Formerly Vijayawada was known as Bezwada , in the 5th and 6th Centuries it was an important center of Vishnukundin rulers. It was taken by Badami Chalukyas became the headquarters of Eastern Chalukya. There was a Buddhist monastery, in 639 Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang stayed here. There are five rock-cut cave-temples built in the 7th century during the rule of Eastern chalukya Vijayawada is surrounded by the Krishna river on the east and west and the Budameru River on the north. The northern, northwestern, and southwestern parts of the city are covered by a low range of hills, while the central, southwestern and northwestern parts are covered by rich and fertile agriculture lands with three major irrigation canals. The topography of Vijayawada is flat, with a few small to medium-sized hills. The Krishna River runs through the city. These hills are part of the Eastern Ghats cut through by the K...