The Ripon Hospital in Shimla, now known as Deendyal Upadhyay Zonal Hospital, has a rich history dating back to the British colonial era. The foundation stone of Ripon Hospital was laid by Lord Ripon, the Viceroy of India, in 1882. Designed by the acclaimed architect Henry Irwin, the hospital was inaugurated on May 14, 1885 by Lord Dufferin. The building reflects colonial-era elegance, blending Victorian and local architectural elements in a kind of Swiss-Himalayan Gothic style. It was intended to serve both European and Indian patients, an inclusive approach when many colonial institutions were segregated by race.
Postmarked in Simla February 9, 1911, addressed to Miss A. Battersby, New Zealand Inn, Buckingham Rd., Aylesbury, Bucks, England with this message: "This is the Ripon Hospital Ha! Ha! Ha!"