The best area to stay in Visakhapatnam for students depends on which side of the city your campus is on: MVP Double Road suits the Andhra University side, PM Palem and Yendada suit the northern colleges around Rushikonda and Madhurawada, and Gajuwaka or Kurmannapalem suit the industrial southwest. If you want the widest choice, One Town had the most listings on Hostel360 as of September 2026, with 90. Vizag stretches a long way along the coast and the national highway, so a room that looks perfect online can still mean a long daily ride.
This guide compares the ten areas with the most student listings, explains who each one suits, and gives you a simple way to choose. If you're weighing up more than one city, start with our city-by-city guide to student accommodation in India.
Key Takeaways
- Pick your area by commute first. Visakhapatnam's colleges and workplaces are spread from the old city to the far north and the industrial southwest.
- One Town led with 90 listings on Hostel360 as of September 2026, out of 524 active listings citywide.
- MVP Double Road works for the Andhra University side; PM Palem and Yendada work for the Rushikonda and Madhurawada side.
- The citywide mix was 226 boys-only, 189 girls-only and 109 co-ed listings.
- We don't quote rents here. Prices depend on room type and facilities, so confirm them in person.
Student areas compared at a glance
Ten areas account for 364 of Visakhapatnam's 524 active listings on Hostel360 as of September 2026, roughly seven in every ten. The table shows who each area suits and what it's near.
| Area | Who it suits | Nearby anchors | Listings on Hostel360 (Sept 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| One Town | Students who want the most choice in an older, busy part of the city | Old town, harbour and port area | 90 |
| Simhachalam | Students who prefer a quieter setting on the northwestern side | Simhachalam hill temple, Gopalapatnam side | 61 |
| Kurmannapalem | Students and trainees working or studying in the southwest | Steel plant side, national highway | 38 |
| Hanumanthawaka | Students who want a highway junction with bus links in several directions | National highway junction, zoo park | 34 |
| Gajuwaka | Students and interns tied to the industrial southwest | Industrial belt, steel plant side | 33 |
| PM Palem | Students at colleges on the northern side | Cricket stadium, Madhurawada | 29 |
| MVP Double Road | Andhra University students and anyone wanting a settled central base | MVP Colony, Andhra University side, beach road | 28 |
| Akkayyapalem | Students who want a central location close to transport | Railway station side, Dwaraka Nagar | 19 |
| Dwaraka Nagar | Students who want to be in the commercial heart of the city | Dwaraka bus station, main shopping streets | 17 |
| Yendada | Students heading toward Rushikonda and the northern campuses | Between MVP Colony and Rushikonda | 15 |
Old city and centre: One Town, Dwaraka Nagar and Akkayyapalem
The old city and centre give you the deepest supply and the best transport links. One Town, Dwaraka Nagar and Akkayyapalem together had 126 listings on Hostel360 as of September 2026.
One Town is the historic heart of Visakhapatnam, close to the harbour and port. With 90 listings, it has more choice than any other area by a clear margin. The streets are dense and busy, which suits students who like having markets and food options on their doorstep. It suits light sleepers less.
Dwaraka Nagar (17 listings) and Akkayyapalem (19 listings) sit in the commercial centre near the main bus station and the railway station side. They don't have One Town's volume, but they're the easiest places in the city to get anywhere from.
Verdict: One Town for choice, Dwaraka Nagar or Akkayyapalem for connectivity.
Andhra University side: MVP Double Road
MVP Double Road is the first area to check if you study at Andhra University. It runs through MVP Colony, a planned residential neighbourhood on the university's side of the city, with the beach road close by.
As of September 2026, MVP Double Road showed 28 listings. That's fewer than the old city, but the area feels more settled and residential, which many students prefer for study. If you can't find the right room here, the central areas above are a short ride away.
Verdict: the natural base for Andhra University students.
North: PM Palem and Yendada
PM Palem and Yendada are the best fit for students at colleges on the northern side, toward Madhurawada and Rushikonda. GITAM's Visakhapatnam campus is at Rushikonda, and the Madhurawada area has several colleges and IT offices.
PM Palem, home to the city's international cricket stadium, had 29 listings. Yendada, between MVP Colony and Rushikonda, had 15. Supply here is tighter than in the old city, and demand from young professionals can overlap with students, so it pays to book before a new session starts.
Verdict: the right side of the city for northern campuses, if you book early.
Highway corridor: Simhachalam and Hanumanthawaka
Simhachalam and Hanumanthawaka offer good supply along the national highway, with a calmer feel than the centre. Together they had 95 listings as of September 2026.
Simhachalam, with 61 listings, is the second-largest area on the list. It grew around the hill temple on the northwestern side, and its residential streets are quieter than the old city's. Hanumanthawaka (34 listings) is a busy junction on the highway near the zoo park, with buses heading in several directions.
The trade-off is distance from some campuses. Check your route before committing, especially if your college is at the far northern or southwestern end.
Verdict: good value in choice, as long as the commute works.
Southwest: Gajuwaka and Kurmannapalem
Gajuwaka and Kurmannapalem make sense if your college, training or internship is in the industrial southwest. They had 71 listings between them as of September 2026.
Both areas sit on the highway toward the steel plant, and they're built around the industrial belt. Kurmannapalem (38) and Gajuwaka (33) give you plenty to compare. If you study in the north of the city, though, a daily trip from here will eat into your day.
Verdict: pick the southwest only if your daily destination is there.
How Vizag's listings split between boys, girls and co-ed
Boys-only listings make up the largest share in Visakhapatnam, but girls-only options aren't far behind. Of Vizag's 524 listings on Hostel360 in September 2026, 226 were for boys only, 189 for girls only and 109 were co-ed.
Co-ed places are the smallest group, so if that's what you want, widen your search to two or three neighbouring areas. Whatever the type, check curfew timings, visitor rules and the notice period in person, because these vary from one property to the next.
Who should choose which area
If you know your campus, choose the closest area with enough listings. If you don't, choose a central one.
- Andhra University students: MVP Double Road first, then Dwaraka Nagar or Akkayyapalem.
- GITAM and other northern-campus students: PM Palem or Yendada.
- Students and trainees in the industrial southwest: Gajuwaka or Kurmannapalem.
- Students who want maximum choice: One Town, then Simhachalam.
- Not sure yet: a central area like Dwaraka Nagar keeps your options open until you know your routine.
Comparing Vizag with other growing cities? Our breakdowns of the best area to stay in Nagpur for students and the best area to stay in Bhopal for students use the same campus-first approach.
Next steps
Mark your campus on a map, shortlist two neighbouring areas from the table, and visit at least two places in each before paying a deposit. On each visit, check the food, Wi-Fi, laundry and notice period, and don't hand over money until the rent and deposit terms are written down.
Whether you're leaning toward One Town or PM Palem, you can browse current student accommodation listings in Visakhapatnam and narrow them by locality and gender type.
For a look at two Gujarat cities, see the Best Areas for Students in Surat and Best Areas for Students in Vadodara guides.
