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Bantony Castle to resonate with Shimla’s history, colonial link

The restoration work of the iconic Town Hall building and Gaiety Theatre has been completed and it is now the turn of Bantony Castle to resonate with the history and colonial era fervour of Shimla.

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Pratibha Chauhan

The restoration work of the iconic Town Hall building and Gaiety Theatre has been completed and it is now the turn of Bantony Castle to resonate with the history and colonial era fervour of Shimla.

The work is under way in full swing to restore and conserve this 125-year-old structure located on the Kalibari Temple road ahead of Scandal Point on The Mall. This prime property was on the verge of collapsing before the state government acquired it. The vast expanse of land spread over several acres is being developed so that a light and sound show can be organised there to trace the link of the erstwhile summer capital of the British. The town and its majestic architectural masterpieces, erected by the British, are rooted in history and every nook and corner of Shimla has a story to tell.

So far, there was no place of tourist interest in the state capital which could detail Shimla’s links not just with the British era but also with several important events related to Independence. The acquisition of Bantony Castle has given an opportunity to the Tourism and Language, Art and Culture Department to develop the place, which enjoys a vantage location in the heart of the town.

It was on January 4, 2016, that the government took the decision to acquire Bantony Castle, Sirmaur, after several failed attempts over the last two decades. The government, with the consent of its owners, decided to acquire Bantony Castle for Rs 27.84 crore. The Himachal Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) had prepared a social impact assessment report of the prime property before the decision on its acquisition was taken.

The entire property spread over 19,436.83 sq m, including the main wooden structure, expansive lawns and thick deodar forests, are now being converted into a vibrant heritage zone, showcasing Himachal’s rich culture and traditions. Besides, it will also have a museum, cafeteria and walking trails after conserving the old structure standing there. It was later decided to have a light and sound show, which will trace the history of Shimla and its strong British link.

The restoration work to convert Bantony Castle into a vibrant place and promote the concept of night tourism is being executed by Kavita Jain, a Conservation Architect from Jaipur. She has the experience of similar conservation projects in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, though in different architectural styles.

The restoration work can take more than a year to complete but once ready, the entire stretch right from The Ridge, Gaiety Theatre, Town Hall and Bantony Castle will become a heritage zone, which will be of immense interest for tourists.

Maharaja’s summer palace

The 125-year-old Bantony Castle was the summer palace of the Maharaja of Sirmaur. The main building is a double-storey structure constructed in the mock Tudor style, part chalet and crowned with a sloping roof with mini-towers. The building is said to have been designed by TEG Cooper and before its construction began in 1880, the site had a cottage belonging to Cap A. Gordon which housed army officers. It had housed the office of the Himachal Police since 1957. It was after the owners won the legal battle that the police vacated the building.

 
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