Besides being an important religious centre
for Buddhists and Hindus, Vijayawada is also a centre of
Andhra culture. The Chalukyas of Kalyan once conquered this
place, and the famous Chinese Xuanzang (Hsuan-tsang) had
visited this place in 639 when Buddhism was at its zenith
in the region.
During the British Raj the city experienced significant
growth. In particular, the completion of the Prakasam Barrage
in 1959, and Railway Bridge on the Krishna River have helped
the region expand its agricultural and commercial base.
And Vijayawada Railway station is one of the busiest railyway
junctions in India. The regions around the city have fertile
soil and are irrigated by the river.
The City
Vijayawada, also called as "Bezawada", is 257-km
from Hyderabad and is located on the banks of the Krishna
River, and is bounded by the Indrakiladri hills on the West
and the Budameru River on the North. Situated along the Chennai-
Howrah and Chennai-Delhi rail route, this is the largest railway
junction of the South Central Railway. The city forms a part
of the Krishna district, spread over an area of 58-sq- kms
(urban area).
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.
How to Get There
Air:
The airport located at Gannavaram, about 20-km, from the
city connects Vijayawada to Hyderabad and Vishakhapatnam.
It's about a 30-minute flight from Hyderabad. NEPC Airlines
flies to Chennai and Visakhapatanam on Tuesday, Thursday
and Saturday.
Rail:
Vijaywada is on the main Chennai to Kolkatta and Chennai
to Delhi lines and all the express trains stop here. Situated
along the Chennai- Howrah and Chennai-Delhi rail route,
this is the largest railway junction of the South Central
Railway. The quickest train from Vijayawada to Chennai is
the Coromandel Express.
Road:
Good motorable roads connect Vijayawada with all the places
within the state and also with the major cities in India.
Transport by road from Vijayawada to all the places of Buddhist
interest is available in the form of Andhra Pradesh State
Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses.
Local Transport:
Tourist Taxis, Metered Taxis, Auto rickshaws, and Cycle
Rickshaws are available. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport
Corporation (APSRTC) operates point-to-point bus services,
which connect
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