The unique allure of Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, stems from its streets being dotted with innumerable colonial structures, each an architectural masterpiece whispering tales of the British Raj. Among these precious, yet threatened, vestiges of colonial grandeur is the Bantony Castle. Over 125 years old, the castle is not just a building but a symbol of the city's rich history, tragically allowed to fall into a state of near collapse due to neglect and decades of legal wrangling.
Above image: The 125-year-old Bantony Castle was the summer palace of the Maharaja of Sirmaur. The main building is a two-story 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.and it was after the last owners won the legal battle that the police vacated the building.
Historical Background and Decline
Bantony Castle, designed by TEG Cooper and constructed starting around 1880, served as the summer palace of the Maharaja of Sirmaur. The main structure is a picturesque, two-story edifice built in the distinctive mock Tudor style, resembling a chalet and crowned with a sloping roof and mini-towers. Before the Maharaja's palace, the site, located prominently along the
Kali Bari Road near the
Scandal Point, housed a cottage for army officers. Post-independence, the castle took on a less glamorous role, housing the office of the
Himachal Pradesh Police since 1957. Despite its historical significance, the property gradually succumbed to dilapidation, its structural integrity compromised due to a severe lack of periodic maintenance.
The Legal Struggle and Acquisition
The primary obstacle to the preservation of this heritage structure was a long-drawn legal dispute over its ownership. The protracted litigation involved the last owners, descendants of the Sirmaur rulers, and the successive state governments that had made futile attempts to acquire the property. The owners' key contention was that acquiring only the site containing the heritage structure (approximately 3,874 square meters) would drastically reduce the market value of their remaining expansive plot (which covered 22,000 square meters).
The legal battle over the ownership of the property located on the Kali Bari road and near the Scandal point the Mall ended in the past with the court interference. and the private property was finally transferred to the government under the Himachal’s Department of Language, Art and Culture in the revenue record. The registry of the Bantony Castle was done in the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Shimla (Urban), at a sum of Rs.27.84 crore ( Rs.27,84,65000) in the 3rd week of Feb. 2017. The old structure was in bad shape because of lack of periodic maintenance story building.
Thanks to persistent efforts from heritage lovers and consistent media reports highlighting the building's decay, the government ultimately succeeded in acquiring the private property. The legal battle concluded, and the property was finally transferred to the state under the Himachal’s Department of Language, Art and Culture. The registry of the Bantony Castle was completed in the third week of February 2017, for a total sum of Rs. 27.84 crore (Rs. 27,84,65,000).
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Dilapidated Bantony castle, Shimla sunpost.in
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Restoration Project and Present Status
Following the successful acquisition, the state government demonstrated its commitment to renovating the structure. The restoration and conservation work on Bantony Castle is currently ongoing. The project, overseen by the
HP Tourism Department, was initially budgeted around Rs. 26 crore, though the total cost of restoration is now projected to be around Rs. 35 crores. Work began in earnest around 2016 and, notably, continued even amid the COVID-19 lockdown, utilizing migrant workers.
The overall goal is not merely to restore the building but to integrate it into the city's cultural and tourist landscape. Once repaired and conserved, the government plans to convert the castle into a museum, complemented by a recreational park and a restaurant. The museum is envisioned as a center for showcasing the rich cultural diversity of Himachal Pradesh and the legacy of the colonial era.
Bantony Castle, perched in a vantage location atop The Ridge, offers excellent tourist potential, providing visitors with breath-taking views of the snow-clad western Himalayan range. This extensive estate, with its surrounding expansive lawns and fine deodar forest, is being developed as a lively heritage zone that will include other restored landmarks like the
Town Hall and the
Gaiety Theatre, ensuring that Bantony Castle will once again resonate with Shimla’s history and colonial fervor.
The Bantony Castle near the Scandal Point, Shimla, that had been restored at a cost of around ₹29 crore and was thrown open to public in May 2023 and now houses a heritage museum.
