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Kuldana Cantonment, Murree Hills, Pakistan Picture - Murree Pictures - 8474 |
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Kuldana Cantonment, Murree Hills, Pakistan
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This is a view of Kuldana in the Murree hill-station, Pakistan.
The hill-stations of British India, apart from providing pleasurable summer retreats for the English families were also part of an elaborate Imperial system that allowed the British to rule India. Soon after its establishment in 1851 as a hill-station and sanatorium, Murree (now in Pakistan) became the summer headquarter of the army's Northern Command in the latter half of the 19th century. In time, many smaller cantonments were built around the Murree Garrison amongst which Kuldana is probably the oldest.
Set in a dense pine forest the Kuldana cantonment is presently known as the 'Army School of Logistics'. During the British-era, infantry battalions were mainly based here. There is a long scroll of names of various regiments stationed in Kuldana in those times. Well-known amongst these were the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, Gordon Highlanders, 17th regiment of foot the Leicestershire, Irish Fusiliers, Queen's Royal Surreys, Devonshire and Bedfordshire Regiments, Kings' Rifle Brigade, 1Bn West Yorkshire Regiment and so on.
Old maps of the cantonment confirm the existence of infantry lines, barracks and a rifle range. A playground, two old cemeteries and a tiny chapel have survived in one form or the other. An old rackets court built in 1897 (now a gymnasium) still stands. A few other graceful 19th century buildings have remained in their original state more or less and are still in use by the military. Also a few family residences and an officers' and a sergeants' mess each were left intact after the British departed in 1947 and still stand. (Text & research: Ali Jan, Dr)
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