Sir Charles Orr's Memoirs Volume 1

Deolali Cantonment

The cantonment was established by the British in the early 1860s near to Nasik and served as a clearing centre for European troops arriving in country. The fact that it was significantly above sea level meant that the climate was more suited to fresh British soldiers arriving in India. It would allow for a more gradual acclimatization to the climate.
A military psychiatric hospital was founded here and it is thought that the expression 'to go doolally' came about as a corruption of the name Deolali.
Photograph taken by an unknown photographer in the 1870s and is part of the collection of Sir Richard Carnac Temple.
Image Courtesy of The British Library.

Charles Orr's Memoirs | India