Vizag’s heritage is a treasure chest of wonderful stories with One Town area being the focal point in the late 1800’s. Here are 5 famous sites in Vizag that reflect the city’s evergreen charm.
#1 Kurupam Market
Also known as King Edward VII Coronation Market, this was actually the very first market of erstwhile Vizagapatam. Records state that this market was actually a gift to Vizag by the Rajah of Kurupam, on the occasion of King Edward VII coronation, which took place in 1902. History tells us that this Kurupam market area was home to the weavers’ colony. Suited to the traditional style of local markets, it had a huge central courtyard with shops all around it. With four gateways at the centre of each side, the most elaborate of them was the Eastern gateway which had a clock mechanism on its top as well. While the market lost its importance owing to modernisation, a few petty traders still operate from this market, which one of the most famous sites in the city.
#2 St. Aloysius School
One of the oldest schools in Vizag, St. Aloysius started as an Anglo vernacular school by the missionaries of London society. Father Tissot from France is said to have started the school from the two rooms of a house he acquired for the purpose. This house exists towards the eastern corner of the school. While the school started off small in 1847, the first floor was raised above it to create a Church that was in harmony with the school. With a U shaped structure, the building is a resplendent example of Gothic Arched doors, windows and ventilators, reminding the onlooker of Vintage Europe.
#3 Town Hall
Spread over 5000 sq yards, the Town hall was a prestigious place to be during the 1900s. With the sea visible at one end and the town on the other, it was a gift from the Maharaja of Bobbili to the public. The ‘Victoria Diamond Jubilee Town Hall’ commemorates the British Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Showcasing Victorian architecture, this two-storied building, is an impressive example of stone masonry, has a grand portico, large stair-cases, a huge tiled-roof, false turrets and circular rooms. Not to be missed are its tiles from Mangalore, beams from Scotland and the grand wooden flooring.
#4 European Cemetery
The dead tell stories, and the European cemetery is a living proof of the history Vizag holds. With tombs in varied architectural styles, each is engraved with a part of history, with the earliest of the buried dating back to 1699. In fact, Patrick Lawson, a wealthy merchant sailor, after whom Lawson’s Bay is named lies here too.
One of the famous sites in the city, often mistakenly known as the Dutch cemetery, the region has no Dutch tombs and stands testimony to two major historical events. The first was the native sepoy mutiny of 1780, where three British officers were killed, and the body of one of them, lies here. The second is the Naval war of 1804, between the British and the French where British were able to defend Vizagapatam successfully, but lost John Dykes, who lies buried here.
#5 Abu Sarang Street
While the lavender canal gave a safe harbour to many ship owners, there were few names more prominent than the others. One name that survived the trials and tribulations of time was that of Abu Sarang and the street where he lived was thus named as such. Known to have come from the Malabar Coast, he is said to have reached here sometime in the later part of the ninteenth century. Sarang means, one who steers the ship, and later the street became popular as Abu Sarang Street.
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