Coronation Bridge, Concrete arch bridge across Teesta River, Darjeeling District, India
Coronation Bridge is a concrete arch bridge over the Teesta River in Darjeeling District, India, connecting two mountainous banks through a single wide arch. The construction rises about 26 meters (85 feet) above the water level and spans roughly 80 meters (260 feet), with the roadway designed for two lanes of traffic.
Construction began in the late 1930s and finished in 1941 to improve transport links through the Himalayan foothills during British colonial rule. Engineers used reinforced concrete, a relatively new technique in that region at the time, to span the river without intermediate piers in the riverbed.
The structure carries its name from the coronation of King George VI, still visible on a plaque at its northern approach. Traders and commuters cross daily on their way between hill towns, with the roadway often filled with trucks carrying tea and other goods from the region's plantations.
The bridge sits on National Highway 10, which connects Siliguri to Gangtok, and remains open to vehicles of all sizes. Visitors can stop at the northern bank, where a small parking area offers a view of the arch and the river valley below.
The bridge appears frequently in Bollywood films and Bengali television series, where it serves as a backdrop for driving scenes through the mountains. Local photographers often wait at dusk, when the light casts the concrete and the water below in warm tones.
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