The colonial heritage of Himachal, especially the old churches and cemeteries around towns like Kasauli and Dagshai that formerly served as British cantonments, lures many tourists to the hill state. Myths and watered down information about these old haunts abound. But for the first time now, the void of authentic information about these old structures will be filled by an upcoming inventory book.

The state tourism department is in the process of publishing the book, which will also help foreign tourists trace their ancestry.

The book is likely to be released next month, said Deputy Director (Tourism) Manoj Sharma. “The book will have information on the history of all graves and churches in Himachal, along with their photographs. It has also been planned to post the information on the department’s official website,” said Manoj.

Documentation and research of historical links of nearly 23 cemeteries and an equal number of churches across Himachal has been done by Shimla-based historian Raja Bhasin, with assistance of London-based British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia (BACSA) and Christian missionaries. There is extensive information of five main cemeteries of Shimla and Subathu in Solan, where many British soldiers lie buried. Graves of many prominent personalities have been traced to other locations such as Dharamshala.

It is learnt that in various observations, BACSA had also expressed concern over the pathetic condition of churches and the connected cemeteries in India, with special mention of Himachal.

Not only the graveyards, many churches, some dating back to the early 19th century have long been abandoned and are in a state of neglect. In many graveyards, the graves and tomb stones have been badly damaged.

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