THE HALL ESTATE: BRIEF HISTORY

In the year 1846 British took over the Kullu Valley.

Colonel Rennick came to the Valley in early 1870s, and became the biggest English landowner, and pioneer in growing apples in the Kullu Valley.

He built the House in his Hall Estate in the year of 1880.

In 1895 he built a wooden chalet – Arcadia, for a friend of his wife, allegedly a Persian princess, with whom Colonel Rennick eloped from Persia , where he was posted with his regiment.

Another building of the same architecture was constructed nearby, later became known as Osborn Estate.

Colonel Rennick sold his Hall Estate to the Raja of Mandi in 1921, and left for Europe forever.

For some time, Colonel Tyakes with his wife are known to run the Hall Estate – they stayed in Arcadia building, died there allegedly at the same day (as legend goes, after consuming poisonous mushrooms), and are buried up in the garden above Arcadia - their simple graves covered with big piece of stone are there till now.

When Roerichs arrived to Kullu Valley in 1928, they found the Hall Estate suitable for their work, and after some negotiations with Raja of Mandi, they bought the Estate from him and settled there in January 1929.