Visakhapatnam (Telugu: pronunciation (helpinfo)) also called as Vaishakhapuram (shortened and anglicized as: Vaishakh->Vaizak->Vizag, finally pronounced as 'why-zag') is a major port city on the south east coast of India. With a population of 1,435,099), it is 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. It is located 625 kilometres (388mi) east of the state capital Hyderabad. Visakhapatnam is home to several state-owned heavy industries, a major steel plant, and has one of India's largest sea ports and its oldest shipyard. It has the only natural harbour on the east coast of India. Visakhapatnam was named after Visakha, the Hindu god of valor. 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 headquarters to the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy....
