Visakhapatnam is located 370 kilometres (230 mi) north east of the proposed state capital of Amaravati and 701 kilometres (436 mi) of Hyderabad, the common capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It is the administrative headquarters of Visakhapatnam district. As of 2011, the population of the city was recorded as 1,730,320, making it 17th largest city in India, while its metropolitan area had a
population of 2,091,811. Nestled between the Eastern Ghats mountain range and the Bay of Bengal, the city occupies an area of 681.96 km2 (263.31 sq mi), making it the largest city in the state by area. The GDP of Visakhapatnam ranks tenth among Indian cities at $26 Billion (USD).Visakhapatnam is the principal commercial hub of the state, and contributes to its economy in many sectors such as heavy industries, tourism, industrial minerals, fishing, and information technology.Visakhapatnam Port is the fifth busiest port in India in terms of cargo handled.The city serves as the headquarters for Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy and is home to the oldest shipyard and the only natural harbour on the east coast of India. Visakhapatnam's history stretches back to the 6th century BCE. Historically, it was considered part of the Kalinga region, and later ruled by the Vengi kingdom, the Pallava and Eastern Ganga dynasties. Archaeological records suggest that the present city was built around the 11th and 12th centuries CE with control over the city fluctuating between the Chola Dynasty and the Gajapati Kingdom until its conquest by the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century. Conquered by the Mughals in the 16th century, European powers eventually set up trading interests in the city, and by the end of the 18th century it had come under French rule. Control passed to the British in 1804 and it remained under British colonial rule until India's independence in 1947. After independence, Visakhapatnam developed into one of the country's chief ports and became the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy. The city is often known as The Jewel of the East Coast, The City of Destiny and the Goa of the East Coast.[Visakhapatnam's beaches (such as Ramakrishna Mission Beach and Rushikonda), parks (such as Kailasagiri and VUDA Park), museums (such as the Kursura Submarine Museum and Visakha Museum), and proximity to areas of natural beauty (such as the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, Araku Valley, and Borra Caves) have helped the city become a significant tourist destination.
