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 On the banks of the mighty Krishna River Vijayawada is
a major railway junction on the east coast line from kolkotta to Chennai. It is practically the centre of Andhra in all
its aspects. About
265km east of Hyderabad, it's an important industrial centre and a fairly hectic
town. Few travellers stop here but it's a most convenient place from which to
visit Amravathi. In vijayawada itself, there are a number of important
Hindu temples including the Kanaka Durga Temple on Indrakila Hill, as well as
two 1000 year old Jain temples. About eight km from Vijayawada, across the
river, are the ancient Hindu cave temples of Undavalil. The name of Vijayawada is derived from the "Vijaya"
- victory. A famous landmark in the Prakasam barrage, the
1223.5 long modern regulator and road bridge across the Krishna river,
completed in 1957.It is the third largest city of Andhra pardesh. The
places to visit in Vijaywada are the
Mogalrajapuram caves, Prakasam Barrage, Gundala Church, Kanakadurga Temple,
Undavalliand
Gandhi Stupa. Some site of religious significance in
Vijayawada is Hazrat Bal Mosque. It contains the idols of Lord
Nataraja, Vinayaka
and others. The Ardhana-reeshwara Murthy found here is considered the
only one of its kind in South India. St.Mary's church, set on a
hillock in the eastern side of the town at Gunadala, is also worth
visiting. So altogether Vijayawada presents a colourful and varied picture and
can be termed as a business cum pilgrim cum tourist centre. Asia's biggest bus
stand, with modern architecture, planned during NTR's time, was commenced in the
city sometime back.
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