Nicknamed the “Goa of the East”, Visakhapatnam is a lively port city overlooking the Bay of Bengal. It’s home to beautiful stretches of sand and a fascinating local history museum, as well as a decommissioned navy submarine that’s been transformed into a museum.

Things to do

Relax on one of Visakhapatnam’s beautiful beaches, such as the picturesque Bhimili, which also features the remains of a Portuguese church, or Gangavaram Beach with its rocky offshore islet. The most popular is Ramakrishna Mission Beach, where you can swim, play beach volleyball or visit the Matsyadarshini Aquarium to admire the variety of tropical fish.

Ramakrishna Beach is also home to the Kursura Submarine Museum, housed in a Soviet-built INS Kursura submarine that once belonged to the Indian Navy. After being decommissioned, it was established as the first submarine museum in South Asia, with retired naval personnel now guiding visitors around its working and living quarters.

A short walk from the submarine is the Visakha Museum, which houses an impressive collection of historical artefacts from across the Kalingandhra region. Browse the ancient armoury, old coins and traditional silk costumes, together with model warships, planes and submarines detailing India’s military heritage.

Ride the cable car to the hilltop park of Kailasagiri, which overlooks Visakhapatnam and is dominated by a giant white Shiva-Parvati statue. Take in the sweeping coastal views while exploring gardens full of tropical trees and native flora.

Getting around

Visakhapatnam International Airport is a 20-minute drive north of the city centre, while the Visakhapatnam Railway Station has connections to Calcutta and Chennai. Buses and rickshaws travel throughout the city.