Backstory:
I started the project last year (year 2020) during COVID lockdown and have used public sources to compile photographs. The locations were revisited in my hometown of Nainital, a hill station in the Indian Himalayas in 2020 to visually document developmental changes that have occurred in a span of 160 years since the first photos were taken.
Nainital: History in Transition | 1860s- 2020 |
Intro:
About Images:
View of two bearers carrying a jampan on the sports ground, Naini Tal, India (1885 vs 2020)
The old structures have been replaced with the present-day Municipal building with a concretized sitting area near ‘flats’ and government-sponsored murals on the walls.
Naina Devi temple and bathing sheds near the lake (1890s vs 2020)
Today, the area surrounding the temple premises have been transformed with a boat stand to cater to heavy tourist inflow. A Gurudwara stands tall alongside the temple to cater to various religious faiths.
View of the lake (1866 vs 2020)
Original photo from the 'Album of Indian Views', taken by Samuel Bourne.
Photo shows the starting part of Thandi sadak from Mallital side. In recent years, Thandi Sadak has undergone multiple changes to open up new spaces for tourists and locals alike for recreation.
A view of Nainital (1865 vs 2020)
In the old picture, the bathing sheds and Assembly Rooms are on the water's edge, the Albion Hotel (Grand Hotel) is the right-hand building on the terrace above the lake (partially visible).
Nainital from Pashan Devi Temple (1860 vs 2020)
A photograph, from the ‘Album of Indian Views’, of Nainital taken by John Edward Saché from today’s Pashan Devi temple. The image also shows the sacred lake, which forms the focal point of the hill station.
North end of Nainital (1883 vs 2020)
View of the north end of Nainital (Mallital) with remains of 1880s landslide. Today, these are one of the densely populated areas with numerous residential buildings, government offices and hotels.
Nainital lake with boats (1899 vs 2020)
Naini lake with boats in 1899 taken by Lawrie and Company. This view shows boathouses by the lakeside and, on the left, the New Assembly Rooms and the recreation grounds known as 'The Flats', which were both rebuilt after the landslide disaster of 1880.
A view of Nainital lake from Tallital side (1860s vs 2020)
South end of Nainital (1865 vs 2020)
The south end of the Lake (Tallital) and the quaint road leading to Phansi Gadhera. There were rarely any settlements on this side of the lake. It wasn't until 1841 that P. Barron who built the first European house in Nainital.
Indira Pharmacy and the Tallital Bazaar (1945 vs 2020)
Indira pharmacy and the Tallital bazaar.
Tallital was the entry point in Nainital with one road leading to Bhowali, Almora, Ranikhet and other hill regions of Kumaon. Another road led to Kathgodam, Haldwani and to other cities of the north Indian plains.
Tallital was the entry point in Nainital with one road leading to Bhowali, Almora, Ranikhet and other hill regions of Kumaon. Another road led to Kathgodam, Haldwani and to other cities of the north Indian plains.
Old Tallital Bazaar (1890s vs 2020)
Road from Nainital to Kathgodam.
Road from Nainital to Kathgodam.
The earlier single storied settlements have now been constructed into multi-storied buildings for tourists, residential and business purposes.
Tallital Boatstand (1865 vs 2020)
Tallital Boatstand.
The original image was probably taken from what today is known as Army Rest and Recoup Centre at Tallital.
The original image was probably taken from what today is known as Army Rest and Recoup Centre at Tallital.
View looking across the lake towards Nainital (1885 vs 2020)
View looking across the lake towards Nainital. One can see a part of St. Francis Catholic Church, thus, being one of the oldest churches in the Himalayan hill stations.
General view of the south end of Naini Tal Lake (1895 vs 2020)
General view of the south end of Naini Tal Lake. Present day Bishop Shaw school remains a prominent structure at the centre. The old Tallital bazaar is now a multi-storied unplanned settlement today.
Then vs now (1866 vs 2020)
View of Phansi Gadhera from St. Francis Catholic Church.
View of a cricket match in progress on the sports ground (flats) at Naini Tal (1885 vs 2020)
View of a cricket match in progress on the sports ground (flats) at Naini Tal. The town subsequently became a popular retreat for the residents who were not only British but also many Indians who had become powerful with their businesses in the plains region.