Many priceless historical gems of the Visakhapatnam region, heritage structures - each with its own slice of history, and a pictorial documentation of the changing face of the heritage sites were showcased at the photography exhibition at Visakha Museum organised by Visakha Camera Club on the eve of World Heritage Day on Tuesday.

As many as 84 photographs have been exhibited at the two-day exhibition. From changing face of the old light house from 1960s to 2016, Old Towns heritage structures of European Cemetery, St. Alloysius School to aerial shots of the Buddhist Heritage site of Bavikonda and making of Etikopakka toys, the pictures are a reminder of the rich history of Visakhapatnam.

Inaugurating the exhibition, GVMC Commissioner M. Hari Narayanan said the exhibition showcased the archaeological, cultural and tribal heritage of the region.

"It is a good initiative to showcase the heritage of Visakhapatnam through such exhibitions," he said.

Speaking on restoration of heritage structures of Old Town, he said: "Under the Smart City initiative, the Town Hall and cemetery at Jagadamba Junction. The DPR will be prepared by the end of this month."

On the occasion, scuba diver and explorer Balaram Naidu gave a presentation on Vizags undersea heritage discovery. Talks by Jayshree Hatangadi and photographer B.K. Agarwal highlighted many historical facts behind the heritage structures of the city.

Dr. Shabana Saleem, a visitor at the exhibition, said, "A heritage lovers group must be formed and exhibitions and heritage walks must be done on a regular basis. There is so much to discover about our city and its history."

Sunita Kona, school teacher, said detailed signage on streets and in front of heritage structures would be helpful to get an in-depth understanding of the citys history.

Earlier in the week, heritage walks around Old Town and Bavikonda Buddhist site saw an enthusiastic participation from people.

The photography exhibition will be open on Wednesday at Visakha Museum from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.