Visakhapatnam (shortened and Anglicized: Vizag) is a large city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It sits on the shore of the Bay of Bengal, and has the fourth largest port in India, and the country's oldest shipyard. Prime Minister Nehru launched independent India's first ship, the "Jala Usha" from here. It is a prominent industrial town, and is home to many heavy industries including
HPCL - Oil Refinery
Vishakhapatnam Steel Plant
Zinc Smelter
Bharat Heavy Plates and Vessels Ltd.
Visakhapatnam is also the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.
1765 : The territory of the Northern Sircars, of which Vizag was a part, ceded to the East India Company on dissolution of the Moghul Empire. Following this, a British colony was established.
Modern Vizag
1904 : Railway from Madras to Calcutta, passing through 'Vizagapatam' was opened.
1926 : Andhra University established.
1933 : Visakhapatnam Port established.
1942 : Japanese war planes attack Vizag.
1947 : Eastern Naval Command established its base here. Prior to 1947 the Royal Navy had a base in HMIS Sircars.
1949 : Scindia Shipyard started. Later nationalised and called Hindustan Shipyard.