GITAM Students explore Visakhapatnam’s Old Town on heritage walk

Students from GITAM University, along with peers from Visakha Valley School, Timpany Senior Secondary School, and Delhi Public International School, participated in a heritage walk through the Old Town area, organised by the GITAM School of Humanities and Social Sciences in collaboration with INTACH Visakhapatnam.

The walk, titled Visakhapatnam Through Time: Learn While You Walk, covered several heritage structures, including the Town Hall, St. John’s Church, and Hawa Mahal, the sea-facing summer palace of the Maharajas of Jeypore. Discussions focused on colonial urban planning, maritime history, and civic administration that shaped the city’s development.

At the Old Municipal Office building, officials briefed students on the structure’s history and adaptive reuse, while A.B. Narasinga Rao spoke about the historical significance of the Hamilton Memorial Masonic Temple. Rajmata Mayank Kumari Deo of Jeypore shared insights into the royal lineage and cultural significance of Hawa Mahal.

Students gained a new perspective on familiar neighbourhoods, viewing them through a historical lens. Dr. Rekha Yadav, Assistant Professor in the History Department at GITAM, said the initiative aimed to create awareness of heritage conservation and encourage responsibility towards preserving historic spaces.