Step Aside, a small village in Darjeeling town where freedom fighter Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das breathed his last, will be reopened for visitors soon.

Tourists visiting the hill town this winter can visit the site.

The two-storey villa, which had become dilapidated over the past few years, has received a complete facelift from the state government.

“The renovation work of ‘Step Aside’ is almost complete. We could have opened it for visitors during the current festive season but it got delayed as a tree fell on the villa last month and damaged its roof. Necessary repairs were carried out. We expect to reopen it for visitors by next month,” said Richard Lepcha, the subdivisional officer of Darjeeling.

Back in 1925, Mahatma Gandhi had visited Darjeeling and met Deshbandhu. A few days later, Das, who was also a renowned barrister, breathed his last at the villa on June 16, 1925.

In 2023, the north Bengal development department sanctioned around ₹29 lakh to renovate the villa. In due course, the Darjeeling district completed the tender process. Around six months back, the district planning and development section took up the task to refurbish the building with a museum.

“The building was in a poor state and several renovation works were carried out such as plastering the floor afresh, stopping leakages at the roof, improving the sewerage and landscaping the site. After the festivities, a final inspection will be done, and then, it will be open to visitors,” said a source in the district administration.

The historical building is located close to Chowrasta, also known as the Mall, the most prominent promenade in Darjeeling town.

Sources said that a mother and child care clinic functions in a portion of the villa. In another portion, there is a museum.

“The bed, where Deshbandhu C.R. Das breathed his last, almirahs, old portraits and personal utensils and a radio some other things which the eminent freedom fighter had used for around three months till his demise, have been exhibited at the museum,” said a source.

Those associated with the tourism industry appreciated the state’s initiative to revamp Step Aside.

“We are familiar with the iconic small white villa. It attracts many tourists, especially Bengalis, who want to catch a glimpse of the place where Deshbandhu breathed his last. Once it reopens, we believe it will see a steady footfall of tourists. We will promote it among tourists in Darjeeling,” said a senior tour operator of the hill town.