Vijayawada

Vijayawada ( Vijay-uh-waw-duh), also called as Bezawada, is the second largest city and a major commercial hub in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The city forms an integral part of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region and is situated on the banks of the Krishna River, flanked by the Eastern Ghats and the Indrakeeladri Hills. Vijayawada is an important agricultural trade hub in the state of Andhra Pradesh, particularly for mango commerce. The city's surrounding regions, including Nunna and Nuzvid, are well known for extensive mango cultivation and wholesale trading. The mango-growing belt around Vijayawada produces popular varieties such as Banganapalle, Totapuri, Cheruku Rasalu, and Suvarnarekha, which are distributed to several Indian states and export markets.Vijayawada is known for mango trade due to the Nunna mango market. It is renowned for its iconic Kanaka Durga Temple, an important Hindu shrine that attracts millions of devotees each year. Geographically positioned near the centre of the state, Vijayawada is popularly described as the commercial, political, cultural, and educational capital of Andhra Pradesh. It also serves as the administrative headquarters of the newly formed NTR district. The Prakasam Barrage across the Krishna River is a pivotal infrastructure asset that connects NTR and Guntur districts. Vijayawada is recognised as one of India's fastest growing urban areas. The 2023 Oxford Economics report ranked it among the top 10 fastest growing cities in the world. Vijayawada is considered to be a sacred place due to it being home to one of the most visited and famous temples in Andhra Pradesh and India, the Kanaka Durga Temple of the Hindu Goddess Durga residing on the Indrakeeladri hill. It also serves as the ritual host of Pushkaram (a river worshipping ritual in India) of the River Krishna. There is a legend which says that Arjuna, one of the...