For the past three months, the familiar tick-tock has been absent from the heart of Darjeeling. The historic turret clock atop Capitol Hall, a generations-old timekeeper for the hill station, has fallen silent, causing concern among residents and visitors. The Darjeeling municipality has now announced a comprehensive plan not just to repair the clock, but to transform the area into a dedicated tourism zone.
A Legacy of Timekeeping Faces Modern Challenges
Perched high above the Darjeeling Municipality building, the clock on its 75-foot tower has been a constant visual anchor. Visible from Chowrasta, Nehru Road, and Laden-La Road, its face was a communal pocket watch long before wristwatches became commonplace. The original Pul-syn-etic mechanism was installed in the 1920s by G T Gent's Company of the UK, bearing a stylistic resemblance to famous clocks like London's Big Ben.
This isn't the first time the clock has stopped. The original mechanism was destroyed in a fire in 1996 and replaced with an electronic system. The Rotary Club of Darjeeling later revived it in 2006. The current stoppage, lasting around three months, is attributed to damage from rainwater seepage. Shantanu Biswas, who repaired the clock in 1985 and is familiar with its workings, emphasized the need for thorough restoration, noting that even the maintenance platform is now risky.
More Than a Repair: A Vision for Tourism Revival
Darjeeling civic chairman Dipen Thakuri stated that the municipality intends to go beyond a simple fix. "This time, we want to carry out a full renovation to restore the lost glory of Capitol Hall," he said. The ambitious proposal aims to create an integrated tourist experience around the iconic landmark.
The plans are multi-faceted and include:
- Opening a museum dedicated to the legacy of Darjeeling tea and the UNESCO World Heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.
- Transforming Capitol Hall itself into a venue for banquets and events.
- Establishing a dedicated selfie point to capitalize on the tower's photogenic appeal.
"The proposal is in process, the clock will soon tick back to life," assured Chairman Thakuri, signaling a new chapter for the historic structure.
A Timeless Symbol for Darjeeling's Residents
The emotional connection locals have with the clock tower is profound. For people like Kamal Chettri, it was an integral part of daily life. "When we were kids, we checked time by looking up at Capitol Hall. It was our pocket watch," he reminisced, highlighting its role as the town's most reliable public timekeeper before the digital age.
The planned renovation, therefore, is not merely a civic project but an effort to preserve a living piece of Darjeeling's social and architectural heritage. By marrying restoration with modern tourism infrastructure, the authorities hope to ensure that the Capitol Hall clock continues to define Darjeeling's skyline and rhythm for generations to come.
