Vijayawada

Vijayawada (/ˈvɪdʒəjəˈwɑːdə/ ^ⓘ Vijay-uh-waw-duh), formerly known by its colonial name Bezawada, is the second largest city and a major commercial hub in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.^[8] The city forms an integral part of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region and is situated on the banks of the Krishna River, flanked by the Eastern Ghats and the scenic Indrakeeladri Hills.^[9]

It is renowned for its iconic Kanaka Durga Temple, an important Hindu shrine that attracts millions of devotees each year.^[10] Geographically positioned near the center of the state, Vijayawada is popularly described as the commercial, political, cultural, and educational capital of Andhra Pradesh.^[11] It also serves as the administrative headquarters of the newly formed NTR district.^[12] The Prakasam Barrage across the Krishna River is a pivotal infrastructure asset that connects NTR with Guntur district.^[13]

Vijayawada is recognized as one of India's fastest growing urban areas. In fact, a recent Oxford Economics report ranked it among the top 10 fastest growing cities in the world.^[14]

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.^[15] It also serves as the ritual host of Pushkaram (a river worshipping ritual in India) of the River Krishna.^[16] 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.^[17] 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.^[18]

The city is the third most densely populated urban built-up area in the world.^[19] and is classified as a Y-grade city by the Sixth Central Pay Commission.^[20] The city is the second most populous in the state with a population of more than one million.^[21] It was recognised as a "Global City of the Future" by McKinsey Quarterly, which expected an increase to GDP of $17 billion by 2025.^[22][23] In October 2018, it was awarded with ISO 37120 platinum level certification and has been added to the "Global Cities Registry".^[24][25]

Due to the presence of several well-known educational institutions, the city has emerged as a major educational hub in recent times, with many of the nation's students studying in the city. It is predicted to be the world's, and India's, tenth fastest growing city economy through 2035 by an Oxford Economics report.^[26] Due to its high ratings in entertainment, construction, food, education, health care, and transport,^[27] it is ranked as India's ninth most liveable city as per Ease of Living Index 2018, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs^[28] and the second most liveable city in the state of Andhra Pradesh.^[29]

The Vijayawada Junction railway station is one of the busiest in the country.^[30] It is the tenth busiest railway junction in the country.