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| The main building of Daly College, Indore was constructed out of marble from the Udaipur quarries |
Madhya Pradesh, the centre of ‘Incredible India’, has been known as the Mughal wonder of the nation. It was the strong hold of Mughal emperors, which ended after the war of Panipat, resulting in the expansion of the British dominion in between 18th and 19th century. Most of Madhya Pradesh came under British supremacy when they won the third Anglo-Maratha War. Then the regions including Indore, Bhopal, Nagpur, Rewa, and dozens of other small areas became the princely states of British India. The colonial architecture, after 1901 CE, which until then had merely influenced vernacular architecture, became more dominant. A lot of additions were made to the public buildings in this period, and a number of residential bungalows were built on picturesque locations.
Pachmarhi, a hill station in Madhya Pradesh, has been an archeological treasure house for a long time. According to Dr Mamta Pandey, senior liaison and marketing officer, Madhya Pradesh Tourism, “Pachmarhi is absolutely beautiful due to its natural habitat and this is one of the main reasons why Priyadarshini, was discovered by Captain Forsyth in 1857, naming it the Forsyth Point. This eventually led to the whole area being developed with colonial architecture.” The British developed this as a resort and till date, their influence is embodied in the churches and colonial architecture. The Bison Lodge, one of the oldest houses constructed in Pachmarhi, also by Captain Forsyth in 1862, is now a local museum, depicting the rich flora and fauna of the area and a geographical map of Pachmarhi in a model form. Christ Church, built by the British in 1875, is still considered one of the most quaint, beautiful churches of Madhya Pradesh. It’s sanctum sanctorum has a hemispherical dome with its ribs ending with faces of angels. Also, the nave of the church does not contain a single pillar for support. The bell is as old as the church and the baptismal font is a rare brass piece. The British also constructed a Catholic church in 1892, at Pachmarhi. The blend of French and Irish architecture, along with Belgium stained glass windows add a rare attraction to the building. It also has an attached cemetery with graves dating back to World War I and II.
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| Golf View heritage hotel is decorated with period furniture |
A property well known for its architectural elements, Golf View was constructed by Roman Catholic mission in 1927. Today it is a WelcomHeritage hotel that overlooks the golf course. The property is decorated with period furniture but has all the comforts of a modern hotel. There are 26 luxury suites that have interesting names like Royal Club, Forsyth Suites, Victorian Suites and Regal Club rooms.
Evelyn’s Own in Pachmarhi is a century old cottage that was built in the 19th century, reportedly by a reverand, and is now a homestay. The heritage home is located on the outskirts of the Cantonment area in Pachmarhi. Today owned and managed by a retired colonel of the Indian Army, Evelyn’s Own offers 12 heritage rooms to its guests. Each room has unique elements. The property is dotted with periodic furniture and artefacts. Guests can play golf at the Army Club or take a trip to Satpura National Park where they can do deer spotting and birdwatching.
The building of Daly College, Indore begun in 1882 and opened by Lord Dufferin in 1885. It was entirely made of reinforced concrete. The bust of General Sir Henry Daly presented by HH the Maharaja is placed in the Central Hall on the upper floor. When the college moved to its present premises in 1909 the building with the boarding houses was handed over to the Medical School. The Principal’s Bungalow was constructed in 1878 out of the money subscribed to the Mayo Memorial Fund.
Sir Henry’s Son, Sir Hugh Daly, took great interest in Daly College. The Holkars then donated 118 acres east of the old campus and various Chiefs contributed to build on the newly acquired land. Construction started in 1906 on two student houses, a temple, a mosque and the Principal’s residence.
`The main building was constructed out of marble from the Udaipur quarries and was designed in the Indo Sarascenic style by Sir Swinton Jacob. The main building was officially inaugurated on November 8, 1912 by the Viceroy, Lord Hardinge and the old campus was given up. For the, next 28 years the College was open exclusively to the sons of the Chiefs of Central India.
