Concept

Vijayawada

Summary
Vijayawada, formerly known as Bezawada, is the second largest city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the NTR district and encompasses an urban agglomeration that spans across NTR, Krishna, and Guntur districts. Vijayawada lies on the banks of the Krishna river surrounded by the hills of the Eastern Ghats, known as the Indrakeeladri Hills. 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 It is the second largest city in Andhra Pradesh with a population of 1,723,000 in 2021, estimated population of 1,991,189 in the Vijayawada Metropolitan Area. The population of the city is estimated to grow to 2,500,000 by 2025 It is one of the fastest growing urban areas in India and among the top 10 fastest growing cities in the world according to Oxford Economics report. 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. It also serves as the ritual host of Pushkaram (a river worshipping ritual in India) of the River Krishna. 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. 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. Over the years the name of Vijayavatika changed to Rajendra Chola Pura during the Chola Dynasty and Bezawada during British rule and eventually to Vijayawada. The city is the third most densely populated urban built-up area in the world.
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