Vishakapatnam was named after the God of valour, Visakha. Once a small fishing village, it formed a part of the Kalinga empire, under Ashoka in 260 BC., passed on successively from the Andhra kings to Vengi to the Pallavas, Cholas and Gangas. In the 15th century, Visakhapatnam became a part of the Vijayanagar empire.

It was transformed into a port town under the British. Now a bustling industrial and commercial city, it is the country's largest ship building yard. The most famous landmark at Visakhapatnam is the Dolphin's Nose, a rocky promontory in the port that is 358 mt. in height. The Ramakrishna Mission Beach, on the east cost and Rishikonda, known for their serenity, are popular with tourists.