COLONIAL HERITAGE HILL

STATIONS OF INDIA
15BAR41 AAGAM M.
15BAR57 MILAN K.
HILL STATION IS A TERM INVENTED FOR HILLSIDE RETREATS THAT COLONIAL
BRITISH USED AS THEIR SUMMER RETREATS. THESE HILL STATIONS HAVE
NOW EVOLVED INTO HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS AND VISITED BY INBOUND
TRAVELERS TILL TODAY TO EXPERIENCE A BIT ABOUT THE ERA GONE BY. LIST
OF SOME MAJOR HILL STATIONS OF INDIA:

1. SHIMLA
2. DARJEELING
3. OOTY
4. MATHERAN
5. MUSSOORIE
6. NAINITAL
7. PACHMARHI
Shimla was developed in early 19th Century and used to be the Summer Capital of the
British Raj and therefore historic in many ways. British built in 1903 a Railway line to
facilitate the transfers. The UNESCO-recognized train route passes through 102
tunnels and crosses over 850 bridges and remains till today an attraction. Shimla of
today is a bit crowded and touristy but there are enough areas such as the Vice
Regal Lodge.
The vice-regal lodge here is patterned after an English great house, complete with a
quaint reproduction of a rural parish church, now in ruin and inhabited mostly by
bats and a play space for children who live near. Even though the vice-regal lodge is
grand, it pales in contrast with the last capital of British India laid out from 1913 by
Sir Edwin Lutyens in collaboration with Sir Herbert Baker, who was fresh from his
imperious triumph at Pretoria.

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India The vice-regal lodge

Darjeeling was developed by the British in early 19th century. The development
accelerated after building of the Darjeeling train route which is today a UNESCO site
and remains a major attraction for heritage traveler. Darjeeling of today is touristy
with Himalayan views in Winter, Some bakeries & Cafes and some heritage churches
reminds Colonial past. The Tea plantations that British developed around Darjeeling
remain pristine.
St. Andrews church which stands as a landmark of British tradition is named after the
saints of Scotland, it is an Anglican church. It is one of the engineering marvels which
depicts the excellent architectural skills of the Britishers. Being one of the most
beautiful edifice it has been admired and praised by the tourists as well as the locals.
At past it had no clock tower as we see it today and the attendants had to content
themselves with a sun-dial.

Darjeeling West Bengal, India St.Andrew's Church, Darjeeling

In the medieval period, the Nilgiris were ruled by the Chera Empire. Then, it was
under the Ganga dynasty succeeded by the Hoysala Empire whose king was
Vishnuvardhana in the 12th century. Later, it fell into the hands of the Kingdom of
Mysore of Tipu Sultan and was then under the rule of the British in the 18th century.
The British governor of Coimbatore, John Sullivan, was pleased with this towns climate.
Therefore, he bought the land from the local inhabitants (Kota/Kotas, Toda, Kurumba,
and Badaga); at a cost of few feasts.Exclusively owned by the private British citizens,
this area flourished more quickly during the British rule as compared to the rest of
India. It was the summer capital of the Madras region and the weekend gateway
during the colonial era. Due to its spectacular scenes and evergreen valleys, British
entitled the place as Queen of Hills.

Ooty Tamil Nadu, India Fern Hill Palace, Ooty

British discovered Nainital in mid-19th century. A number of "European" schools for
boys and girls were founded in Nainital thereafter. Nainital became home to summer
retreats of Maharajas that were serving under British rule. Nainital today is a
crowded holiday destination. The Summer Palaces (now fine heritage hotels), Raj
Bhawan and the Church of the colonial past.
Raj Bhawan The architecture has been professionally described as of "the early
domestic Gothic style". The front aspect is dominated by six castellated turrets which
were later benefited by the removal of the steep pinnacles which formerly crowned
them. The general effect is one of solidity and dignity without exuberance. The
material used was, in the main, a local stone, a dark grey marble, mixed in the
interior cross walls with local dolomite limestone. While Naloina freestone was used
freely in the exterior, a limited use was also made of Agra red sandstone.

Nainital Uttarakhand, India Raj Bhawan