About Visakhapatnam: Visakhapatnam or the place of Visakha, is named after the deity of valor, the second son of Lord Shiva. The other story is that the beauty of the place was compared to the beauty of Sakhi Visakha. The legend is that Radha and Visakha were born on the same day and were equally beautiful. The local people believe that an Andhra king, impressed by the beauty, built a temple to pay obeisance to his family deity, Visakha.
Visakhapatnam (Vizag) is second largest city in Andhra Pradesh with an area of 550 km². It is primarily an industrial city, apart from being a port city. It is also home to the Eastern Naval Command. Visakhapatnam has seen rapid development in the past decade. Apart from this one of the most upcoming tourist places in India with number of attraction for the tourist.

Duration of the Trip: It is a 4 days and 5 night’s trip from Bangalore. We started at 8:10 PM on Wednesday and return back to Bangalore on 7:30 AM on Monday.

Transportation: For this trip we had to have train, bus and package tour. We started from Bangalore by Yeswantpur-Howrah Express (2864) which we had board from KR Puram station at 8:10 PM on Wednesday and reached Visakhapatnam at 4:00 PM next that i.e. on Thursday.
For returning back to Bangalore we had board the same train i.e. Howrah-Yeswantpur Express (2863), at 10:40 AM from Vishakapatnam and reached KR Puram at 05:58 AM.
Ticket cost Rs 367 for Sleeper classes, Rs 977 for 3 tiers AC and Rs 1332 for 2 tiers AC for each.

Details of The Trip:
Day 1:
After reaching Vishakapatnam station, we booked an auto and went to hotel. There are two Haritha Hotels which are undertaken by APTDC. These hotels are very good. These hotels have bar, restaurant and ample parking facility.
1) Haritha Hotel, Vizag
Opp. Appughar Site,
Beach road, M.V.P Colony,
Visakhapatnam
Tel: +91 891 2562333, 2788824
Cel: +91 9848813582
Room Type                          Tariff per day
A/C Suites                               2000/-
A/C Room                               1300/-
A/C 4 Bedded Room               1750/-
Non A/C Room                        900/-

2) Bhimili Road, Risikonda,
Visakhapatnam
Tel: +91 891 2788826, 2793973

Room Type                           Tariff per day
A/C Suites                               2750/-
Delux A/C Room                     2200/-
Standard A/C Room                1600/-
New Suit Room                       2750/-
New Executive Room              2000/-

There are other private hotels also throughout the city which are also very good. The best place to take accommodation is the hotels near R K Beach.
After getting into the rooms, we preferred to take some rest. We went to sea beach in late evening.

Day 2:
We went for Bora Caves and Araku Valley on the second day. We had board the train VSKP-KRDL-PASS ( 58501) from Vishakapatnam station at 6:50 AM and reached Araku station at 10:50 AM. Ticket cost Rs. 80/- for Sleeper classes. The way to Araku from Visakhapatnam is full of natural beauty. There are 18 tunnels in the way. If you love nature's own beauty there is lots of things for you.

View of the way to Araku from train

We hired a cab from outside of station for the local sightseeing in Araku which cost us Rs. 600/-.
First we went to the Botanical Garden @ Araku Valley. This is a nice place with lots of tree, sculpture.

Entrance of Botanical Garden

Sculpture @ Botanical Garden

Sculpture @ Botanical Garden

Here we got to see a Tree House which I really liked a lot. This tree house can be taken for rent to stay also.

Tree House

 One most interesting kind of tree which I liked is Fish Tail Palm. The leaves of this tree are like the tail of fish. For kid’s one nice play ground is available there.

Fish Tail Palm

From Botanical Garden we went to Urban Museum. It is a very good collection for the things used and made by the urban people of that area. Inside the museum photography is prohibited so I can’t share the images of that place.

Entrance of Urban Museum

Then we started for Bora Cave, on the way there was a beautiful view point. From where you can have a beautiful view of Araku.

On the way to Bora Cave from Araku

View of Araku

Bora Cave is one of the most wonderful caves in India. Inside the cave there are lots of sculptures which are made naturally by the rain water. In the entrance of cave we hired guide who is trained by APTDC. It is must to have a guide with you to visit this cave. Otherwise you may miss the rain made sculptures due to darkness.

Bora Caves

Bora Caves

Bora Caves

Bora Caves

Before entering into the cave you can see “Gostani River” which is treated as very Holy River among the local tribal

Goshtani River

From Bora Caves our cab driver drop us to some bus stand from there we got a bus for Visakhapatnam. We reached Visakhapatnam by 7:30 PM.

We didn’t book any package for this tour. But if you want any tour packages, you can have any of the following two from APTDC:

1. ARAKU RAIL CUM ROAD TOUR
Dep. 6.00 am Arr. 9.00 pm
Daily (one day tour) Araku Via Borra Caves, Rail cum road
FARE : Adult Rs. 650/- Child : Rs. 550/-
Including Transport by Train & Bus, Breakfast, Lunch, Tea, Snacks

2. ARAKU RAIL CUM ROAD TOUR
Dep. 6.00 am Arr. 9.00 pm (Next day)
Daily (Two days tour) Araku Via Borra Caves, Rail cum road
FARE : With A/c suite Adult Rs. 2200/- Child : Rs. 1760/-
FARE : With Non A/c Room Adult Rs. 1900/- Child : Rs. 1500/-
FARE : With Deluxe Room Adult Rs. 1500/- Child : Rs. 1200/-
Including One day accommodation at Araku, Breakfast, Lunch, Tea, Snacks & Train Fare

Day 3:
We went for Visakhapatnam local sightseeing in the third day. We booked the “Heritage Tour” package from APTDC. This cost us Rs 300/- per person (for child Rs. 250/-). We took our break-fast and board the bus from Visakhapatnam bus stop and started for the rich heritage tour of Visakhapatnam. Main attractions are:
Simhachalam Temple is a temple of Lord Narasimha which was built in 11th century. This temple is situated at top of a hill. There are plenty of artworks which have elements of similarity with that of Konark. Elephants, flowers and plants are portrayed in plenty.

Simhachalam Temple

Kailasa giri is located on a hilltop and is a must visiting place for all people visiting Vishakhapatnam. There is a Shiva Parvati Murty located in Kailash giri which is the main attraction of this place. There are other attraction of kailash giri are Cyclone Centre, Titanic View Point, Floral Clock, Rope Way and Children Park.

Entrance of Kailash Giri

View of city from Kailash Giri

Cyclone Center

Children Park

View of City from Rope Way

View of City from Rope Way

Floral Clock

Titanic View Point

Shiva Parvati Murty

Thotlakonda is a Buddhist Complex which was active between the year 200 BC and 200 AD. The complex has number of Stupas, chaityas and viharas. There are many rocks cut troughs available. Telugu name Thotlakonda is derived from the Thotti (tub) and Konda (hills). There are 12 tubs around this complex which are used for stroing the rain water for drinking purpose. Out of the 12 tubs four are available within the complex and others were little outside.

Stupa

Vihara

Tub to store rain water

Rishi Konda Beach is ideal beach for swimmers, water skiers, and wind surfers. It is a golden, un spoilt beach, washed by the sun-warmed sea .Tourists can enjoy a holiday in picturesque settings.

Rishi Konda Beach

We took our lunch in the “Haritha Hotel” nearby Rishi Konda beach.

Visaka Museum has some of the best and finest artistic items put on display. Portraits, some of them even at life-size depicting the members of the Royal family of the Vizianagaram and Bobbili, Two Armour suits, two stands of spears and muzzleloading guns, several ancient weapons such as steel bows, handguns that date back to the British-rule times are some of the things one should not miss. The Visakha Museum also showcases some of the artifacts collected from other institutions. These include the 250-lb bomb that was dropped by the Japanese during the World War II. The shell bomb did not however explode. The shell bomb is now put on display at the Museum.
The Submarine Museum - Kurusura being set up at the Rama Krishna Beach in Visakhapatnam has a specialty which is the first one of its kind in this subcontinent. INS Kusura is a Russian built submarine. It was built on Dec 18th 1969 and began its journey on Feb 20, 1970 via the Baltic Sea and reached Visakhapatnam on the 11th of May, 1970. Since then INS Kusura was being used by the Indian Defense. The Navy developed it as a War-Memorial with a project cost of Rs.5.5 crores. The length of Submarine is 91.3 miters while the breadth is 8.00 miters. This is the first of its kind in Asia and second in the world.

Submarine Museum

The Rama Krishna Beach, or RK Beach as it is commonly called, is one of the best tourist spot in Vizag. The beaches of Vizag enthrall the tourists and the clean beaches attract tourists in great numbers. It is Vizag's favorite evening sojourn. An aquarium, the Kali temple, Visakha Museum, Roadside restaurants offering seafood is the other attractions at this beautiful beach.

Rama Krishna Beach

Rama Krishna Beach

Fishing Harbor: There is a nice fishing harbor situated in Visakhapatnam. Boating facility is available in this harbor to go inside the sea and see how the fishermen bring fishes from there.

Fishermen making their net

Fishing Boat

Fish Market

Dolphin’s Nose is a strange but popular tourist attraction, Dolphin's Nose is a huge rocky headland 174 meters high and 358 meters above the sea level, jutting out into the sea, resembling the shape of dolphin. The rock juts out into the sea, forming a headland on which is the lighthouse. The nation's powerful beam of the lighthouse directs ships.
Day 4:
If you already haven’t forgotten, it was a ‘4 days and 5 nights’ trip among which 3 days and 4 nights are passed just like that. So it is time to come back home. We board our train from Visakhapatnam station at 10:40 AM and reached Bangalore next day 6:00AM.

Disclaimer: We went for this trip in July’2009. So the rates and timing might have changed by the time. Please check with hotel, travel agent and Indian Railway about current timings and rates.
I tried to provide as much as details is possible for the trip. For any further clarification please feel free to contact me @ dutshilpi@gmail.com. You can also refer to APTDC official website:
http://www.aptdc.in/