Vijayawada

Vijayawada
Bezawada
Metropolis
Clockwise from top: Prakasam Barrage, Statue of Social Justice, Kondapalli Fort, Undavalli Caves, Kanaka Durga Temple, Gandhi Smaraka Stupam, and Bapu Museum
Etymology: The Place of Victory
Nickname: 
City of Victory
Map
Interactive map
A map showing location of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, India.
A map showing location of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Vijayawada
Location in Andhra Pradesh
A map showing location of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, India.
A map showing location of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Vijayawada
Location in India
A map showing location of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, India.
A map showing location of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Vijayawada
Location in Asia
A map showing location of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, India.
A map showing location of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Vijayawada
Location in Earth
Coordinates: 16°31′09″N 80°37′50″E / 16.5193°N 80.6305°E / 16.5193; 80.6305
Country India
StateAndhra Pradesh
RegionCoastal Andhra
District
Incorporated (Municipality)1 April 1888
Incorporated (Corporation)6 June 1981
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Corporation
 • Body
 • MayorRayana Bhagya Lakshmi (YSRCP)
 • Municipal CommissionerSwapnil Dinakar Pundkar (IAS)
 • Member of ParliamentKesineni Chinni (TDP)
 • Member of the Legislative Assembly
Bonda Umamaheswara Rao (TDP) Vijayawada Central,
Area
 • Urban
[1]
283.58 km2 (109.49 sq mi)
 • Metro
[2]
8,603.32 km2 (3,321.76 sq mi)
 • City61.88 km2 (23.89 sq mi)
Elevation
11 m (36 ft)
Population
 • Rank2nd (in Andhra Pradesh) 27th In India
 • Urban
[3]
1,476,931
 • Urban density5,200/km2 (13,000/sq mi)
 • Metro
5,873,588
 • City
1,048,240
 • City density17,000/km2 (44,000/sq mi)
Literacy
 • Literates789,038
 • Literacy rate82.59%
Languages
 • OfficialTelugu
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
PIN
520001[4]
Area code+91–866
Vehicle registrationAP 16
Nominal GDP(2023-24)(Note: GDP refers only to VMC Limits -(For metropolitan GDP visit Andhra Pradesh Capital Region)₹40,311 crore (US$4.8 billion)[5]
International AirportVijayawada Airport
National HighwaysNH 16, NH 65, NH 30
Website

Vijayawada (/ˈvɪdʒəjəˈwɑːdə/ ⓘ Vijay-uh-waw-duh), also known by its colonial name Bezawada, is the second largest city and commercial hub in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.[6] The city is part of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region and is located on the banks of the Krishna River surrounded by the hills of the Eastern Ghats, known as the Indrakeeladri Hills.[7] The city is home to the important Hindu shrine of Kanaka Durga Temple.[8] It geographically lies on the center spot of Andhra Pradesh. The city has been described as the commercial, political, cultural and educational capital of Andhra Pradesh.[9] It is the administrative headquarters of NTR district.[10] The Prakasam Barrage across the Krishna River connects the NTR and Guntur districts.[11]

It is one of the fastest growing urban areas in India [12] and among the top 10 fastest growing cities in the world according to Oxford Economics report.[13]

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.[14] It also serves as the ritual host of Pushkaram (a river worshipping ritual in India) of the River Krishna.[15] There is a legend which says that Arjuna, one of the heroes of the Indian epic Mahabharata, prayed on top of the Indrakeeladri Hill in the city and won the blessings of the Lord Shiva to get the Pashupatastra to win the Kurukshetra War.[16] It was called Vijayavatika (meaning Land of Victory in Telugu) when Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahishasura and rested on the Indrakeeladri Hill by the River Krishna establishing the victory over evil hence the place got its name Vijayavatika, "Vijaya" meaning victory, and "Vatika" meaning place or land in Telugu.[17]

The city is the third most densely populated urban built-up area in the world.[18] and is classified as a Y-grade city by the Sixth Central Pay Commission.[19] The city is the second most populous in the state with a population of more than one million.[20] It was recognised as a "Global City of the Future" by McKinsey Quarterly, which expected an increase to GDP of $17 billion by 2025.[21][22] In October 2018, it was awarded with ISO 37120 platinum level certification and has been added to the "Global Cities Registry".[23][24]

Due to the presence of several well-known educational institutions, the city has emerged as a major educational hub in recent times, with many of the nation's students studying in the city. It is predicted to be the world's, and India's, tenth fastest growing city economy through 2035 by an Oxford Economics report.[25] Due to its high ratings in entertainment, construction, food, education, health care, and transport,[26] it is ranked as India's ninth most liveable city as per Ease of Living Index 2018, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs[27] and the second most liveable city in the state of Andhra Pradesh.[28]

The Vijayawada Junction railway station is one of the busiest in the country.[29] It is the tenth busiest railway junction in the country.

  1. ^ https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42876/download/46544/CLASS_I.xlsx
  2. ^ "Area of CRDA". The Hindu. The News Minute. 23 September 2015.
  3. ^ https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42876/download/46544/CLASS_I.xlsx
  4. ^ "Vijayawada Pincodes 520001 | Postal Codes of Vijayawad Pincodes | POML". 21 November 2023.
  5. ^ https://des.ap.gov.in/MainPage.do?mode=menuBind&tabname=publications
  6. ^ "Tunnel road lives up to name Bezawada". Deccan Chronicle. 11 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Geography of Vijayawada".
  8. ^ "Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam".
  9. ^ "About Vijayawada - Vijayawada Police".
  10. ^ "About NTR district".
  11. ^ "Prakasam Barrage to be the pride of Amaravati". The Hans India.
  12. ^ Pink, William T.; Noblit, George W. (2017). Second International Handbook of Urban Education. Springer. p. 400. ISBN 978-3-319-40317-5. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference FE city economy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ "History". www.kanakadurgamma.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  15. ^ "Krishna Pushkaram commences with traditional fervour in Andhra Pradesh". The Indian Express. PTI. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  16. ^ "About Vijayawada – VijayawadaPolice". Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  17. ^ "About Vijayawada – VijayawadaPolice". Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Vijayawada is third densely packed city;with 31,200 people living in every square km". 19 August 2016. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  19. ^ "Sixth Central Pay Commission Classification of Cities" (PDF). Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  20. ^ "Vijayawada: Traffic regulation need of the hour". Deccan Chronicle. 24 February 2018. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  21. ^ Raghavendra, V. "A fillip for "McKinsey's global city"". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  22. ^ "Economy of the City" (PDF). City Development Initiative For Asia. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  23. ^ Boda, Tharun (5 October 2018). "City gets ISO 37120 certification, enters Global Cities Registry". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  24. ^ "Global Cities Registry™". World Council on City Data. Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  25. ^ "All of the top 10 fastest growing cities in the world are in India". Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  26. ^ "Vijayawada, a growth engine for Andhra Pradesh economy – Deccan Chronicle". Deccan Chronicle. 28 May 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  27. ^ "India – Ease of Living Index" (PDF). IPSOS. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  28. ^ "Tirupati and Vijayawada among top 10 most liveable cities in India". The News Minute. 14 August 2018. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  29. ^ "Top 10 Railway Junctions in India". Indian Rail Info by TravelKhana. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2020.


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