155-year-old heritage school building restored
Dipender Manta
Tribune News Service
Mandi, February 15
After the completion of restoration work of Vijay High School, Mandi, residents are urging the state government to inaugurate the heritage building for tourist activities.
This building is situated in the middle of Mandi town, and is a wonderful masterpiece of Kathkuni architecture. The whole structure is made of forest wood.
Residents are urging the state government to set up a state library and a museum of other historical items related to Mandi’s culture and history in this building to attract tourists. They say Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur should inaugurate it soon.
About the structure
The building of Vijay High School was constructed in 1866 by the then ruler of Mandi state, Vijay Sen.
It is a wonderful masterpiece of Kathkuni architecture, made of forest wood.
It was a middle school initially but in 1921, it was upgraded to a high school.
Till 1998, classes were taken in this building.
However, in 1998, due to the dilapidated condition of the school building, classes were shifted to another building.
The building of Vijay High School was constructed in 1866 by the then ruler of Mandi state, Vijay Sen. It was a middle school then but in 1921, it was upgraded to a high school. Till 1998, classes were taken in this building. However, in 1998, due to the dilapidated condition of the school building, classes were shifted to another building. Since then, this building has been deserted.
In 2006, the old students’ union of the school, led by union president Anil Kumar, requested the state government to take up the restoration work. Finally, the state government accepted the demand. The project has been completed at a cost of about Rs 6 crore, funded by the Asian Development Bank.
Rakesh Arora, Manager of Asian Development Bank project in Mandi, confirmed that the project was completed a month ago and was ready for inauguration.
Anil Kumar said residents of the district wanted the building to be inaugurated for tourist activities as soon as possible. “We want to equip this heritage building with a state library, museum and some other unique things to attract visitors here,” he said.
He said the Indian National Trust of Art and Culture Heritage, Mandi, had prepared the DPR of this project free of cost.
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