Shimla's Historic Wildflower Hall Taken Over By State Government

After winning a legal battle with the International Hospitality Oberoi Group, the Himachal Pradesh government has taken possession of Wildflower Hall at Charabra, located on the outskirts of Shimla. The government took possession of Wildflower Hall on November 18, Saturday, according to reports. The property has been handed over to Himachal Tourism. According to reports, the Director of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, Mansi Sahay, has been posted as the administrator of the property right now.

Hotel With A History

Shimla has several buildings that date back to the colonial era. Wildflower Hall is one of them. The hotel, located at 8,250 feet (1,000 feet higher than Shimla), has all the charms of an old-world Bavarian Alps property. The current structure could be mistaken for the Wildflower Hall occupied by Lord Kitchener, Commander in Chief of the British Indian Army in 1902, due to its architecture and décor.

However, in 1925, the original single-story structure was demolished and replaced by a three-story hotel, which operated successfully until it was destroyed by fire in 1993. Three years later, the Oberoi group took over and unveiled the new Wildflower Hall in 2001.

The hotel is known for its atmospheric interiors, elegant decor, and quality amenities, including the Oberoi Spa, and an open-air jacuzzi which sits on a lip overlooking the valley. The property is known for its sun-drenched terrace with 180-degree views of the valley and the Shrikhand Mahadev range beyond.

The Legal Case

The legal case had been going on for some time. The Himachal High Court upheld the government's decision to reclaim this property from the Oberoi Group in August 2022. The court also stated that the State government has complete authority to reclaim the property from the Oberoi Group and the East India Hotel Company.