Author:

Dr. Chhawang Subba
Assistant Professor,
Department of History,
University of Gour Banga
Malda,West Bengal,India
Email: subba0082@gmail.com

Abstract:: The Darjeeling district of India—situated in the eastern Himalayas—presents a distinctive archaeological landscape shaped by the convergence of British colonial architecture and Himalayan Buddhist monastic traditions. This article examines the archaeological, architectural, historical, and cultural dimensions of colonial-period buildings and monasteries in Darjeeling, focusing particularly on the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. Drawing from architectural typology, historical archaeology, conservation studies, and cultural anthropology, the paper explores how the colonial built environment interacted with and transformed existing Himalayan cultural spaces. The study identifies key archaeological traits in government buildings, churches, residences and tea-estate structures. It argues that the Darjeeling district represents a rare case where colonial and monastic architectural traditions co-developed, influencing each other materially, spatially, and symbolically.

Key Words:: Architectural Design, Colonial Heritage, Hill Station, Governmental Buildings etc.