Discover Verulam: Places with a history

Verulam offers specific points of interest for a trip focused on local history, religious sites and trade in earlier times. A 19th-century church, a Hindu ashram with a temple and shrines, and the development of Verulam Market each tell a different aspect of the place’s story. When choosing a search location for a holiday rental, it helps to distinguish these local themes from the broader Durban Metro area.

Local history at specific sites

The Methodist Church on Groom Street was built in June 1851. It is therefore one of Verulam’s identified historic buildings. A historical account described the building as neglected at the time of publication.

The Verulam Heritage Centre is located at 20 Groom Street. The municipality lists the centre as not yet open. If you are planning a visit, check its current status in advance.

Religious sites and the history of the market

Gayathri Peedam, a Hindu ashram and temple, is located in Brindhaven, Verulam. The grounds include a meditation garden and several shrines, including shrines dedicated to Shiva and Hanuman. For travellers interested in religious sites and their design, this offers specific points of interest: the ashram and temple, the garden and the individual shrines. If a visit is important to your plans, check access arrangements in advance.

Verulam Market on Wick Street developed from open-air stalls selling fresh produce into a fully fledged market run by the Verulam Town Board. This development connects the history of selling goods with a change in the form of the market. Alongside the religious and church sites, it offers a distinct way to explore local history.

Verulam within the wider Durban Metro destination

Historically, the town of Verulam was sited on the south bank of the Umdloti River. Within the wider Durban Metro destination, the eThekwini Municipality stretches from cosmopolitan coastal areas in the north to rugged valleys in the west.

The museums in Durban Metro also cover different themes: the Durban Local History Museums focus on cultural and historical heritage, the Durban Art Gallery on visual art, and the Durban Natural Science Museum on natural science aspects of heritage. There are 19 Local History Museum sites in eThekwini; they are managed entirely by the municipality. The number of 19 sites may change.

Another theme in Durban Metro is uShaka’s attractions. uShaka Sea World is an aquarium offering dolphin shows, seal viewing and penguin presentations; the show programme may change. Check it in advance if a particular presentation is important to your plans. uShaka Wet n Wild is a water park.

Choose a search location based on your travel interests

When searching for a holiday rental, you can first decide which focus will shape your stay. With the Methodist Church, Gayathri Peedam and the history of the market, Verulam offers several specific local points of interest. Durban Metro also includes the museum themes mentioned above, as well as an aquarium, presentations and a water park. This lets you choose a location based on the kind of trip you want, without treating different destinations as the same.

Discover more destinations: Lotusville, Pietermaritzburg, Port Edward, Kokstad, KwaDukuza, Kwagingindlovu, Bergville, Port Shepstone.

For the wider travel overview: KwaZulu-Natal.