Victory at Sea War Memorial, Visakhapatnam

Built

1996

Location

Beach Road, near RK Beach, Visakhapatnam

Timings

Open 24 hours

Entry fee

Free

Best time

October to March

Nearest railway station

Visakhapatnam Junction (about 5.5 km)

Nearest airport

Visakhapatnam (about 15 km)

History

During the 1971 war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh, the Pakistani submarine PNS Ghazi was sent towards Visakhapatnam, reportedly to hunt the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The Ghazi sank off the Vizag coast early in the conflict, one of the first major naval events of the war. The memorial was put up in 1996 to honour the naval personnel who served and those who lost their lives.

What to see

The centrepiece is a tall obelisk-style structure with an eternal flame burning in tribute to the fallen. Around it are displays of military hardware, including a missile, a MiG-21 fighter aircraft, a T-55 tank and torpedoes.

The memorial is a focus of Navy Day celebrations on 4 December each year, when the beachfront often hosts naval displays.

Nearby attractions

Plan an easy half day on Beach Road with these:

• INS Kursura Submarine Museum: a decommissioned Kalvari-class submarine you can walk through, showing how submariners lived and worked.
• TU-142 Aircraft Museum: a retired naval reconnaissance aircraft opposite the beach.
• Ramakrishna Beach: the city's main promenade beach.
• VUDA Park, with gardens and play areas.

Best time and how to reach

October to March is the most comfortable season, with temperatures roughly between 15°C and 27°C. April to June is hot, sometimes above 40°C, and the monsoon runs from about July to September.

Visakhapatnam airport is about 15 km away, Visakhapatnam Junction railway station about 5.5 km and the main bus station about 4 km. Autorickshaws and taxis are easy to find along Beach Road. We can include the memorial in a Vizag tour with Araku Valley and Borra Caves.

Also nearby