Shimla’s Viceregal Lodge to display rare British era photos

SHIMLA - The historical Viceregal Lodge, now housing the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies (IIAS), is showcasing some rare photographs of events that the building has witnessed when this Himachal Pradesh town was the summer capital of British India, an official said here Tuesday.

“Michael Driscoll, vice chancellor of Middlesex University in London, would be presenting a set of 15 rare black-and-white photographs to IIAS authorities tomorrow (Wednesday). These would be soon put on display for the general public,” IIAS’ public relations officer A.K. Sharma told IANS.

He said the IIAS has identified a number of photographs of the Viceregal Lodge which are available with the British Library in London.

“Out of more than a 100 photographs available with the British Library, the IIAS has selected 17 photographs. The Middlesex University has agreed to help the IIAS in getting these photographs,” he added.

The IIAS has also received photographs from the Bowood Estate of Lord Lansdowne, the second Viceroy to occupy the Viceregal Lodge in 1890 after Lord Dufferin.

The ‘Queen of Hills’, as Shimla was fondly called by the British, has 91 British-era heritage buildings.

These include Ellerslie housing the state secretariat, Vidhan Sabha, Peterhoff which was completely renovated after being devastated in a fire nearly two decades ago and now serves as the state guest house, United Services Club, Town Hall, Barnes Court housing Raj Bhavan and Gordon Castle, now housing the office of the accountant-general.

More than 60 years after the British left, this Himalayan town still attracts their descendants who are eager to know their roots.