Walking on a golden sandy beach on the coast of Bay of Bengal in eastern India, I thought to myself: how come such a lovely town kept away from my travel plans for such a long time! Just a few hours’ drive from Cuttack, where I grew up, Vishakhapatnam should have been on my travel list much before January 2026 when I visited for the first time. With a long shoreline it boasts of several beaches, great museums, neat and clean streets and the vibes of an educated populace. It was indeed a pleasant surprise to me. If it also sounds music to your ears, here’s a detailed account of Vishakhapatnam (also known popularly as Vizag), the beach city and its great museums.
There are not many cities in India that boasts of great museums. Maybe, there would be one good one in a city unless it’s a metro city like Delhi or Mumbai. Vishakhapatnam boasts of at least five interesting museums! {If you like museums, here’s a further reading suggestion: Best Museums in Delhi} And of course, along with the museums, Vishakhapatnam is popular as a beach city. The long sandy beaches are among the best ones in eastern India.
{For more beach destinations in eastern India, check out: Best Beaches on Odisha Coast}
Our east- coastal sojourn in the winter
Not that I didn’t plan for Vishakhapatnam earlier, but perhaps things happen when they have to. Earlier this year, in January 2026, we planned for a east-coast trip starting from Hyderabad. After spending the 1st day of 2026 in Hyderabad with dear friends- Prakash and Moksha, we proceeded to Warangal to visit the Kakatiya Ramappa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (More about Hyderabad and Ramappa in separate blogs later!)
An overnight train from Warangal took us to Vishakhapatnam. Next morning, we took a taxi to Araku Valley. In about three hours, we were amidst the rolling hills of the tranquil Araku Valley. If Vishakhapatnam gave us a pleasant surprise, Araku Valley delighted us with its serenity. Coming back to Vishakhapatnam the next day, we explored the beach city a bit more before taking a flight back to Delhi. Let me reserve the experience of Araku Valley for another day. This article is all about the beach city of Vishakhapatnam and its interesting museums.
Vishakhapatnam, the beach city
A long coastline running parallel to the city means Vishakhapatnam has a few lovely beaches. However, the two most important beaches are Ramakrishna Beach and Rushikonda Beach. While Ramakrishna Beach offers an urban vibe, Rushikonda is good for swimming. I also liked the Tenetti Park Beach.
1. Ramakrishna Beach:
In the middle of the coastline of Vishakhapatnam and at the heart of all tourist activities, lies the most popular beach of the city- Ramakrishna Beach (or, RK Beach). Till about 1938, the locals and the British alike, called it the Waltair Beach/ Waltair Coastline. But after the construction of the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram in 1938, the beach came to be known as Ramakrishna Beach.
Running parallel to the Beach Road of Vishakhapatnam, the 3.7 kms long beach is a happening place through out the day till late in the evening. Since we were staying at a hotel on the Beach Road, we thoroughly enjoyed a lovely sunrise. In the morning, it’s relatively peaceful with morning walkers and athletes around. Whether one likes to take a stroll on the sandy waterfront or on the promenade, it’s always a pleasurable walk. We loved all the art work and sculpture, viz. fishermen, mermaids, conch shells, statues of leaders and icons- by the pavement.
Indeed, RK Beach in Vishakhapatnam would count among the best urban/ city beaches of India. If you have visited the beach at Puri- Jagannath, you would feel much similar vibes here.
2. Rushikonda Beach:
While RK Beach is the most popular, a few kilometers (~7-8 kms) north of the city lies the best beach for water sports in Vishakhapatnam. With lush green hills and forests on one side, the 1.5 km long beach keeps busy with adventure lovers. It has facilities like speed boat riding, parasailing and jet skiing. During good weather season, one can even go for surfing and scuba diving.
Unlike RK Beach, Rushikonda Beach is completely safe for swimming. In fact, this is Andhra Pradesh’s only Blue Flag Beach (a beach that promotes sustainable tourism).
3. Tenneti Park Beach:
A small but interesting beach just adjacent to the RK Beach to the north is Tenneti Park Beach. As the name suggests, there’s a cute park (Tenneti Park) on the roadside facing the sea. From the park itself, the panoramic view of the beach below looks spectacular. Looking at the far north (left), one can also notice the Rushikonda Beach. Descending about a hundred steps, one reaches this sandy- rocky beach.
In October 2020, a Bangladeshi cargo ship drifted to the rocky beach and remains abandoned there since then. Now, it’s a definitive landmark and tourist attraction on the Tenneti Park Beach on the coast of Vishakhapatnam city. Interestingly, the government is working to make it a resort-cum- restaurant.
Other beaches near Vishakhapatnam:
Apart from these three beaches near Vishakhapatnam city center, there are a few other beaches a little far, like Bhimili Beach, Yarada Beach, Thanthadi Beach and Gangavaram Beach. If you are in Vishakhapatnam for a longer time, you may explore some of these beaches.
- Bhimili Beach (~30 kms to north of Vishakhapatnam city): This is fairly less crowded than the main beaches. Plus, the Dutch heritage buildings including the old lighthouse are major add-ons.
- Yarada Beach (~20 kms to south of Vishakhapatnam city): Tucked within Dolphin’s Nose Valley on three sides, this is the most picturesque beach in Vishakhapatnam. Moreover, its tranquil environment is a big draw for visitors seeking to peace.
- Gangavaram Beach (~28 kms to south of Vishakhapatnam city): Though near the Vishakhapatnam Steel Plant, being away from the main city, this beach is fairly peaceful. Besides, one can trek to the hilltop nearby to have a great panoramic view of the landscape around.
- Thanthadi Beach (~45 kms to south of Vishakhapatnam city): Though this beach is secluded and peaceful, the sand is blackish.
Great Museums of Vishakhapatnam
The coast of Vishakhapatnam is not only popular for its beaches but is also an important place for Indian Navy. In fact, the headquarters of Eastern Command of Indian Navy is situated here only. Consequently it’s home to some of the richest maritime heritage of India. In course of time, various types of naval heritage museums have come up on the Beach Road of Vishakhapatnam city. I have not seen any other place in India with so many interesting museums close to each other.
1. The Submarine Museum:
A few hundred meters south of the Cargo Ship that’s stranded on Tenneti Park Beach, another ship attracts all eyes. In fact, it’s a submarine that’s converted into a museum. Right on the golden sands of RK Beach stands the Kursura Submarine Museum.
Built by Russia, commissioned by Indian Navy in 1969, the submarine played a crucial role in 1971 Indo- Pak war. However, every great things calls it a day sometime. In 2001, the submarine was decommissioned. But later, what the authorities decided to do with it made it immortal! Inaugurated in 2002, this is Asia’s first such museum and only the second one in the world.
Walking through its various compartments- the engine section, torpedo compartment, crew living quarters- is a surreal experience. It was an eye-opener of sorts to see how the crew eat, sleep and live within such a small space for so long! I did salute the brave soldiers for their sacrifice.
2. TU-142 Aircraft Museum:
Getting out of the Submarine Museum, just opposite to it, one would see another majestic museum on the other side of the Beach Road. Interestingly, it’s a museum showcasing an anti-submarine aircraft!
Maybe, the popularity of the Submarine Museum encouraged the authorities to build some more museums like this. The result was TU-142 Aircraft Museum. An iconic Soviet-era aircraft- Tupalev Tu- 142M, after its decommission, was converted into a museum in 2017. The anti-submarine aircraft had served the Indian Navy for over 29 years.
Among all the features of the aircraft in display, I was most amazed to see its engine- such a massive one! Just adjacent to it, in an indoor facility, there are other aircraft models as well.
3. Sea Harrier Museum:
Another beast of the sky- the Sea Harrier fighter jet famous for its vertical short take off and landing (V/STOL). After its decommissioning, it became part of a museum that also exhibits a massive Rolls-Royce Pegasus jet engine. In fact, the Pegasus engine lies on the ground floor.
As we took the ascent within the museum, the Sea Harrier that suspends from the roof came to the view. Since it is suspended, we could have an absolute 360 degree view of the aircraft, from top to bottom.
4. UH-3H Helicopter Museum:
Like the other three museums above, this museum also features an actual decommissioned helicopter- UH-3H Sea King Helicopter, nick-named “Saaras” (Crane). After serving the Indian Navy for 15 years, the American helicopter retired in 2024 and became a museum the next year in 2025. Walking through that navy helicopter gave us a good sense of how military operations take place.
5. Vishakha Museum:
Apart from the naval museums, Vishakhapatnam also has a good heritage museum- Vishakha Museum. After renovating a 200-year old Dutch Bungalow, the local government converted it into a heritage museum in 1991. Later in 2004, the Indian Navy has added a Maritime Museum section to it as well.
The Heritage/ archaeology section showcases ancient coins, royal artefacts, memorabilia, historic weapons, a desk used by Mahatma Gandhi and preserves the history of Kalinga- Andhra region. While on the other side- Maritime Museum, the major attractions are warship models, old uniforms, an unexploded bomb and a coconut shell broken by Jawaharlal Nehru.
The museum remains closed on Friday. Unfortunately, we went there on a Friday, only to find it closed!
How to explore the museums:
The first four museums (Naval- Aviation Museums) lie very close to each other, at walkable distances. So, the authorities have made provisions for a combined museum ticket for Rs.200. Individually, they cost Rs.100 each. So, it’s wise to take the combined ticket. Exploring all the museums takes about 4 hours. Entry to Vishakha Museum is separate, costs only Rs.10.
Vishakhapatnam, the city beyond the beach and museums
Before we landed in Vishakhapatnam, we knew the city is all about the beach. Reaching there, we realized that it has some interesting museums as well. However, Vishakhapatnam city has much more to offer than its beach and museums. If you want to explore the city beyond the beaches and museums, take note of the following.
Kailasagiri Hilltop Park:
Once we were done with the beaches and the museums, we headed to the ropeway to Kailasagiri Hilltop Park. Yes, there was a long queue to get on to the ropeway. But the ride didn’t take more than 5 minutes to the top. Up there, it was a beautiful big park spread over 380 acres offering a panoramic view of the Bay of Bengal.
‘Kailasagiri’ literally means Kailasa Mountain, the abode of Lord Shiva. Most appropriately, two 40-feet statues of Lord Shiva and his consort- Goddess Parvati sit majestically at the center of the park. Among other attractions of the park are a toy train ride, a glass-bridge jutting out of a cliff, a floral clock and several adventure sports like sky-cycling. We did enjoy walking around the park and having some snack at the eateries.
Varaha- Laxmi Narasimha Temple, Simachalam:
During my University days in Berhampur, a town not far from Andhra border, I used to hear about Simachalam quite often. Hence, I decided to visit this temple one day during our stay in Vishakhapatnam. Our taxi dropped us at Simachalam Bus Station, about 17 kms from the city, and 4 kms before the temple. Beyond this point, only shuttle buses or local taxis can take one to the temple campus. So, we hired another local taxi who drove us through the Ghat Road to reach the hilltop.
The presiding deity of the Simachalam Temple is Shri Varaha Laxmi Narasimha Swamy- a rare combination of two Avatars of Lord Vishnu- ‘Varaha‘ (Boar) and ‘Narasimha‘ (Man-Lion). Though the original temple was built in the 11th century, the existing temple was built in the 13th century by King Narasimha Deva-I, who also built the famous Sun Temple of Konark. Along with typical Dravidian architectural style, it also has Kalinga architecture.
When we reached there late in the afternoon, there was a long queue at the entrance. But with payment of a special entrance fee, we could cut short the wait.
Miscellaneous other places:
- In the fort area, visit the century-old Ross Hill Church
- For nature lovers, Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary is a good option
- Else, go on a day trip to Araku Valley including Borra Caves.
Travel Tips: Vishakhapatnam
Best time to visit the beach city, Vishakhapatnam:
- Winter months of December to February are the best times to visit Vishakhapatnam city and enjoy the beach vibes. Plus, autumn (Oct- Nov) and spring (Feb- Mar) are also good.
- Since Vishakhapatnam is a coastal city in south-east India, summers (Apr- Jun) are not a great time to visit. Because temperature and humidity levels reach too high to enjoy. However, wet summer months- July to September months are not that bad.
How to reach the beach city, Vishakhapatnam:
Since it’s a big city, I don’t need to say much about how to reach there. Flights, trains, buses, cars- whatever one likes, one can take to reach the beach city of Vishakhapatnam.
Best places to stay in the beach city, Vishakhapatnam:
If you are a traveller, I would suggest choose the Beach Road (near RK Beach) area in Vishakhapatnam city. Because this will save you time travelling from your hotel to the most happening place in the city. So, here I am suggesting a few budget hotels in the RK Beach area in Vishakhapatnam city.
Hotel Arvind Stay ||| Hotel Ocean Vista Bay ||| Open Hotel by Olive ||| Hotel Ocean Blue ||| Zora Park Hotel ||| Treebo Seaesta ||| Treebo Raibow Grand.
How to get around the beach city, Vishakhapatnam:
Being a relatively big city, Vishakhapatnam has all the usual options to get around the city. For budget options, auto-rickshaws and local city buses are good. Else, one may hire a bike/ scooty on rental for the day. For comfort, one can hire a taxi/ app-based cab, rates comparable to most cities in India.
Best places to eat in the beach city, Vishakhapatnam:
- For traditional local specialties, check out: Zamindari Restaurant (Talvar chicken kebab, Nalli biryani) ||| Varun’s Eat (Nellore Chepala Pulusu) ||| Dakshin (Appam, Seafood).
- For modern/ western food, look for: Bean Board (Cinnamon Rolls) ||| Caffein Cups (Araku Filter Coffee) ||| Pop Up (Irani Chai).
Concluding Note
On the coast of Bay of Bengal, Vishakhapatnam is indeed a lovely beach- city with great museums. We had a wonderful few days there enjoying the bustling evening vibes and morning peaceful vibes. What appealed to me the most is that its long coastline boasts of both busy beaches as well as tranquil hidden gems. Besides, the interesting museums, parks and temples. Just think, how many cities in India have this combination!
Vishakhapatnam offers enough things to do to spend more than a weekend. Moreover, Araku Valley, a charming hill station famous for its coffee plantations is just a drive away. We did spend a day in Araku Valley and have wonderful memories of the place as well.
I hope this article appealed to your traveller’s spirit. And if it did, and you are thinking of planning a trip, you may write to us for more tips.
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