Vijayawada
is
known
as
the
political
as
well
as
publishing
capital
of
andhra
Pradesh.
Vijayawada
is
a
vital
rail
and
road
link
between
North
and
the
South
and
is
now
known
as
'the
city
that
never
sleeps'.
A
major
business
centre,
it
is
the
hub
of
commercial
activity
in
the
coastal
area.
The
Prakasam
barrage,
the
Kanakadurga
temple,
the
St.
Mary's
church
and
the
Moghalrajapuram
caves
are
some
of
the
attractions
in
the
city,
known
for
its
cinema
theatres
and
typically
Andhra
food.
The
number
of
canals
criss-crossing
the
city
gives
it
a
Venetian
look.
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.
In
particular,
the
completions
of
the
Krishna
Barrage
and
the
Railway
Bridge
on
Krishna
have
helped
the
region
expand
its
agricultural
and
commercial
base.
The
famous
Chinese
traveller
Hieun
T`sang
has
visited
this
city.
Today,
with
excellent
communications,
perhaps
the
best
in
the
South
where
railways
are
concerned,
Vijayawada
become
one
of
the
big
business
centres
of
the
State.
Commercially,
culturally
and
industrially
the
city
is
a
very
flourishing
one.
