Posted on: 30 June 2013

View of the north end of Naini Tal, with the new Assembly Rooms in the foreground - 1885

Photograph of Nainital from the Macnabb Collection (Col James Henry Erskine Reid): Album of views of 'Naini Tal' taken by an unknown photographer in 1885. The area of the Kumaon Hills had come under British rule after the Anglo-Nepal War (1814-16) but it wasn't until 1841 that P. Barron built the first European house in Nainital. The town became the summer headquarters of the colonial administration of the province. It was a popular retreat for the residents of the plains. Being popular with the British, the town developed a British character with several European schools, barracks and a sanatorium. The Old Assembly Rooms were destroyed in the landslide disaster of September 1880 burying 151 people. This view shows the New Assembly Rooms on the edge of the lake and in front of the recreation area known as 'The Flats'.

Copyright © The British Library Board


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The best Hill Station in my view..

Lovely . Is the land still there?

Yes, this land is a sports-field now. Lots of small shops selling chinese junk (but some excellent bakeries too) & of course, the new Nanda Devi temple ring the lake border now. Apart from the Boat-Club, the only other wooden building which protrudes out into the lake, is a "Library & Reading Room". Bang in the middle of the crowded Mall road, this 120 year old library is open to visitors for 3 hours early morning & 4 hours in the evening. With windows out on to the lake & an excellent collection of antiquarian books, this state govt. run library has lost its expensive books but its still packed with lesser known delights. Book lovers, take note. Do a dekho...

Wow chitti!! :)

With landslides and havoc being the glob of the month, there was a major landslide in Nainital late in the 19th century http://www.nainitaltourism.com/old_pic1.html

lovely n almost Divine.