5 famous sites that reflect the rich heritage of Vizag

#3 Collectorate

Year: 1914

Location: Maharanipeta

Another testament to the proud heritage of Vizag is the Collectorate. Messrs. Gyanan and Dunckerly Company – the Engineering and Construction company from Europe – built this sprawling Gothic-style castle for housing the office of the District Collector of Vizag. Its construction lasted almost five decades starting in 1865. It has been an office to many a stalwart, including the very popular Mr. Abid Hussain – Padma Bhushan and ex Indian-Ambassador to the USA – during the 60s. Many important decisions were taken in this building: chief being the policy for land-acquisition for Vizag Steel plant and rehabilitation of the displaced persons. The only blot that this building, of course, for no fault of its, carries for eternity is that it is in this very building, the then notorious British Collector Rutherford during 1920s hatched the plan to capture and kill Alluri Seetharamaraju – the reputed revolutionary from this part of the land.

This Gothic style castle with plan of “E-shape” consists of huge court-yards, majestic corridors on either side of this building, whose view of elevation has absolute symmetry in both first and ground floors, almost all varieties of vintage stair-cases – bifurcated, dog-leg and circular, semi-circular arches, huge windows, big and grand rooms form part of this structure. The grandest parts are the imposing square-pavilions – consisting of three square turrets at its all outer three corners – existing at each of the corners of the building and the regal portico at the centre of the main block. The portico is three-storied one with open arches on the ground floor and rooms in the first and second floors.