Posted on: 21 June 2011

Church at Kasauli, Punjab - 25 November 1868

Watercolour by Leighton, Stanley (1837-1901) of the church at Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh, dated 25th November 1868. The image is inscribed on the mount and on the picture in pencil: 'Church at Kassowlie between Simla and the plains, looking towards the hills. Wed. 25 Nov. 1868.' About 6,335 feet above sea level, Kasauli was the first hill-station on the ascent to Shimla (Simla) in the Himalayan foothills. In 1842 a European military cantonment was founded here and it also became a sanitorium for convalescing soldiers. The church, whose foundation stone was laid in 1844, is a prominent landmark in Kasauli. The structure is notable for its Gothic arches, buttresses and spires. The church is also said to have some impressive stained glass windows.

Source : British Library


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I live in Kasauli and walk past this beautiful church everyday. Of course the surroundings look like nothing in this painting. There are shops and buses and roads and a bustling market place. It's almost strange to see what the area must have once looked!

I think that's an idealization of the originary place, not something like a photo.

...while searching on the internet for some contemporary photographs of this charming little church I was surprised/ amused to discover that the British established a distillery at Kasauli (in the late 1820s) a full ten years before they got around to building a church (1842) !... An interesting ordering of priorities ~ but ~ I imagine that a stiff drink was required after the long slog up from the plains ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasauli_Brewery

nice photo....

i love the composition and colour of this painting. the approach to the church through the winding path gives a lovely elevation to the church.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi used to call Kasauli Switzerland of India