Kakinada is an ancient port city on the Koringa Bay. It is the headquarters of the
East Godavari District in
Andhra Pradesh. The name Kakinada is said to have been derived from 'Cocanada', given by the early Dutch merchants who arrived here. It is a main port and fishing harbor. The population of the city is well over quarter of a million. Kakinada is an exporter of cotton, peanuts, sugar and tobacco. The key features here are its old buildings with its distinct flavor of the Dutch architecture and the ancient origins of the place.
The climate here is tropical and the air generally humid throughout the year. The best season is from December to mid-February. It receives a rainfall of 137.6 mm. The temperature varies from 37ºC in peak summer to 19ºC during winter.
Famous temples and pilgrim centers in and around the city are the
Bhavanarayanaswami Temple, Draksharama and
Annavaram. Other tourist spots include the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary.
