Visakhapatnam was named after the God of spirit, Visakha. Once a small fishing village, it formed part of the Kalinga Empire, under Ashoka in 260 BC passing successively from the Andhra kings to Vengi to the Pallavas, Cholas and Gangas. In the 15th century, Visakhapatnam became part of the Vijayanagar Empire. It was transformed into a port town under the British. Now a bustling industrial and commercial city, it is the site of the country's largest shipbuilding yard. The most famous landmark at Visakhapatnam is the Dolphin's Nose, a rocky promontory in the port, 358 m high. The Ramakrishna Mission Beach, one of the loveliest on the east cost and Rishikonda, another beautiful beach, are popular with tourists.
