Tea museum, selfie point plans for Darj Capital Hall restoration
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Darjeeling: The Darjeeling Municipality has announced comprehensive plans to restore the Capital Hall, a prominent landmark of the hill station. The initiative includes establishing a museum showcasing Darjeeling tea and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) and converting the space into a banquet venue.
Elaborated on the beautification programme, Darjeeling Municipality chairman Dipen Thakuri said, "For tourists, we are setting up a selfie point with the heritage building near Clubstand Gandhi Road in the backdrop. Since it is a heritage building, we aim to highlight the building. Proposals are also there to construct a skywalk for which we are exploring engineering aspects."
The historic Capital Hall, featuring a 600-seat theatre and a 75-foot clock tower, remains an architectural treasure.
The tower's turret clock, installed in the 1920s, boasts a seven-foot diameter face. Following repairs in 2006 by the Rotary Club of Darjeeling, the clock resumed operation after being non-functional since the 1980s.
The venue's rich history includes its popular bar and evening cinema screenings, with final shows concluding at 9 pm. Since 1984, it has functioned as a community centre and municipal office. The Darjeeling Municipality was established in 1850.
Thakuri outlined additional plans for revenue generation through the hall's conversion into a banquet facility and museum. He emphasised the removal of overhead wires and cables, and announced the prohibition of fairs at the premises.
The Capital Hall's construction began on Oct 27, 1917, when Lord Ronaldshay laid its foundation stone. Completed in 1921 at Rs 2.5 lakh, with half funded by the Maharaja of Cooch Behar, it was inaugurated on May 27, 1921. Eric Avari managed the property until 1984 before departing for New York.
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