Coronation Bridge

The Coronation Bridge is also called Sevoke Bridge and is found in Darjeeling in West Bengal which is built over river Teesta. This bridge serves as a link connecting Darjeeling to Jalpaiguri. This bridge is also well known for the National Highway 31 that is laid out on this bridge. The bridge’s construction started in the year 1937 and went on for close to 4 years to celebrate the crowning ceremony of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. When the bridge was finished, it was named as the Coronation Bridge in remembrance of the historic event. The bridge has many names including Baghpool which translates to the tiger bridge. It is surprising that it is called the tiger bridge in spite of the two lions that adorn the entry point of the Coronation Bridge. As it was a sturdy structure made in steel, the bridge was also called Lohapul or bridge made of Iron.

Geography

The bridge has been a symbol of Darjeeling and is a prime connector of the two cities. Considering the fact that the National highway is built on this bridge, this bridge assumes all the more importance.  This is a tourist spot and the bridge is an iconic picture standing in glory. The bridge took four years and just INR 4 lakhs in the construction and the first stone of the structure of the bridge was first placed by John Anderson who served as the Bengal Governor during 1937, which was the year when the construction of the bridge started.

Description of the Bridge

Specifications

The Coronation Bridge is characterized by the strong and stable arch which is an imposing structure that has its support in the river beds that have rocky terrain. The foundation for the arch is laid strongly on these rocks and this is a perfect setting for the Coronation Bridge. This also worked well because the Teesta River was extremely deep and the water currents of the river were also very high. This disturbed the setup of the foundation in the river waters and therefore, the Rocky River beds proved to be the best base that could give a strong foundation. The very fact that the bridge supports a national highway is proof enough of the strength and the sturdiness of the coronation bridge. This bridge is a well-known landmark for its arch and supporting beams that is today synonymous with Darjeeling.

Design Aspects

The entire structuring and laying out of the Coronation Bridge was done under the supervision of John Chambers who was the last serving officer in the Public Works Department of Darjeeling. Based on his advice, structuring and sketches, the group of architects, J.C. Gammon based in Mumbai built the Coronation Bridge. The bridge was built in all four years and it is a great architectural excellence that a bridge that hosts the national highway over a river.

The traffic that is seen to be hosted on the bridge is amazing and it is a real surprise that the bridge that has been so technically well planned with a lot of thought that has gone into the structuring of the bridge. This bridge during a period of time did serve the use of being a connecting point when the bridge connected West Bengal to North Eastern region. Today, the bridge is a prime tourist center and the tourists who visit Darjeeling or Siliguri and the view of river Teesta from the bridge is stunning. Even today, there are tourists who come to the bridge and stand there gazing and taking in all the nature forgetting the traffic whizzing past. The fast vehicles driving away on the bridge and the nature in and around the surrounding of the coronation bridge is a perfect balance of both worlds and the bridge seems to connect the past to the present day world.

The Coronation Bridge is an exemplary sample of the British construction in Indian Territory and this stands as a testimony to the fact that the English rulers did want the best for India and had a good knowledge on the architectural facts and points. The Coronation bridge is indeed a perfect sample of architectural excellence and a tourist delight in every way truly.

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