|
|
| Home
» Visakhapatnam |
|
About Visakhapatnam |
|
| |
A popular belief says that Visakhapatnam got its name from the deity "Visakha", the temple of which can still be seen here. A legendary tale attributes the construction of this temple by an Andhra king who was supposed to be on his way to Benaras when he stopped here to take a rest. The findings of the Archaeological survey agencies however contradict this view. According to the sources, it is now revealed that the temple was possibly a creation of the Cholas between the eleventh and twelfth centuries. In antiquity, the area is believed to be visited by Lord Rama during the Ramayana period and by Bheema during the Mahabharata era.
The historical sources give an indication that the region of present Visakhapatnam formed a part of the vast Kalinga territory in the fifth century BC. Later the area was ruled by Andhra rulers of Vengi, followed by dynasties, like Chalukyas, Pallavas and the Reddy kings until it came under the control of the Cholas in the eleventh century. During the fifteenth and sixteenth century it became a part of the empire held by the Hyderabad Nizam.
| |
As a natural port located at a strategic point on the eastern shore, Visakhapatnam soon attracted the attention of foreign traders who used it to export various goods, like ivory tobacco, muslin and textile products.
The brief period of the French control over Visakhapatnam in the eighteenth century was followed by a long dominion by the British who started the process of its transformation from a small fishing village to a modern industrial hub. By 1933, the harbor of Vizag was opened to traffic and the commercial importance of the city grew to an unprecedented level. This era saw the setting up of many industries, which put Vizag on the industrial map of India. Some of the prominent industries found here include Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Bharat Heavy Plates and Vessels (BHPV), Coromandel Fertilizers, HPCL, Hindustan Zinc Ltd, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant etc.
The saga of industrial development in the city continued, at a more rapid pace, after the independence of the country. The city has also acquired a prominent position in the defense set up of the country, as the Eastern Naval Command is based here. The possibility of its becoming the capital of Telangana, if it ever becomes a separate state from the present Andhra Pradesh, is causing the real estate prices to shoot up beyond the normal level. Thus, a fast progressing city with a cosmopolitan outlook is what characterizes the modern Visakhapatnam.
|
|
|
