If the millennials feel that the ‘City of Destiny’ is all about its cosmopolitan culture and a hub of a public sector units, they are mistaken. The city has a glorious past that can be dated back to 2nd Century BC.

At a time when the city is boasting of its heritage sites that has put it on the global tourism map, history enthusiasts express concern that many such structures are languishing in dilapidated condition, crying for attention.

Giving a glimpse of the rich past, history enthusiast Edward Paul says that the proof of antiquity of Visakhapatnam can be found at the Buddhist heritage sites Thotlakonda, Pavuralakonda, Bavikonda and Bojjanakonda which date back to the 2nd Century BC.

“All the sites were inhabited by Buddhist monks between 2nd Century BC to 2nd Century AD as Buddhism had flourished here in all forms. But they need to be conserved so that the relevance is not lost,” he says on teh eve of World heritage Day.

Though there is gap in the history from 2nd Century to 11th Century, a stone inscription found in Draksharamam temple in East Godavari district suggests that Visakhapatnam was a flourishing habitat in 1146 AD. It is substantiated by inscriptions dated back to 1266 found in Simhachalam temple. “It suggests that during the reign of King Narasimha of later Ganga dynasty, 100 lady singers were appointed for performing fanning and lighting services to the Deity,” Mr. Paul says.

Stone inscriptions found in some of the old houses in the Old Town Area date back to 1199 AD, 1090 AD and 1250 AD. They suggest that Visakhapattinam or Kulotungasolapattanam was a thriving trade centre on the Coromandel coast. “The inscriptions have also the names of prominent families from those era such as Paravastu Rangacharya and Chakravarthi,” Mr. Paul points out.

61 heritage sites

records available with Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) suggest that there are 61 heritage sites in the city and St. Aloysius High School, Queen Mary School building, St. John’s Church, Old Cemetery, Kurupam Market, Police Commissioner’s Office and Bungalow, District Collector’s office, Town Hall and KGH are to name a few. Most of the buildings date back to the British and Dutch eras in the 17th Century.

“Several heritage buildings are in dilapidated condition and need immediate attention. A few of them such as the Old Post Office building, the Dutch Building that was once housed the District Court and Kurupam market arch have gone missing,” INTACH convenor Mayank Kumari says.

The preservation is a scientific process which needs to be done by experts. Though the government has sanctioned funds for a few of them, other buildings should also be included, she suggests.

Exhibition today

The INTACH is organising an exhibition by schoolchildren at Visakha Museum on Thursday. “The idea is to create awareness on heritage among children,” Ms. Mayank Kumari adds.