While Colonel Houghten was the acting Commissioner (1864-73) of Cooch Behar, the State Library of Cooch Behar was established by the then Maharaja Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur of Cooch Behar in the year 1870 with a collection of series of rare books and Journals purchased at an auction sale of M/S. Rozario & Company of London. The library was started in a room of Nilkuthi. Later it was handed over to the Maharaja Nripendra Narayan who removed the library to Lansdown Hall in the year 1895. It is worthwhile to note that the library was opened for public use in the year 1882. The library grew richer & larger and became the treasure-island under the direct patronage of the Maharaja of Cooch Behar who sanctioned Rs.2,000 as annual grant for the purchase of books. Different Punthis, manuscripts and rare documents of Raj-Darwar or royal-court were transferred to this library for public benefit.