The 19th Century Project was launched to chronicle the history of the Darjeeling hills during the 1800s, with a special emphasis on its architectural heritage. It’s aim is to build a digital archive of significant structures from that era, allowing people to easily explore these landmarks and understand the stories and history they embody.
St. Andrew’s Church, Darjeeling
St. Andrew’s Church is regarded as one of the oldest religious institutions in the state, originally constructed in 1843. After its spire was damaged by a lightning strike in 1867, the structure underwent reconstruction in 1879, and the entire building was completed in 1882. The church derives its name from St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland.
According to E. C. Dozey, the foundation stone was laid on St. Andrew’s Day, November 30, 1843. The construction was overseen by Capt. Bishop, who was then in command of the station’s troops. Dozey also notes that the church could accommodate around 150 worshippers and was built at an estimated cost of Rs. 9,000.
The clock tower was a later addition, erected in 1883, as the original structure did not include one.
Brahmo Samaj, Darjeeling
The Brahmo Samaj was founded in 1830 with the primary objective of reforming Hinduism. Its message resonated strongly with the wider population, particularly those marginalized by the caste system upheld by orthodox Brahmanical traditions. Over time, the movement gained considerable momentum across India, reflected in the establishment of numerous Brahmo Samaj branches throughout the country.
The Darjeeling Brahmo Samaj, situated at Laldighi, was established in 1880 (though the official Brahmo Samaj website cites 1877 as its founding year). The land on which it stands originally belonged to Dr. B. B. Sarkar, late husband of Mrs. Hemlata Sarkar, who served as the Principal of Maharani Girls’ High School in Darjeeling. The property was donated for the construction of a Brahmo temple, in accordance with an agreement with the Municipality.
The broader reformist movement of the 19th century aimed to initiate change from within society, though its significance extended much further. Two major global events, the American War of Independence and the French Revolution, had a profound impact on shaping these reformist ideas. Both revolutions placed emphasis on the rights and power of the masses, largely composed of the working class. In India, social and religious reforms became crucial not only to address prevailing inequalities but also to pre-empt potential unrest against the elite.
Though debates continue about whether the Brahmo Samaj fully met its intended objectives, its role as a transformative institution in India’s social and religious history remains undeniably important.
St. Columba’s Church, Darjeeling.
St. Columba’s Church, located above the Darjeeling Railway Station, was constructed in May 1894 by the Church of Scotland Mission. The church is named after St. Columba, the Irish abbot renowned for his role in spreading Christianity in Scotland during the 6th century AD.
According to E. C. Dozey, services at the church were held every Sunday at noon and again at 6 p.m., with the evening service shifted to 5:30 p.m. during the winter months.
The Old Secretariat Building, Darjeeling.
Previously known as the Old Secretariat Building, it was built in the year 1898. E. C. Dozey writes that the building consisted of two floors in addition to a ground floor, and housed the offices of Chief Secretary to Government, Under Secretary, Political and Appointment Departments, Secretary, Revenue and General Departments, Secretariat Library, Secretary Public Works Department, Secretary Financial and Municipal Departments, Consulting Architect to Government and many others.
At present, the Old Secretariat Building functions as the Department of Education under Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
Yiga Choeling Monastery, Ghoom
In 1850, a Mongolian astrologer and monk, Sokpo Sherab Gyatso, travelled to the area now known as Ghoom and established a monastery that later became known as Yiga Choeling Monastery. It is among the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries of the Gelug tradition in the region.
Tibetan Buddhism is broadly divided into four major schools. Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug. Of these, the Gelug sect is the most recent, emerging in the 15th century.
Symbolism plays a central role in Tibetan Buddhist culture. Elements such as the colors of the Tibetan Buddhist flag, the pair of deer flanking the Dharma wheel, and the depiction of dragons on the entrance gate and the monastery façade each carry significant meaning. Understanding these symbols is essential to appreciating the monastery in its entirety.
Yiga Choeling Monastery is also notable for housing a fifteen-foot-tall statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha, the only monastery in the region to feature such an image.
Ging Gonpa
Sangchhen Thondorling Gonpa, commonly known as Ging Gonpa, is located in Ging, approximately 10 kilometres from Darjeeling. It is an offshoot of the Pemayangtse Monastery in West Sikkim and belongs to the Nyingmapa tradition, also known as the Red Hat sect. Considered one of the oldest monasteries in the region, it was established in 1818 by the lamas of Pemayangtse, though some believe its origins may date even earlier. To this day, lamas from Sikkim continue to perform various rituals at the monastery.