on Mahatma Gandhi's life and a
planetarium are the other attractions. Climb to the top of the hill for
a bird's eye view of the town , which attract the tourists.
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Victoria Jubilee
Museum Museum:
The Museum of the Archaeological Department
situated on Bundar Road contains sculptures and painting. Pre historic materials,
such as stone tools, microliths and Neolithic implements are also on display.'Buddha'
Alluru inscriptions of first and second centuries, and Mahishasura Mardhani
are some of the important exhibits.
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Hazrathbal Mosque:
.One of the important
places of worship for the Muslims of South India, Hazrathbal Mosque - Hazrat
Bal Mosque, a site of religious significance in Vijayawada. Hazratbal Mosque
is believed to house a holy relic of Prophet Mohammed is kept in the mosque
in the city and displayed once a year. |
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Mogalrajapuram
Caves:
Mogalrajapuram caves located 3km east of the
city centre has five rock cut sanctuaries dating back to the 7th century
AD. Of the three cave temples dating back to the fifth century only one
is still is good shape with the idols of Lord Nataraja, Vinayaka and others.
The Ardhanareeshwara Murthy found here is considered the only one of its
kind in south India. |
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Undavalli Caves:
The Undavalli caves, in the village of Undavalli, are at a distance of 8-km
from Vijayawada and nearly 280-km from Hyderabad . The renowned temple of
Lord Narasimha, one of the nine avatars of Vishnu, is located on the hillock
at Mangalagiri, 12k south of Vijayawada. This long east oriented multi storeyed
cave with a huge Anantasaya Vishnu figure, is one of the best and earliest
type here. |
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Akkana and Madanna
Caves:
On the way to the Kanakadurga
Temple are the rock-cut caves dedicated to Akkana and Madanna, who were
ministers in the court of Abdul Hasan Tanashah in the 17th century. |
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Gunadala Matha
Shrine:
Gundala Church is situated
on a hillock on the eastern side of the town, at Gundala. The Feast of Our
Lady of Lourdes became an annual event here, attended by hundreds of people.
It attracts a large number of devotees. A fair is held annually in the month
of February, in which thousands of devotees participate. |
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Rajiv Gandhi
Park:
Rajiv Gandhi Park
is Located near the new
Vijayawada bus stand, this educative park contains built-up structures of
dinosaurs and pre-historic animals. This park welcomes the tourists at the
entrance of the city with its impressive horticultural network with a playing
area where one can spend time relaxing and learning. The Rajiv Gandhi Park
is a beautiful picnic spot.
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Bhavani Island:
Bhavani Island is one
of the largest Islands on a river. From Vijayawada, the Bhavani Island is
situated upstream of River Krishna close to Prakasam Barrage. It is Located
at a distance of 4 km. Journey to the island by boat is very pleasant. Make
sure you visit this picturesque island that is a fantastic picnic spot for
everyone. |
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