Visakhapatnam is a city where the past and the present coexist simultaneously. The massive buildings and the colossal shopping malls sprouting in the midst of historical structures, it's almost jarring. Vizag has seen unprecedented growth in the past decade, and is one of South-east Asia's topmost tourist destinations, but many do not know about the sites of heritage in this great Port city. We need to look beyond just the beaches and Araku...
1) Town Hall: On the site of a fisherman's village, the Victoria Town Hall was built by Maharaja of Bobbili in the year 1893 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. This symmetrical structure is situated on a widely spread hillock, well above sea-level and with an excellent view of the harbour.
Image Credit: Trek India
2) Madina Dargah: Ishaq Madina Dargah is supposed to be the oldest building in Vizag - built in 1257 A.D. Visited by both Muslim and Hindu devotees, it is said to be a secular place of worship, which has the mausoleum of Baba Ishaq Madina, a respected saint.
Image Credit: Hop Around India
3) The Dutch Cemetery: This 16th century Dutch Cemetery is close to the Bheemili Beach in Bheemunipatnam, about 24 kilometers from Vizag. It is also known as Hollanders Green, with graves and memorial tombstones of the Dutch and the English. The intriguing part is: a Dutch family's graves that hold an overhead conical tower and have the markings of a skull and cross-bones pirate symbol on them!
Image Credit: Must See India
4) St. John's Church: This was constructed in the year 1838, as a place of worship for the British troops who were stationed here then. It has been part of the C.S.I.(Church of South India) since the Indian Independence.
Image Source: The Hindu
5) The various Buddhist sites at Thotlakonda and Bavikonda: These areas near the Beach are the prominent locations for Buddhism and Buddhist studies in Visakhapatnam. The Thotlakonda Buddhist Complex is situated 15 - 16 kms from Vizag on the Vizag-Bheemili Beach Road. Just imagine- a hillock overlooking the sea at an elevation of 128 m! Along with these, the sites of Bojjannakonda and Pavurallakonda have been declared as Heritage sites by UNESCO!
Fun Fact: The city itself was named after a Buddhist disciple 'Visakha'.
Image Credit: See The World In My Eyes
Image Credit: Trek India
2) Madina Dargah: Ishaq Madina Dargah is supposed to be the oldest building in Vizag - built in 1257 A.D. Visited by both Muslim and Hindu devotees, it is said to be a secular place of worship, which has the mausoleum of Baba Ishaq Madina, a respected saint.
Image Credit: Hop Around India
3) The Dutch Cemetery: This 16th century Dutch Cemetery is close to the Bheemili Beach in Bheemunipatnam, about 24 kilometers from Vizag. It is also known as Hollanders Green, with graves and memorial tombstones of the Dutch and the English. The intriguing part is: a Dutch family's graves that hold an overhead conical tower and have the markings of a skull and cross-bones pirate symbol on them!
Image Credit: Must See India
4) St. John's Church: This was constructed in the year 1838, as a place of worship for the British troops who were stationed here then. It has been part of the C.S.I.(Church of South India) since the Indian Independence.
Image Source: The Hindu
5) The various Buddhist sites at Thotlakonda and Bavikonda: These areas near the Beach are the prominent locations for Buddhism and Buddhist studies in Visakhapatnam. The Thotlakonda Buddhist Complex is situated 15 - 16 kms from Vizag on the Vizag-Bheemili Beach Road. Just imagine- a hillock overlooking the sea at an elevation of 128 m! Along with these, the sites of Bojjannakonda and Pavurallakonda have been declared as Heritage sites by UNESCO!
Fun Fact: The city itself was named after a Buddhist disciple 'Visakha'.
Image Credit: See The World In My Eyes
