“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – (Ibn Battuta)
Train
Journey from Hyderabad to Vishakhapatnam
While I was in Hyderabad, the travel bug was
biting me again. So one day we packed my bags for Vishakhapatnam. we boarded in
“Vskp duronto express Train” from Secundrabad railway station. Train started
its journey for Vishakhapatnam at 8.15 pm; After getting into train we all took
our respective berths. It was about 11 hours, one night 699 Km long journey.
Next morning we were in Vishakhapatnam at 7.00 am.
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| Pristine Beach Rishikonda from Top of Kailashagiri hills |
I preferred to stay in retiring room at
railway station. After some rest and showering, we were ready to roam in
Vishakhapatnam, but it needs energy. Crispy special South Indian Dosa and a
cupp of aromatic hot coffee energized me to roam in city.
Visakhapatnam’s
other name is Vizag
Visakhapatnam, Jewel of East coast of Bay of
Bengal got its name from Lord Visakheswara. Temple (also known as Karthikeya,
second son of Lord Shiva) which is now located beneath the sea waters of the
city.
During
British reign, government built a port in Visakhapatnam along its natural
harbor. English men found it difficult
to pronounce the word Visakhapatnam and they used to spell it as Vizagapatam
(pronounced as Vee-Zaag-ah-paat-ahm).
in later years the name eventually
transformed and was cut short to Vizag. However, the republic India recognized
Visakhapatnam as the original name of the city and continued to use it after
independence.
Popular
mythology: That Visakhapatnam was named after Visakha
The God of Valor and the son of Lord Shiva,
more recent revelations indicate that the town was named after the Buddhist princes
Visakha since Andhra Desam during the 3rd century B.C was the strong hold of
Buddhism. The recent archaeological findings of a few Buddhist sites lying
between Bheemli and Vizag, are also pointers to this.
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| Roads of Vishakhapatnam |
Why
I liked Visakhapatnam for my travelling
From a small fishing village half a century
ago, Vishakhapatnam has converted into a flourishing harbor, a glorious city
of Andhra Pradesh. Call it The City of Destiny or the “jewel of the East Coast
of Bay of Bengal”.Now Visakhapatnam is a busy sea port.
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| Vishakhapatnam |
Nestled among the hills of the Eastern Ghats
and facing the Bay of Bengal, Vizag as it is called is also the headquarters of
the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.
Bounded with long and never-ending pristine
beach stretches with golden sand, on one side and undulating green hills on the
other, the destination is considered paradise. Surrounded by small fishing
villages.
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| A View of Vishakhapatnam City-Pristine Beaches with Golden Sand |
Vizag is all blue for me, not simply for its
seascape but for the complete calm and spiritual feel it compellingly bestows upon
you, uninvited!
Our three days travelogue of Golden
Sand and Pristine beaches of Vishakhapatnam the, Jewel of East coast of Bay of
Bengal is as ----
(1)Kailashagiri
Our
first visit was Kailashagiri, located around 10 km from the Visakhapatnam
Railway Station, a hilltop park in, a well-manicured park perched at a height
of 360 feet above sea level. Kailashagiri
is a favorite location among the filmmakers all over India.
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| Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi Statue in Kailashagiri-Vizag |
The
Government of Andhra Pradesh awarded Kailashagiri as its "Best Tourist
Spot" in 2003. A cable car connects to the top of the hill, the first of
its kind in Andhra Pradesh.
The
moment we set foot on the hill, we were greeted with a breath-taking view of
majestic hills stretching out to Bay of Bengal. From this height, the waves
thrashing the sea-shore looked no more than gentle ripples caressing the golden
sand. The entire city of Vishakhapatnam, the houses, the buildings, the roads,
was all visible at a glance.
The major attraction of the park is two apocalyptic statues
of Lord Shiva and Parvati made of pure white stone, carved to perfection. The
idol of Lord Shiva is tall at a height of 40 ft. The surrounding trees, the
clear blue sky, the God sitting with his Goddess, watching over us.
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| Rope Way to Kailashagiri |
Other important points are Shanku Chakra
Naama, Floral Clock, Jungle Trails, Food Courts, 7 Wonders of Vizag, Shiva
Temple, Titanic View Point, Shanti Ashram, View Points, Art Gallery, Road
Train, Gliding Base Point, Children Play Park, Conference Hall, and Telescopic
Point.
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| A view of Vishakhapatnam city from top of Kailashagiri |
The floral clock one of the biggest of India
with a diameter of 10 ft. The floral clock gives an artistic impression on the
lush green patches on the backdrop of the Shiva Parvati statue. It stands as a
landmark and attracting huge crowds.
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| Rail Track of Toy Train-Kailashagiri-Vizag |
The
Toy train offers breath-taking views of the surroundings as visitors take a
circular trip of the garden.
An attractive draw of the garden is the floral clock with a diameter of 10
feet. Tourists engage themselves in paragliding amidst the serene atmosphere.
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| Tot Train at Kailashagiri |
This train takes a circular tour of this
garden at the hill top. This train journey of 20 minutes duration costs Rs
75/-.
The compartments are fitted with transparent
glass at the top (roof) and at side. Within the compartments clear view is
available from any location.
Tickets are issued at the platform and seat
number is allotted at the time of buying the ticket. The compartments became
hot during noon time because of hot sun rays passing through the transparent
roof. Winter it will be comfortable. Take a seat at left side if possible.
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| Cold Drink stall at Kailashagiri |
Anyone who enters the gates of Kailashagiri
goes to a Cold Drink Stall, set up in the best place. Everyone who takes the
steps has to go there to buy water and cold drinks.
(2) Rishikonda
beach
Rishikonda beach is located at a distance of
just eight kilometers from the beautiful port city of Visakhapatna,known as the
Jewel of the East Coast of Bay of Bengal.
This
pristine beach is beautifully set along the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Traveler's
often flock the beach for the stunning sunsets and to enjoy the iconic
stretches of sand.
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| Pristine Beach Rishikonda-Vizag |
Owing to its unparalleled natural beauty,
the unspoiled beauty of the beach is its main attraction and offers a unique
opportunity to relax and enjoy the golden sands and gentle ocean currents.
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| Pristine Beach Rishikonda-Vizag |
The Rishikonda Beach comes across as a real treat for travellers who love to explore the offbeat and spend some quality time in the company of the most picturesque places on the face of Earth that are blessed by the providence of Mother Nature.
Vivid blue turquoise waters and striking
white sand with the dramatic green hills around them make it a perfect beach to
visit. Tourists can engage themselves in activities like swimming, Scuba
diving, snorkeling, jet skiing and windsurfing.
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| Pristine Beach Rishikonda-Vizag |
With a backdrop of green hills, this
beautiful beach is a quieter and cleaner alternative to Ramakrishna Beach. It’s
also a good stretch for swimming, and water sports such as wind surfing and jet
skiing.
There are pony rides on the beachfront in the
morning and evening. The Yachting Association of Vizag organizes sailing in the
sea, and also conducts week-long courses on sailing for beginners. Surrounded
by seven hills, the 14th century Sapta Rusheswara Temple is also located in
Rishikonda.
One can come to this beach and spend the
entire day enjoying the sun, the golden sand and the pristine beach. The beach
is a haven for water sports lovers and is popular among windsurfers and jet
skiers. However, it is the scenic beauty of the beach that lures visitors
throughout the year, who come to enjoy spending time amidst greenery, golden
sands and azure waters.
Besides, what makes the Rishikonda Beach so beautiful is the presence of lush green hills of the Eastern Ghats in the backdrop. The true beauty of the Eastern Ghats exhibits itself beautifully through these lush green hills surrounding the Rishikonda Beach.
(3)Dolphin’s
nose: The lighthouse
entry fee to visit Dolphin’s Nose Light House
in Visakhapatnam is INR 10 per person.
A strange but popular tourist attraction,
Dolphin's Nose is a huge rocky headland
It is visible from 64 km away in the sea. Dolphin Hill falls under the Indian Naval Base and there are a few restricted areas on the hill but tourists have access to most picturesque spots.
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| Dolphin Nose Light House-Vizag |
The
rock projects out into the sea, forming a headland on which is the lighthouse.
The nation's powerful beam of the lighthouse directs ships 65 KMs away. Whole
of Visakhapatnam city can be seen from this place.
The highest peak of this place is called
Rose Peak. There is a temple in Venkateshwara hill situated nearby constructed by
Captain Black More during 1886. There is a Masjid (in Dargah Hill) called Ishak
Madina.
A church called St. Johns, constructed
during 1844 by Sir Arthur Cotton can also be seen. This place was an Army base
camp for Britishers during 18th Century. The earlier lighthouse got damaged
during 1876 due to cyclone. The present lighthouse also has the facility of
cyclone forecast.
It is a
popular spot for viewing the city’s natural harbor. It also has an impressive
19-metres-high lighthouse, the oldest in the city, whose powerful light beam is
visible far out in the sea.
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| Dolphin Nose-Light House-Vizag |
The lighthouse belongs to the Indian Navy. The view from the lighthouse balcony is simply breath-taking. You can see the Vizag city kissing the sea at three famous beaches – RK, Rishikonda and Yeravda.
These areas are strictly for the Naval
Officers. Small but beautiful little enclaves, along with grocery stores, party
clubs and hang out areas. Finally, we reached the place, known as the
lighthouse.
Standing on top of the lighthouse, looking into
the vast mighty ocean, you fail to realize where it merges with the blue sky.
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| Dolphin Nose-Light House-Vizag |
Vizag
has a rich legacy of maritime commerce and has had trade relations with the
Middle East and Rome, back in the day. The monumental lighthouses in the city,
which played a significant role in the maritime trade, are the standing
testimonies to the bygone era.
The first lighthouse in the city was erected
on the Dolphin Nose Hill, over an Old Dutch tower, in 1873. The work was
commissioned in 1874. The structure, which had a fixed red light, was installed
640 feet from sea level. But just two years later, it was ravaged by a severe
cyclonic storm in 1876.
Noting that Vizag did not house another
lighthouse until 1903, the Flagstaff Lighthouse was erected on a 52-feet long
masonry tower a 52-feet structure was commissioned at Flagstaff, in front of
St. Aloysius School.
The lighthouse flashed white fixed light of
second-order, every 20 seconds with brightness levels equivalent to 4,250
candlelight power and was visible from 12 miles in clear weather.
The
existing lighthouse on the Dolphin Nose Hill, came about only in 1957, just a
little south of the old lighthouse was inaugurated by Lal Bahadur Shastri, the
former Prime Minister of India, this lighthouse has optical equipment of 700 mm
revolving inside which flashes light every 10 seconds.
(3)
Ramakrishna beach (R.K.Beach)
Ramakrishna Beach, popularly known as RK
beach, is the closest beach park you can reach from the heart of the city. The
long beach lies facing the Bay of Bengal.
Named after the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram,
this busy beach is crowded with hawkers and shacks selling everything from snacks,
balloons and toys. It’s the ideal spot to watch beautiful sunsets and sunrises.
Spreading through the edge of the sea, the
R.K.Beach is a great spot to spend time with your loved ones. Singles of course
always get mesmerized in their dreams sitting at the beach shores.
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| Pristine Golden Sand Beach Ramakrishna -Vizag |
A
visit to the beach will surely free your mind of tensions and bring in new
energy. Sipping a soft drink or biting corn, you can walk on the beach sands or
just lie down and de-stress your mind experiencing the cool breeze, looking at
the waves and the ships that appear to be moving as slow as a snail.
As we walked further on, we came across a beachside stall named ‘Sukh Sagar’. It looked like a fruit shop, selling fruit juices.
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| Rama Krishna (R.K Beach) |
As we were thirsty, we decided to have some juice. Later, we learnt that the shop specializes in various types of fruit milk shakes – apple, pineapple, grape, guava etc. All of us ordered a different fruit milk shake, so that we could try them all.
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| New Sukh Sagar restaurant-Vizag |
Sukh Sagar has its own unique way of making milk shakes. The milk is stored in small packets and frozen in a chiller. That milk is then blended with fresh fruits in a mixer and served semi - frozen with a straw.
Slowly the frozen shake melts and all you drink is bliss. If you are with a group of friends, sitting on the beach, watching the beautiful waves, as the moon bathes you in its celestial light, and your sipping in Sukh Sagar’s milkshake, you will feel you are in paradise.
(4)Submarine
museum
Entry Fee: Adults: Rs.40, Children: Rs.20,
Camera: Rs.50 and Video Camera: Rs.200.
At a distance of 6 km from Vizag Railway
Station. To Explore the life of warriors have a visit of the Submarine Museum located
on the RK Beach. Vizag is known not just for the amazing beaches, but many other
places that attract visitors from all over the country.
One such place is INS Kurusu submarine
museum, a museum established at the beach of Rama Krishna. INS Kurusura is a
submarine constructed by Russians in the year 1969. It reached Visakhapatnam in
1970 via the Baltic Sea and since then served the Indian Navy.
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| Submarine Museum -Vizag |
INS Kurusura served the Indian Navy for 31
years and then it was decommissioned and turned into a museum in 2001. With a
length of 91.3 meters and breadth of 8 meters, the INS Kurusura submarine
played a vital role in a number of wars including the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
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| Inside View of Submarine Museum |
The INS Kurusura submarine museum at RK
beach is the first submarine turned into a museum in the whole of Asia and
second in the world. Various parts of the submarine like the radar room, sonar
room, control room, and the weapons used during war are in display in this
museum.
The
museum depicts the milestones of the evolution of submarine through artifacts,
photographs and written scripts. The museum showcases the life inside a
submarine and hardships faced by the submariners in the sea.
There are around 6 guides in the museum who
explain the history and activities of the submarine in great detail to the
visitors. INS Kurusura submarine museum is a matter of pride for the Indians.
(5)
Fishing Harbor Vizag
Our first point the second day was fishing
dock at a distance of about 16 Km from railway station.
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| Fishing Harbor-Vizag |
Out of all the places to visit in
Visakhapatnam, the Fishing Harbor is one such place that remains over-crowded
all the time. Spread over an area of 26 hectares, it was opened in the year
1976 and is under the control of Visakhapatnam Port Trust.
Every day
since 4:00 AM in the morning, lakhs worth of fish trading was done there, at
the docks. Various types of fish are exported to everywhere in India and
abroad. There was also, a boat ride there for tourists, which would give a ride
to 20 people at a time.
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| Fishing Harbor-Vizag |
Nestled on the east coast of the city,
Fishing Harbor is considered as one of the largest fishing harbors in India
that gives you a chance to witness the mesmerizing view of the Bay of Bengal.
Here you can also enjoy a mix of sea, land and hills from a distance.
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| Fishing Boats-Vizag |
If you are a fish lover, this is absolutely
the right place for you. With a wide variety of fishes available, you can bring
some fishes along with other sea food back home to prepare a mouth-watering
dish for your family members.
Enjoy a boat ride to make the most of your
visit at Fishing Harbor. Perfect for people of all ages, the Fishing Harbor
offers the facility of boating so that you can enjoy a unique and different
experience.
(6)Ramanaidu
Film Studio: Capturing history at Museum of Cinema
It is Rs 35/ per person entry fee. There is
a fee of Rs 40 for camera but for professional shooting Rs 1000 is to be paid.
A valuable phase in cinema history is now
being captured at the ‘Museum of Cinema’ in Ramanaidu Film Studios in Vizag.
This one’s a visual treat for movie lovers. Ramanaidu
Studios stands on around 35 acres of land near Timmapuram on the way to
Bheemunipatnam.
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| Ramanaidu Film Studio-Vizag |
Walking into Ramanaidu Film Studios in Vizag
is like entering multiple film sets at the same time. You see the hospital at
one end, a bungalow at the other and a police station by the corner of the
road.
However, the greatest attraction in this
place right now is their newly added ‘Museum of Cinema’. It showcases the
equipment and technologies once prevalent in cinema making. From halogen
lights, to the silent camera and advanced versions, video analysers, ultrasonic
cleaners, and winders, one is taken on a trip through the laborious task that
once cinema making was.
As soon as you walk into the hall, a huge
array of equipment catches your eye. A guide patiently tells you that all this
equipment is part of the Suresh Production’s legacy of film making. Starting
from the camera spotlights at the entrance, he tells how famous stars once
shined under its light.
Once the movies were shot, came the
post-production process, a task that has thankfully transformed with time. What
took eight months using this equipment, is now just a matter of 30 days, with
most of the technologies digitized. The equipment, showcased at the museum,
dates back to the 1960s, the time when color cinema had entered the market.
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| Ramanaidu Film Studios-Vizag |
Scenes once shot would have to be checked
for errors which was tough to do as one meter of the film reel could hold only
3 seconds of cinema. Scenes which did not turn out well had to be reshot, while
the redundant ones were simply cut off using blades, and then glued together.
The technologies used to do this evolved
with time, and as you walk through the hall you can see the various devices and
know their purposes. Other popular equipment during those years were the
winders used to wind the reel on large spools and ultrasonic cleaners which
would keep the reels dust and scratch-free.
Perhaps these were the reasons why films
made using such elaborate technologies stood the test of time and can be viewed
even today. A major pride of place at the museum is occupied by the extremely
high-end equipment of the yesteryears.
As you walk out of the museum into the lush
green environs of Ramanaidu Studios at Rishikonda in Vizag, you’re humbled to
understand how detailed the process of film making can be. And how judgmental
we become while passing our reviews of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ within three hours of
watching a film.
It makes you want to dig out some old cinema
and watch it again, and this time when you do, you’ll feel a sense of
familiarity knowing that you stood under the cameras that shot this film.
(7)yarada
beach
Next on our list was the Yeravda Beach. Just
12 kms away from fishing dock harbor. Yeravda beach is one of the top 10
beaches in Asia. Beautiful and well maintained by the locals, it truly will
take your heart away. A beautiful garden surrounded by Cashew trees, breakout
areas, small playgrounds for children and restaurants.
A perfect beach to have a holiday out,
Yeravda beach, offers wonderful scenery with the magnificent greenery around and
soft golden sands. The beach is surrounded by picturesque hills on three sides
with Bay of Bengal provides the exotic waves from the fourth side.
yarada beach offers a calm and secluded atmosphere to those looking for solitude and mental peace. The beach maintains its cleanliness and majesty, attracting lots of tourists. The water is clear blue, clean, carrying pretty distinct sand particles that would probably go away after a wash.
People along with their families had come
for a picnic. You would see lovers, holding hands and bearing the water a
testimony to their love. The tip of the island known as Dolphins nose (Got its
name from the shape it resembles, that of a dolphins nose) has huge rocks opening
out to the sea.
Strolling lazily along the beach pavement,
we saw many hawkers selling ‘bhutta’, ’jhaal muri’, ’pakoras’, but we just kept
walking along the pavement. You will see people of all ages there at the
beachside.
College lovers counting stars, Senior citizens talking about their youth, Children playing around making sand castles and tourists like us, squatted lazily, watching the inexorable waves beat the shore, and cherishing the timeless.
Ishaq
Madina dargah (Prior to 1706)
The
dargah is nestled between crowded houses at the end of a narrow street, but
opens up to a spectacular view atop the hill, from where a large portion of the
Old Town area is visible, including the port.
The 'Syed Ali Ishaq Madina Rahmatullah Dargah', holds the tomb of a holy Muslim saint Syed Ali, who is believed to have arrived from Madina with his followers.
While the
exact date of the dargah's construction is unknown, there is historical
evidence that a Muslim ruler granted two villages as a 'reward' to this dargah
for its upkeep, around 1706.
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| Dargah Sharif of Hazrat Syed Ali Ishaq Madani (R.A ) |
The board outside reads:
The
dargah has been a place of veneration for both Hindus and Muslims and sailors
of all faiths. It is said that every vessel entering or leaving the Harbors,
used to pay respects to the saint by lowering and hoisting the flag three
times. Some speculate that the town was originally known by the name of this
saint as 'Ishakpattan' which over time, was changed to 'Vizagapatam'.
A little above the dargah on the same hill,
is a mosque known as 'Alamgir Mosque' also known as 'Aurangzeb Masjid'. Legend
has it that when Aurangzeb's army came here, they found an old Masjid already
at the spot. They renovated it and named it 'Alamgir mosque'. Interestingly, a
grave stone found here and recorded by the Epigraphy Department of the
Government of India, indicated that a burial took place in 1257 AD.
(The
mosque atop the dargah)
This is the Dargah Sharif of Hazrat Syed Ali
Ishaq Madani Aulia (R.A) in Visakhapatnam, A.P India. Hazrat Ishaq Madani (R.A)
came from Madina (Saudi) and was the first great Muslim saint in the coastal
area of Andhra Pradesh. The Dargah Shareef is at the beautiful location at the
top of a Hill, which is adjacent to the sea Harbor and there is a flight of
wide steps leading up to the Dargah Shareef.
A stone
found in this Dargah Shareef is recorded by Epigraphy Department of Govt of
India, indicates that the burial took place in the year 1257 AD, from which it
is evident that the Dargah Shareef existed even before 1257. The Dargah of
Hazrat Ishaq Madina (R.A) is the oldest building in Visakhapatnam built before
1257, which houses the Mazaar e Mubarak (mausoleum) of Hazrat Ishaq Madina, a
respected Awliya’Allah (friend of Allah)
City Visakhapatnam is on the coastal belt of
Bay of Bengal Sea. Prior to Ishaq Madani (R.A) settlement in Visakhapatnam,
high-altitude sea waves always drowned the coastal belt of Visakhapatnam,
however, the Awliya’Allah (friend of Allah) still choose this place for his
settlement, which was right adjacent to the Sea Harbor.
Almighty
Allah has blessed him with so much mystic power that, Ishaq Madani (R.A) hit at
a place with his scepter (stick) and ordered the sea, NOT to cross that
Marking. This Marking place is still recognized and respected by the people of
Visakhapatnam. The marking is on the flight of steps which leads to the Dargah
Shareef.
After he
got settled in Visakhapatnam, the entire coastal belt became a lively
environment and people lived without any danger of high altitude sea waves,
however sea level of Visakhapatnam is still 45 M above the actual ground level
but the Sea does not enter the Visakhapatnam city due to the blessing of Hazrat
Ishaq Madani (R.A)
Ishaq Madani (R.A) mostly lived along with
the poor people and especially fishermen loved and praised him. A historian in
1869 documented that every vessel (ship) entering or leaving the harbor would
lower and hoist the flag 3 times, in this way the sailors of all faiths,
offered they respect to the Dargah Shareef, as his blessing bestowed the safe
passage.
King Aurangzeb who ruled in the late 17th
century, used to send Salam to every Dargah (Mazaar) he visited. Aurangzeb sent
his Salam (Salutations) to this Dargah Shareef but got back the reply late from
this Dargah Shareef. Hearing back the reply to his Salam, he renovated
(rebuild) the Dargah Shareef.
There is also a very old Masjid, besides the
Dargah Sharif, which was renovated (rebuilt) by Aurangzeb's army and named it
as Alamgir Mosque in honor of the ruler. There is also historical evidence that
a Muslim ruler granted two villages, namely Yerrada and Devada as Inam (gift)
to the caretakers of this Dargah Shareef.
Now I am ending “Travelogue: Golden Sand and Pristine beaches of Vishakhapatnam: Jewel of East coast of Bay of Bengal”. Next destination is Araku Valley which is about 120 Km from Vishakhapatnam. We will meet in Araku Valley.
The End
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