Vijayawada is an important city situated in South India and is considered to be the cultural capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The biggest railway junction in the South Central Railway leading to major cities like Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and Hyderabad, Vijayawada is full of the tourists coming from all over. Being a busy and major junction on the Kolkata-Chennai railway line, this city has emerged into an important industrial center. This is the heart of Andhra Pradesh, historically a cultural, political and educational center. The purest form of Telugu is spoken in Vijayawada, and political thinking within Andhra Pradesh originated and evolved here. Vijayawada lies in the rich coastal delta area of the state, a fact that is reflected in its spicy, deliciously varied cuisine. The most luscious mangoes, the king of fruits, are grown here and the region is renowned for its tradition of pickle-making. There is a legend which says that Arjuna, the hero of the epic Mahabharata, prayed on the top of Indrakeela Hill and won the blessings of Lord Shiva. The name of ‘Vijayawada’ is derived from the word ‘Vijaya’-victory.