Gorton Castle

Shimla Himachal Pradesh

#23 Among Things To Do in Shimla

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Label : Permanently Closed

Tags : Historical Site

Timings : 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Time Required : Less than 1 hour

Entry Fee : No entry fee

Gorton Castle, Shimla Overview

Gorton Castle is a colonial-era building in Neo-Gothic style on a hilltop surrounded by deodar trees, now used as the office of the Accountant General of Himachal Pradesh. Since it's a working government office, it's really a walk-by or photo stop from outside rather than something you can go inside.

Gorton Castle was built in 1904 and was designed by Sir Winton Jacob who was considered as one of the best British architects during the time. Many people say that the castle has a magical vibe with its stone structure and glass windows that take visitors back to the bygone era. Located in the Shimla Heritage Zone, Gorton Castle is included in the Heritage walks held by several organisers in the city.

History of Gorton Castle

Gorton Castle was built by a well known British Architect, Sir Winton Jacob in 1904 who was famous for beautifully merging Hindu, Islamic and Western forms of architecture. Sir Winton Jacob designed the building in such a way that the structure complemented the natural landscape of the region. Lord Curzon, who had appointed Sir Winton Jacob, loved the design the moment he saw it and allowed him to proceed with the construction. The land which is now occupied by the castle belonged to Mr Gorton, who sold it to Sir James Walker. Sir James had donated it to build a hospital. Therefore, another piece of land was given to build a hospital and this piece was brought to establish the Government Secretariat.

Architecture of Gorton Castle

Gorton Castle is a three storey building built according to the Neo-Gothic type of architecture. Set over an area of 40,000 square feet, it is located on a hilltop amidst thick Deodar and Rosewood Trees. The opulent castle has 125 rooms and is built of grey coloured stones sourced from Sanjauli in Himachal Pradesh. The structure has tall towers, beautiful windows, large doors and a roof that was initially made of tiles but is now replaced with galvanised iron sheets. The regal building has balconies which are adorned with traditional Rajasthani Jali/ Jari work, and the entire building is surrounded by shrubs and trees that make the heritage monument a sight to remember for tourists.

Best Time to Visit

Gorton Castle is best explored in the winter season i.e. between October and February as the region receives snowfall and the natural landscape around the castle are beautifully covered in snow.