This iconic structure built in late 1770s has stood witness to the changing times (and rulers) of the city and continues to do so. It's currently the Secretariat building of the state government but was earlier home to junior clerks or 'writers' of the East India Company. With a Greco-Roman exterior, the building has a 128-ft long verandah with columns, iron staircases, porticoes, statues of Greek gods, sculpture of Roman goddess Minerva and a cluster of other statues atop the structure.