Updated May 29, 2023
Vijayawada
Vijayawada, the second largest city in Andhra Pradesh, is rich in culture, history, and heritage that attract tourists. It is a must to delve deeper to know the city that is rich in colors of culture and religion. This is a “Land of Victory” sometimes people also call Vijayawada city as “Bezawada”. Check out the list of the best tourist places in Vijayawada.
Best 4 Tourist Places in Vijayawada
Mentioned below are the best 4 tourist places in Vijayawada:
#1 Prakasam Barrage
The Prakasam Barrage extends over the River Krishna connecting Vijayawada to Mangalagiri and Guntur. The barrage is a road bridge that has three associated canals that run along the city, giving it a Venetian appearance. Constructed by Sir Arthur Cotton in 1957, it also serves as a connecting road to the Kolkata-Chennai highway. The barrage consists of around 160 pillars and provides water for irrigation.
The dam furnishes an amazing view of the lake and has become a major tourist attraction in the city. The cool breeze and peaceful flow of water make it a popular tourist spot among visitors. Moreover, it has an attractive display of vibrant lights at night and is a romantic place for couples since it provides an escape from the hustle and bustle to make the most of your vacations. The nearby attractions include Hazratbal Mosque, Pvp Square Mall, Rajiv Gandhi Park, Gunadala Matha Shrine, Lazer Ops, and more.
#2 Kanaka Durga Temple
King Gopinath built the temple Kanaka Durga Temple which is familiar to have existed for more than 500 years. The temple is on top of Indrakeeladri hill on the banks of River Krishna attracting tourists having historical interest. This holy shrine is Syamambhu, which means self-manifested, and is the second largest temple in Andhra Pradesh. It is famous that goddess Durga has been glowing with golden color on the mountain with the rays of the sun.
The Kanak Durga temple has a 4-foot-long icon of the deity decorated with shiny ornaments and bright flowers. Located adjacent to this temple is the shrine of Malleswara Swamy on the Indrakeeladri. On ascending the steps of the hill, one can find incarnations of various deities like Kanaka Durga, Malleswara, and Krishna. In the ancient temple of Kanaka Durga, the Goddess of power, riches, and benevolence lakhs of pilgrims visit the temple, especially during Navratri.
#3 Undavalli Caves
The Undavalli Caves is a perfect illustration of Indian rock-cut architecture. Located near Vijayawada in the Guntur district, these caves stand as the finest testimonials of ancient Viswakarma. Interestingly, it is one of the centrally conserved monuments of national interest. The caves carved out of solid sandstone on the hillside, which makes it a paradise for history lovers. This tourist attraction was initially produced as Jain caves and was later converted into a Hindu temple.
The Caves of Undavalli from the outside look like rows of cells arranged in attractive positions. Out of three levels of the cave, the first level resembles the Jain civilization with different chambers and Tirthankara Sculptures. The second level has a statue of God whose identity is unknown, with lions and elephants carved on the walls. The top level has a view of the lush green surroundings and hills apart from the Krishna River pouring behind the caves.
#4 Rajiv Gandhi Park
Located on the banks of the Krishna River, Rajiv Gandhi Park has a small chamber with strange images of animals, a dinosaur park with life-size representations of ancient creatures, and a musical fountain. Witnessing the dense vegetation of this park along with the melodious chirp of birds is truly mesmerizing. One can find a large variety of colorful flowers, and plants, a mini zoo, aquarium, roller rink, playpen, gun shooting, rock slide, jeep ride, and mini train.
The main attraction of this park is that it offers educational tours on historical and prehistoric events and the dinosaur era. Moreover, the park has lush green lawns and a well-maintained walkway. One can relax in between the colorful rainbow of beautiful flowers, enjoy the adventure activities or just walk around the park with their loved ones in the pleasant breeze. Find this park located adjacent to Prakasam Barrage.
#5 Victoria Jubilee Museum
The Victoria Jubilee Museum, also known as Bapu Museum is present at M.G. Road in Vijayawada. The reason behind the renaming of the archaeological museum is a dedication to Bapu, the renowned film director, cartoonist, illustrator, and author. This museum is full of sculptures, artifacts, and paintings of Hindu and Buddhist relics. The architecture of the building is in Indo-European style and is more than a century old.
The museum has antique galleries, coins, swords, stone-cut scriptures, body armor, arms, and ornaments worn by kings. A standing Buddha carved out of white limestone, Lord Shiva, and Goddess Durga killing the demon can also be visible here. The Victoria Jubilee Museum engages and educates tourists by showing a virtual tour of the historical monument, providing a glimpse into its notable past.
