Shimla
About the Heritage Building
The foundations of the ‘YWCA of Simla’ were laid on 29th December, 1889 and it began its activities for the care and empowerment of women and girls in 1890. It is housed in Constantia, which is the 3rd oldest building in Shimla. Built in the year 1840, it is a very prominent and magnificent heritage architectural building situated in the heart of Shimla and is located above the historic Mall Road offering a unique vantage position.
YWCA opened the first permanent Holiday Home for women in India at “The Yengherries”, at Shimla in May of 1900 to enable young women to have a period of rest before returning to their work with renewed health and vigour. “Constantia” was opened as the YWCA Home and a Boarding House for the young women on 22 October 1910 by the Viceroy of India, Earl Minto accompanied by Lady Minto. The tower at “Constantia” was dedicated to and named the “Victoria Tower” in honour of Queen Victoria, after whom the donor, Victoria, Lady Carbery was named. It was the first Working Women’s Hostel in the entire region and accommodated girls from every community: Europeans, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Anglo-Indians, and many other races and nationalities.
The Institute for Vocational Training and Hobby Classes had its foundation in the hands of H.E. Lady Chelmsford, then President of the YWCA of Simla in 1917. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, member of the first Union cabinet and leader of the YWCA movement guided the women and activities at Constantia, Simla to continue its work and mandate after independence.