Visakha Utsav 2023: A Toast to the Splendid Tourism in the City of Destiny!

People of Vishakapatnam eagerly wait for the Visakha Utsav every year. This event started as a celebration to draw more eyes toward Vishakapatnam. Now, it has become a ritual that hails the beauty and aesthetic charm of the place.

Visakhapatnam is a gorgeous city that has a serene atmosphere. This wonderful place is comfortably nestled in the eastern ghat region and the Bay of Bengal splashes its waves on the coastal line. There are several good tourist places here, local art forms, handicrafts, lip-smackingly good cuisines, cultural performances, and more! The Vishakha Utsav brings all these superb things much closer to the visitors. 

If you want to be a part of the celebratory joy that Visakha Utsav brings along, come to Vishakapatnam in the month of December! This city in Andhra Pradesh is open to welcoming tourists and visitors! If you think about it, Visakha Utsav 2023 is all about opening the doors of the city to new eyes and showcasing the rich ethnic culture of the Telugu state to outsiders. 

While you are here, book your affordable stay at Treebo Hotels in Vishakapatnam for a comfortable accommodation experience. 

Read on!

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Significance of Visakha Utsav

The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and the Vishakhapatnam Metropolitan region Development Authority organise Visakha Utsav every year to celebrate the unique culture and traditions of the South Indian state.

The first time Visakha Utsav was conducted in the year 1997 to promote tourism and show the world a short glimpse of AP’s cultural heritage. The event aims to show tourists and visitors the different traditional rituals, dance forms, art, music, local handicrafts, and cuisines and also promote water sports seeing how Vishakapatnam has several beaches. Until the year 2000, the tourism revenue was not up to the mark, at least not as much as the Government had expected when they first thought about the Utsav.

But word of mouth spread pretty quickly and many people from across the world attend Visakha Utsav now. The magnificence of the event also increased with the increase in the number of people attending the event each year. 

The Government wants to promote the work of local artisans, and encourage them to bring their masterpieces in front of the public eye! This will provide good income for the talented artists and also improve their morale! 

While Visakha Utsav is a good opportunity for promoting the AP state tourism revenue, for visitors, it is a grand celebration with unlimited entertainment. This event is the perfect place to let your hair loose and enjoy the vibrant and scintillating atmosphere with your friends and family. While tasting sizzling hot cuisines from the food stalls, you can relax to the sound of the splashing waves against the shore. 

Date and Venue of Visakha Utsav 2023

Vishaka Utsav is a splendid annual celebration that happens in December every year. The winter season creates the right mood and atmosphere for a magnificent event! There is no scorching sun to worry about and the pleasant sea breeze will keep you calm while you explore the interesting tourist places in Vishakapatnam. This is the best time to have your photo sessions at historic places, explore the beaches and to indulge in adrenaline-filled adventure activities.

In 2023, Visakha Utsav will be a two-day event that will be held on the 29th and 30th of December. If you are planning to come here in December, plan your trip in such a way that you can stay from Christmas – the 25th of December to the 2nd of January 2024, until the New Year celebrations are done. You will never regret this decision. 

The Utsav will happen on the Rama Krishna Beach. You will see traditional processions, local and Telugu cinematic musical performances, and traditional dance performances. There will be DJ music to groove to, art displays, local handicraft sales, and food stalls that have the best seafood. The adrenaline junkies can find water sports at a very affordable price. 

Major Attractions of the Festival

Meet The Tribal People 

The residents and tourists are not the only people who are going to attend the event! You will also find indigenous tribes coming forward to boast about their rich ethnic heritage. You will enjoy seeing them interact with the visitors and offer an insight into their living style. Unlike some of the tribes you will find in the other parts of the country, they are not reluctant to interact or click pictures with you. However, be very mindful of their beliefs and customs. Mutual respect will be greatly appreciated. 

Mesmerising Music

You will hear the talented musicians play the large drum called ‘Dappu’ and sing the tribal songs. The energetic music will surely make you tap your feet even if you do not understand their language. Then there are soothing melodies which are sure to bring a smile to your face. The whole atmosphere will seem right out of a film. The slow breeze of the sea, the crowd having a great time, and the melodies, everything will help you relax and let go of all the worries. 

Dance Performances

The folk dances are the main attraction of Visakha Utsav Festival. You will see tribal people gathering in circles and swaying to the tunes of folk songs. In fact, you can join them too! Some would go ahead and help you deck up in their attire (Saree) as well! The Dance performances also include street skits depicting the stories of Hindu Mythology and Divine entities. These happen in the Nukkad Natak style that is popular in the northern parts of the country too. 

Food Stalls

Vishakapatnam is famous for its delicious seafood that is made with whole spices and is known for its spicy taste! With fresh fish out of the ocean, the local chefs make lip-smacking fish fry, fish curry and several other dishes. And then there are prawn, crab, and other recipes that you can check out. Liver Kebab, Punugulu, Bamboo Chicken, Masala Batani, and Dosa are some of the famous recipes of Vishakapatnam. Do not forget to try them. 

Shows By Famous Celebrities

Not just the locals, celebrities from the Telugu film Industry show up to perform on a huge stage set up on the occasion of Visakha Utsav 2023. Last year, Anchor Suma and Silpa Chakravarthy attended the Visakha Utsav 2022. This year, the names will be announced one week before the events when the dates are confirmed by the celebrities. 

Display of Art and Craft

Vishakapatnam is famous for Kalamkari art. These are attractive designs that comprise bright colours, and aesthetic drawings of birds, animals, flowers and leaves. You will see them on sarees, textiles, wall hangings and even vases and home decor! Apart from this, Visakhapatnam is also known for the kondapalli dolls that are realistic replicas of village people. These are used as home decor and also as puppets for shows and events.

Beach Activities

Visakha Utsav 2023 also has some really good activities lined up for the adrenaline junkies. This is the time of the year when you will find more water sports than usual and beach games that you can play with friends and other attendees. Beach volleyball, tug of war, soccer, water surfing and treasure hunt are some of the games that you can take part in. 

Other Nearby Places to Visit in Vishakapatnam

If you are planning to attend the Visakha Utsav 2023, make some space in your schedule and also visit these spectacular places in the vicinity. 

Kailasagiri

If you are bored of the beaches, you can travel to Kailasagiri to experience the surreal beauty of the hills. Kailsagiri is roughly at an elevation of 175 meters from sea level. Here, you will find a natural canopy of trees, bushes, exotic wildflowers and breathtaking views from the hills. There are entertaining activities like a ropeway, gardens, trolley trucks, a children’s park and the famous Shiva-Parvati statue that attracts pilgrims from all parts of the country. Kailasagiri is very peaceful, and quiet and if you want to lighten the mood after a heavy celebration at Visakha Utsav 2023, you must visit Kailasagiri. This is about 19 km away from the heart of Visakhapatnam city and the journey can be covered in roughly 45 minutes. 

Aircraft Museum

TU142 Aircraft Museum is a wonderful place to visit for those who like planes and have an interest in knowing about the history of Indian Air Force. A naval aircraft which once flew for more than 30,000 hours over a period of 30 years was decommissioned and the museum is within this plane! How fascinating that is! Here, you will find different parts of a plane like the engines, propellers, turbines, missiles used, other weapons, black boxes with clear audio, and survival kits for the defence personnel. You can also get a virtual reality flying experience in this museum so do not miss out on it!  

Rushikonda Beach

You will explore the Rama Krishna Beach during the Utsav but there is one more beach in Vishakapatnam that deserves your attention – Rushikonda Beach. This place is famous for its crystal clear turquoise water and the clear sandy shore. The atmosphere is way too soothing and the evenings are the best here. The sky turns into a kaleidoscope and the colours reflect off of the water surface. Here, you will find street food stalls so grab a packet of peanuts and stroll around the beach with your loved ones. 

Dolphin’s Nose

Dolphin’s Nose is the best place to click pictures with a scenic backdrop! This is present on Dolphin Hill which offers the best views of the surroundings, including the bustling city and the gorgeous beaches. It is best to visit the place in the mornings to witness the sunrise and also complete your photography session before the sun starts scowling upon you. The meandering roads leading to the viewpoint also offer a good road trip experience so if you are coming to Vishakhapatnam on your own vehicles, enjoy the ride! 

How To Reach Vishakapatnam for Visakha Utsav 2023

Vishakapatnam is one of the main coastal cities in Southern India. It is easy to reach the place by air, rail or roadways. 

By Air

Vishakapatnam has an international airport that is well-connected with other airports in the country. You can come to Vishakapatnam from Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Kerala, Goa, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, and Chandigarh by direct flights. There are connecting flights from Jaipur and other western cities. After you get out of the airport, it is easy to find cab services that will take you to Rama Krishna Beach. The journey is of 19 km and can be covered in 45 minutes. 

By Rail

Vishakapatnam Railway Station gets trains from Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Howrah, Pune, Mumbai, Guwahati and Delhi. Once you reach the railway station, you can easily find an autorickshaw or cab to take you to your hotel. However, if you wish to directly go to Visakha Utsav, Rama Krishna Beach is only 2 km away.

By Road

It is very convenient to reach Vishakapatnam by road. NH16 connects Vishakapatnam with other important towns and cities in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. If you are coming from any other state, the journey can be very long and you must eventually enter NH16 from your cities. The road trips are comfortable and NH16 has four-lane roads that make driving safe, easy and quick. 

Visakhapatnam is a terrific city with a very friendly local crowd. They go out of their way to help guests feel comfortable and have the best time of their life! You will know more about this when you attend the Vishaka Utsav that they host every year! If you want to be a part of this grand celebration in December, make plans to come to Vishakapatnam in the last week of December, relax for a couple of hours and set out to party after that. The experience is mind-blowing and you will make a lot of cherishable memories.