Vijayawada, formerly known as Bezawada, is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Located about 275 km east of Hyderabad and 450 km north of Chennai. It lies on the banks of Krishna river surrounded by the hills of Eastern Ghats known as Indrakeeladri Hills in Krishna district. It geographically lies on the center spot of Andhra Pradesh. The city has been described as the commercial, political, and educational capital of Andhra Pradesh, second largest city in Andhra Pradesh and is one of the fastest growing urban areas in India.
Vijayawada is considered to be a sacred place for residing one of the most visited and famous temples of Andhra Pradesh and India, Kanaka Durga Temple of Hindu Goddess Durga. It also serves as the ritual host of Pushkaram of River Krishna. There is a legend which says that Arjuna, one of the heroes of the Indian epic Mahabharata, prayed on top of the Indrakeeladri Hill in the city and won the blessings of Lord Shiva to get the Pashupatastra to win the Kurukshetra War.