Gorton Castle — Attraction in Himachal Pradesh

History of Gorton Castle in Shimla

Gorton Castle was constructed in the year 1904. The building was designed by one of the best British architects of that time, Sir Swinton Jacob. The architecture of this castle was inspired by the Neo-Gothic style. Sir Swinton Jacob was working as a consulting engineer in Jaipur. This well known architect and engineer of the colonial India earned fame for his masterpiece architectures that had the blending of Islamic, Hindu and western traditions”. Many important buildings of colonial India such as Albert Hall (Jaipur), Lalgarh Palace (Bikaner), St. Stephen’s College (Delhi) etc. were designed by him. When there was need of a Government Secretariat in their summer capital, Shimla, Swinton Jacob was given the responsibility by Lord Curzon.

The design was liked a lot by Lord Curzon. The design of the castle complemented its high location and wonderful surroundings. The land on which the castle was built was originally the place donated for building a hospital. The castle was named as Gorton Castle after the name of the original owner of this site, Mr. Gorton, an ICS. The land changed hands thrice and was then purchased by Sir James Walker, a banker, on payment of Rs. 80,000. When the site was taken for building Government Secretariat, he was given another land for hospital construction. The land was acquired by the government for its officials after persuading Sir Walker a lot.

Architecture of Gorton Castle Situated on the top of the hill, Gorton Castle is built over an area that has dimension of 400 ftx100 ft. The castle has three stories and houses 125 rooms of various sizes. The castle is surrounded by timber blocks mostly of Rosewood. The blocks were bought from Andaman under the supervision of Mr. B. Ribbertrop, Forest Department Head. For constructing the building, grey stones from Sanjauli, Himachal Pradesh, were used. The roofs of the castle were made with red tiles. Later on the red tiles got replaced with red iron sheets (galvanized). The main entrance of the castle resembled like a chalet and there was a large portico having a wonderful fresco. The side of the castle had bay windows. High towers surmounted the stone walls of the castle. The red iron roof of the castle gave it a look of fairy-tale castles.

The castle was mounted on a hilltop surrounded by huge Deodar Trees and it could be seen from very far off. The balconies of Gorton Castle were decorated with innovatively designed net (jari) work of Rajasthan which still grabs the eyes of the onlookers. Many departments of the British India e.g. Health, Education, Finance, Home etc., were run from here.

Location of Gorton Castle Gorton Castle can be easily reached because it is located at the center of the city, the Mall Road. From any part of the Shimla Town, this castle can be easily reached.

How to Reach Gorton Castle For reaching the Gorton Castle, travelers have to use the Cart Road from the Railway Station. They can walk down to the Mall through this road and on the way they will find Gorton Castle. One has to drive only 500 m to reach the castle. Travelers would enjoy walking down to this castle. Those who are coming to visit the castle from outside Shimla can actually get into private or public buses that run on frequent basis. Taxis/cabs can also be hired...

Now serving as AG office of Himachal Pradesh, Gorton Castle, Shimla was originally designed by Col. Sir S. Swinton Jacob, modified by Major H. F. Chesney during 1901-04. Built of stone set in lime, with red galvanized iron roofing, and located on the The Mall in Shimla. This landmark castle boasts neo-Gothic architecture.

Jacob, who drew up the original plan for this building, had the reputation of being "the best professional architect in India" (Lord Curzon's words, qtd. in Kanwar 308). So it was natural for him to be chosen to design what was then intended to be the new Government Secretariat in Simla. Jacob's plan was just to Curzon's liking, and ideally suited to the commanding, airy hilltop plot which had originally been donated to the government for a hospital. Although the plan had to be modified later by the Resident Engineer, Major Chesney, the prominent four-storey structure still looked much as both Jacob and Curzon had intended. Pamela Kanwar describes it well as "a picturesque, multi-faceted building." As she says, "The entrance has a chalet-like appearance with a large portico with a decorative frieze. Its sides have prominent bay windows. Its solid grey stone walls are surmounted by square as well as high-pitched pointed towers" (308, 309). Red galvanized iron roofing is common to many other buildings in Shimla, but in this case it adds to a fairytale feel; seen from a distance, its red towers stand out brightly amid the surrounding...

Central government AG office

Gorton Castle is a historic castle located in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. It was built in 1904 as the residence of the Chief Commissioner of British India, Sir William Gorton.

Here are some interesting facts about Gorton Castle:

Architecture: The castle is a blend of Gothic and Victorian architectural styles, with intricate stone carvings, wooden paneling, and ornate furnishings.

Location: Gorton Castle is situated on a hilltop, offering panoramic views of Shimla and the surrounding Himalayan mountains.

History: The castle has served as the residence of British officials, including the Viceroy of India, and has hosted several notable guests, including royalty and heads of state.

Restoration: After India gained independence, the castle fell into disrepair but was later restored in the 1990s.

Present use: Today, Gorton Castle houses the Himachal Pradesh High Court and is also used for government events and functions.

Heritage significance: Gorton Castle is a protected monument under the Himachal Pradesh Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1974.

Tourist attraction: The castle is open to visitors and offers guided tours, providing a glimpse into Shimla's rich history and colonial past.

If you're planning a visit to Shimla, Gorton Castle is definitely...