Vijayawada

Vijayawada, formerly known as Bezawada,[4] is the second largest city[citation needed] in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the Krishna River surrounded by the hills of the Eastern Ghats, known as the Indrakeeladri Hills.[5] The city is home to the important Hindu shrine of Kanaka Durga Temple.[6] 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.[7] It is the administrative headquarters of NTR district.[8] The Prakasam Barrage across the Krishna River connects the NTR and Guntur districts.[9] It is the second largest city[citation needed] in Andhra Pradesh with a population of 1,723,000 [10] in 2021, estimated population of 1,991,189[11] in the Vijayawada Metropolitan Area. The population of the city is estimated to grow to 2,500,000 by 2025[12] It is one of the fastest growing urban areas in India [13] and among the top 10 fastest growing cities in the world according to Oxford Economics report.[14]