Vijayawada

Vijayawada(// ⓘ), popularly known by its colonial name Bezawada, is the second largest city and commercial hub in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.[5] The city is part of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region and is located on the banks of the Krishna River surrounded by the hills of the Eastern Ghats, known as the Indrakeeladri Hills.[6] The city is home to the important Hindu shrine of Kanaka Durga Temple.[7] It geographically lies on the center spot of Andhra Pradesh. The city has been described as the commercial, political, cultural and educational capital of Andhra Pradesh.[8] It is the administrative headquarters of NTR district.[9] The Prakasam Barrage across the Krishna River connects the NTR and Guntur districts.[10] It is the second largest city[citation needed] in Andhra Pradesh with a population of 1,723,000 [citation needed] in 2021, estimated population of 1,991,189[citation needed] in the Vijayawada Metropolitan Area. The population of the city is estimated to grow to 2,500,000 by 2025.[11] It is one of the fastest growing urban areas in India [12] and among the top 10 fastest growing cities in the world according to Oxford Economics report.[13]