Ross Hill Church : A Unique Divine Experience

Ross Hill Church is a splendid attraction in Visakhapatnam that draws tourists and religious followers in large numbers. It is one of the few locations that can be climbed to get a fabulous view of the quaint city and the Port area. The place is frequently visited by photographers and nature lovers especially to view the beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Ross Hill Church has beautiful architecture and a serene vibe that will hit the pause button to the endless mind chatter at least for a few moments. Tourists can explore the church and attend the prayer services and mass.

The hill atop which the church stands is the highest and the central hill in the region. The climb off the spacious stairway itself is a beautiful experience. Complete silence is maintained inside the church, and that allows every visitor to calm down and soak in the tranquillity of the place of worship. Over the years, Ross Hill Church has undergone numerous renovations and has seen some troubled times in the city. It was and is always a place where people belonging to all walks of life are greeted with open arms.

As a unique testament to communal harmony, and the peace-loving nature of Vizagites, there are three picturesque hillocks each with its own distinctive religious significance along the channel that leads to the inner harbour. There is The Venkateswara Temple on the ‘Sringamani Hillock’, The Ross Hill Church on the ‘Ross Hill’, and The Baba Ishq Madina Dargah on the ‘Dargah Konda’. The first hill to greet visitors is the Sringamani Hill holding aloft the Venkateswara Swamy Temple. Adjacent is the Ross Hill with the Ross Church and a little further away is the Dargah Konda on which the Baba Ishq Madina Dargah rests.

Each of these shrines has added to the glory and history of Vizag. They are the finest examples of communal harmony and are witness to the growth of small-town into what Vizag is today. While the Dargah is about 700 years old, the temple is more than two centuries old. The Ross Hill Church too is more than a century old, emphasising the quintessence of spiritualism, that ‘all religions are but the branches of the same tree’.

It was April of 2019 the night of Easter. I along with my friends had visited our favourite local Church, i.e St Joseph Roman Catholic Church of my native Sambalpur town. That night I saw a very beautiful dream of Mother Mary who was calling me to visit her again. But, the place was entirely different to St Joseph Church. Anyway, by the passing of time, I forgot that dream. In October of 2019, I along with my parents had visited the beautiful Vizag city, which is famous for hills, temples, churches, natural surroundings, Araku Arabica coffee, beautiful valleys, the local tribes and many more things. On the second day of our journey, my father insisted on visiting the renowned Ross Hill Church. We hired a taxi on our way to the church and by God’s grace, the driver was a devout Christian, named Meghan k. Anthony. He was a calm and gentle personality. He was happy enough after knowing that we have come to Vizag city by covering a long distance from all along Odisha and are heading towards the Ross Hill Church. On our way to the church, he took us to a street-side coffee stall. And, after the coffee session was over he voluntarily assumed the role of a guide and took us to different areas of the church and gave plenty of valuable information regarding different aspects of the church. He narrated the history of the age-old Ross Hill Church. To quote Meghan,

“The hill on which the church stands derives its name from a local Judge, Monsieur Ross who is known to have built a house on top of it. Two years hence, Bishop Msgr J. M. Tissot occupied the bungalow and in 1867, an altar was erected and a chapel was constructed by the Vicar General Fr. Richard”.

Natural calamities brought unfortunate destruction to the church compelling the reinstallation of a new statue of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in 1877. April 1942 witnessed a Japanese raid over Visakhapatnam during which Bishop Roussillon took a vow to take his people under the protection made available at Ross Hill Chapel. Magically, there were no more raids over the city any longer.”

This interested me and I wanted to visit the church without wasting any time. The experience of climbing to the church through a circular hilltop road that too in a taxi was beyond any bliss.

After reaching the Church I was dumbstruck and astonished by seeing the Shrine and the idol of Mother Mary. As it was similar and akin to the dream which was encountered by me on that Easter night. Mother Mary herself invited me to visit the place by appearing in my dream. My happiness knew no bounds after witnessing such glory of the Divine Power. We felt fortunate enough that we were able to attend the Sunday Mass.

The inside of the church was giving a happy and peaceful vibe. We peacefully sat at the bench and prayed to Jesus Christ and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. The ambience was purely calm and serene. We were rejoiced by experiencing the serendipity.

After reaching our place, when my father offered him the rent, he hesitated and bluntly refused. After a great deal of insistence and persuasion, he agreed to receive part-rent as a token. When we bid farewell to him we also promised him to meet him whenever we visit Vizag again. Getting Meghan as our guide and visiting the same place which I encountered in my dream was not merely a coincidence. The experience was beyond any boon. I feel blessed enough for coming across such a heavenly and ravishing place. This journey played a great role in developing my faith in Christianity. I’m forever grateful for the divine call.

The sweeping sea and port views draw visitors to this hillside church with a white exterior.

Ross Hill Church is one of the most beautiful churches in this part of the country. Built on a hilltop surrounded by hills and water. The Church has an amazing view from the seaside, Vizag city, port area. It’s a must-visit place for religious as well as tourist purpose. The church atop Ross Hill is extremely well maintained, not only the church itself but also the entire premises. There is a little store down the church which sells candles and flowers for the religious offering. The view from the church of the surrounding port is simply unimaginable. The statues depicting scenes from the life of Jesus are also attractive. This place has a lovely view of the city and the harbour. A must visit if you’re looking for a secluded getaway. This is a nice peaceful place and goes with time in hand, to relax! the view outside is brilliant, the city on one side, port on another! light a candle and just relax in peace and tranquillity of the place.

Ross Hill Church welcomes you with open arms and the liberty to attain peace and tranquillity in whichever way you find suitable. It thrives on the fact that tourists like to rush to this location to achieve rejuvenation, relaxation and mental peace. The things you can do at the church are:

Ross Hill Church is located at the address Port Area, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, 530001, India. It is about 20kms away from the city centre. There are several modes of transport to the church. These include:

Cab: You can hire a cab from top car rental companies in Vizag and travel to Ross Hill Church in absolute comfort and convenience.

Bus: Several state buses can take you to Ross Hill Church. You need to remember to get off at RTC Complex from where you need to take an auto or cab.

A visit to Ross Hill is truly a rewarding experience and quite informative as you get to see the rich history of Vizag.

Ranked 23 among Things to do in Visakhapatnam

Entry Fee: No entry fee

Timings: (Monday to Sunday) 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM