Vizag (also Visakhapatnam, shortened and anglicised: Visakha/Vizag or Vasaka) is a major port and the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai, with a population of approximately 1.3 million. It is located 625 kilometres (388 mi) east of state capital, Hyderabad. The city is nestled among the hills of the Eastern Ghats and faces the Bay of Bengal to the east. It is the administrative headquarters of Visakhapatnam district and is also home to the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy. Visakhapatnam is often referred to as The Jewel of The East Coastor The City of Destiny. Vizag is sometimes referred to as the "Goa of the East Coast." Just like its west coast counterpart, it has beautiful virgin beaches, laterite hillocks, smooth roads and stunning landscape. Health-tourism is a fast developing industry. Visakhapatnam is variously referred to as Jewel on the Coramandel Coast or Steel city.
