Himachal Darshan Photo Gallery on Mandi-Kullu NH bids farewell after 28 years, to be razed for 4-lane project

MANDI: The Himachal Darshan Photo Gallery, a unique cultural and research institution established on April 24, 1997, at Bindravani near Mandi on the Mandi-Kullu highway in Himachal Pradesh completed 28 years of its existence on Thursday (April 24, 2025). Now facing displacement once again, it prepares for a final farewell.

Founded by photographer Birbal Sharma through the Archaeological Awareness Association, the gallery was envisioned as a tribute to Himachal’s ancient culture, traditions and way of life.
Over 6 lakh visitors have passed through its doors, experiencing the rich tapestry of the state through rare photographs and ancient artifacts like the lost ‘Barsele’ stone sculptures.

Preserving Himachal’s lost heritage

Displayed free of charge for nearly three decades, the gallery became a living archive of the region’s fading history.
Birbal Sharma and his team spent over 40 years capturing the essence of Himachal’s culture. Visitor comments preserved in guestbooks testify to the gallery’s extraordinary impact — a space where the past breathed through every frame and artefact.

Students from more than 200 schools visited this year alone and countless national dignitaries found themselves moved by the experience. What began as a personal dream turned into a collective memory for an entire generation.

Rebuilt after displacement, now facing another blow

The gallery was first displaced in 2016 due to the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane project.
Undeterred, Birbal Sharma painstakingly rebuilt it, unveiling a renewed and even more profound version in May 2023. However, fate dealt another harsh blow when the Pathankot-Mandi four-lane project engulfed the site within the same year.

Despite efforts spanning two years — over 550 letters written, appeals made to authorities and cultural bodies — the gallery could not be saved. Notices from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) now mandate its removal.

On April 26, a farewell ceremony was held. Gradually, the painstakingly curated collection will be dismantled.

“There is sorrow in seeing a dream crumble, but pride in knowing that the gallery sparked a new era of prosperity for the region,” said Birbal Sharma. “We did not bow, we did not beg. We fought with dignity.”
Whether a new museum will rise remains uncertain. But the spirit of Himachal Darshan — a vision that celebrated culture, resilience and hope — will remain etched in the hearts of those it touched.

Munish Sood