Visakhapatnam విశాఖపట్నం Vizag - Waltair |
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Metropolis | |
Top to bottom, left to right: A view of Visakhapatnam and the Bay of Bengal from Kailasagiri Park, Simhachalam Temple, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam Port, the Kursura Submarine Museum, the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, and Ramakrishna Mission Beach
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Nickname(s): The Jewel of the East Coast Goa of the East Financial Capital of Andhra Pradesh |
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Coordinates: 17°41′18″N 83°13′07″E / 17.68833°N 83.21861°ECoordinates: 17°41′18″N 83°13′07″E / 17.68833°N 83.21861°E | |
Country | India |
State | Andhra Pradesh |
District | Visakhapatnam |
Named for | Viśakha |
Government | |
• Body | Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) |
• Municipal commissioner | M.Hari Narayanan |
• Commissioner of Police | T.Yoganand,I.P.S. |
• Superintendent of police | Rahul Dev Sharma |
• District collector | Praveen Kumar, I.A.S |
Area | |
• Metropolis | 540.00 km2 (208.50 sq mi) |
• Metro | 5,573 km2 (2,152 sq mi) |
Elevation | 45 m (148 ft) |
Population (2011) | |
• Metropolis | 2,035,922 |
• Rank |
14th (India) 1st (Andhra Pradesh) |
• Density | 3,800/km2 (9,800/sq mi) |
• Metro | 5,340,000 |
Demonym(s) | Vizagite |
Languages | |
• Official | Telugu |
Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
PIN | 530 0XX, 531 1XX |
Telephone code | +91-891-XXX XXXX |
Vehicle registration | AP–31,32,33,34 |
Website | Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation |
Visakhapatnam (nicknamed Vizag) is the largest city, both in terms of area and population in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the coast of Bay of Bengal in the north eastern region of the state. It is the administrative headquarters of Visakhapatnam district and also the Financial Capital of Andhra Pradesh. As of 2011[update], the population of the city was recorded as 2,035,922, making it the 14th largest city in the country. The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region is the 9th most populous in India with a population of 5,340,000
Visakhapatnam's economy ranks as the eighth-largest among Indian cities, with a GDP of $48 Billion (USD). Visakhapatnam is the principal commercial hub of the state, and contributes to its economy in many sectors such as heavy industries, tourism, industrial minerals, fishing, and information technology. Visakhapatnam Port is the fifth busiest port in India in terms of cargo handled. Visakhapatnam is home to the oldest shipyard and the only natural harbour on the east coast of India.
Visakhapatnam's history stretches back to the 6th century BCE. Historically, it was considered part of the Kalinga ancient region, and later ruled by the Vengi kingdom, the Pallava and Eastern Ganga dynasties. Archaeological records suggest that the present city was built around the 11th and 12th centuries CE with control over the city fluctuating between the Chola Dynasty and the Gajapati Kingdom until its conquest by the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century. Conquered by the Mughals in the 16th century, European powers eventually set up trading interests in the city, and by the end of the 18th century it had come under French rule. Control passed to the British in 1804 and it remained under British colonial rule until India's independence in 1947. After independence, Visakhapatnam developed into one of the country's chief ports and became the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.