Century-old bookstore in the Nilgiris shuts shop

A fallout of the building changing hands

The heritage building which used to house the Higginbotham's bookstore.

A bookstore that is more than 100 years old, popular among locals and tourists alike, on Commissioner’s Road in Udhagamandalam, had to close shop last week after the heritage building in which it was located changed hands following a protracted legal battle.

Heritage lovers across the Nilgiris fear that the building, which housed M/s Higginbotham’s and Co since 1905, may be altered or torn down, and have made an urgent appeal to preserve it.

Dharmalingam Venugopal, honorary director of the Nilgiris Documentation Center told

The Hindu that locals, including patrons, were “in a state of mourning at the sudden disappearance of the heritage landmark situated bang opposite public offices on Commissioner’s Road.”

Mr. Venugopal said the building was designed using the oriental style of architecture pioneered by architect Robert Chisholm.

“It was at the site of the bookstore that the first church school was built immediately after John Sullivan completed Stone House in 1823. The original building, meant as a library-cum-museum, was taken over by an English trading company before Higginbotham’s and Co. moved in some time after 1905,” said Mr. Venugopal, adding that the building came into existence around the year 1890.

He called upon the district administration and heritage lovers to take immediate action to ensure that the building is not altered, and that its features as a heritage building are maintained.