Selfie point to be set up at Darjeeling’s historic Capitol Hall

DARJEELING, : The Capitol Hall in Darjeeling, a heritage landmark renowned for its colonial architecture, will soon have its own designated selfie point, allowing tourists to photograph the historic structure without interference from surrounding traffic.

The initiative, spearheaded by Darjeeling Municipality, was officially launched today with a foundation-laying ceremony led by municipality chairman Dipen Thakuri.

“We decided to create a selfie point here as Capitol Hall is a heritage site and also to mark its 175th anniversary. Our aim is to highlight the Hall’s significance through this feature,” said Thakuri. “We are planning to build the selfie point on the road level above the Hall. We’re also exploring the possibility of constructing a skywalk-type structure, although that will depend on practical feasibility.” The project is estimated to cost around Rs. 12 lakh.

Originally built during the British era, Capitol Hall once featured a 600-seat theatre alongside its iconic 100-foot clock tower, making it a favourite among tourists. Today, the building also houses the Darjeeling Municipality office. Though the theatre has not been in regular use since 1984, it still hosts various social and cultural events. Most recently, a Bollywood musical starring Kartik Aaryan filmed a song sequence at the site. Director Anurag Basu, who previously featured the clock tower in his 2012 film “Barfi!”, is helming the new, yet-to-be-titled film.

“This area already attracts tourists who love to click photos, but congestion makes it very difficult. The selfie point will allow them to capture Capitol Hall in its full glory,” Thakuri stated.

Regarding plans for the Hall’s renovation, he added, “We currently face a shortage of funds, but we envision converting the space into a banquet hall to help generate revenue for the Municipality. We also plan to establish a museum dedicated to tea and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. While funding delays have slowed progress, we remain optimistic.”

Work on the selfie point is expected to begin next week. Thakuri also confirmed that overhead wires obstructing views of the Hall will be removed, and regular expo-melas held at the site will be discontinued to maintain the area’s heritage appeal.