British-era Church Tower in Karnal to get makeover

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, December 22

British-era Church Tower and graveyard of European soldiers and their family members will be given a facelift under the Smart City project. The tender process has been initiated by Karnal Smart City Ltd. (KSCL), a company, which is looking after the Karnal Smart City project. A sum of around Rs 1 crore will be spent on it.

This step is being taken to promote tourism in Karnal which has rich heritage. It will be part of the around 4-km long proposed heritage corridor from Geeta Dwar to Karan Gate across which heritage buildings are being given a facelift.

As per the historians, the four-storey church tower named ‘Cantonment Church Tower, which was earlier known as St James Church, was constructed by the Britishers who had captured Karnal in 1805. They made Army Cantonment in Karnal in 1806. The premises is spread over 8.3 acres. The height of the tower is around 35 meter surmounted by an ornamental cross. It is under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), said an official. After the outbreak of malaria, the Britishers had shifted their cantonment to Ambala between 1841 and 1843.

“At present, both the sites are being preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). We have already received consent from the Archaeology and Museum Department, Haryana, for it. We have started the tendering process,” said Nishant Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner-cum-CEO, KSCL.

The broken links in the pathway will be connected for making the surrounding area more accessible. Lighting and CCTV cameras will be installed for the safety and security. It will boost tourism in the city, said the CEO.

Along with it there is a cemetery where European soldiers, who had died between 1842 and 1843 because of the outbreak of malaria, are buried. More than 500 graves of the soldiers and their family members are there in 8172 sq meter cemetery. Tall memorial gravestones reflect the rich colonial gothic architecture of that time. Among these graves, one was of General Anson, Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty’s Indian Forces, who died on May 27, 1857 of cholera. Later, his family members had exhumed and taken his body to England. “The broken boundary wall of this graveyard will be repaired. The lighting work will also be done,” said Yadav.

Earlier known as St James Church; Cantt built in 1806

As per the historians, the four-storey church tower named ‘Cantonment Church Tower, which was earlier known as St James Church. It was constructed by the Britishers who had captured Karnal in 1805. They made Army Cantonment in Karnal in 1806. The premises is spread over 8.3 acres, said an official.