Category Archives: Travel

The freedom riders

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Sports, Travel
Above: Last year’s Independence Day ride to Nandi Hills
Above: Last year’s Independence Day ride to Nandi Hills

The city’s bikers will ride to different locations this Independence Day in a quest for freedom, to chase a record, and for a good cause

The wind in your face and the open road ahead – it’s the ultimate symbol of freedom for bikers. It’s what the city’s bikers will be celebrating on August 15. While RD350, along with about 25 clubs from Bengaluru – including Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Club, Avenger Club, Riders of Bangalore, Bikers of India and more – will be taking to Nandi Hills on Saturday morning, Free Spirits Motorcycling Club will be taking to Honur Village, Kolar District. Both have different purposes – the former aims to celebrate the meaning of freedom, while the latter is dedicated to the late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and is for the benefit of Government Model Higher Primary School or Sarkari Madari Hiriya Prathamika Shalle in Kolar.

Vishal Agarwal (29), Founder of RD350 Club, says this will be their 7th annual Independence Day ride, one they always do in conjunction with clubs across the city. Last year they had 1,000 riders, while this time, they hope to enter the Limca Book of World Records by having 1,200 bikes – the largest number in one place. Each bike will also display an Indian flag – “upright, we follow all the rules,” Agarwal says. They will ride up to the hill together, and have a small function on top, where they will sing the national anthem. Why Nandi Hills? “It’s the best location in Bengaluru for bikers because it offers 40 curves. And the road is great for riding,” he says.

In contrast, Free Spirits Motorcycling Club is a younger affair, started in November 2014, with their first official club ride on April 12, 2015 to Melkote to commemorate the “One Ride” with Royal Enfield, where they had 36 participants including women and children. This time, the school has been chosen because one of their club members hails from the place and suggested the school.

The Nandi Hills ride will have the bikers going in single or double line formation that they will maintain throughout. Agarwal says they advocate safety – riding gear, helmets and shoes, and staying within the speed limit of 50-60 km per hour. “We request people to check air pressure, fill fuel and have their bikes ready a day before. We’ll make two stops and leave the start line in lots of 30 bikers at a time, every 10 minutes,” he says. It is their way, he says, of saluting the freedom fighters – the same idea that led him to launch this ride back in 2009. Then, it was 30 people, but today, he is confident of breaking the record.
Some of their oldest riders are veterans Chakravarty R (84), a regular since five years, and Amit Dutta (55), a veteran member of Jawa Yezdi club. “They will share some of their stories and tell us how the clubs were started and so on. We will then have breakfast, wind up and proceed back group wise,” Agarwal says.

The Kolar ride will have approximately 50 bikes and five cars with 80 plus participants – including family. “Bikers often put their passion for riding on the back burner after the pressures of work and family come along. So the philosophy of our group is one that includes family too – often in the car behind them,” explains Pravan Biddappa, moderator. They will have 20 women, of which five will be riding, 10 senior citizens out of which one rider will be “67 year-young” GV Acharya, a Limca Book World Record holder, and 10 children. It will be mandatory for all riders on the 80 km ride to follow safety and security precautions – both riders and pillion need to wear helmets, riding jackets, boots and knee guards, and not cross the speed limit of 60km/hr.

At the school, they will have breakfast with the children, sponsor 10 benches for the children to sit on, distribute uniforms, bags, water bottles, stationery, chocolates, install a 20 litre water purifier, play games and felicitate five retired schoolteachers.

Free Spirits Motorcycling Club will depart at 7am from ITI Gate after KR Puram hanging bridge, and return by 1 pm. Log on to Free Spirits Motorcycling Club (F.S.M.C) 

The Nandi Hills ride will begin at 6.15 am from Columbia Asia Hospital, Hebbal. Individual groups will return on their own. Contact the local admins of different clubs if you want to participate. 

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Others / by Sowmya Rajaram, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / August 14th, 2015

Ripples of ecstasy at Malabar river fest

Sports, Travel
Participants of the beginners’ boater cross event of the Malabar River Festival at Kakkayam in Kozhikode on Friday. Special Arrangement
Participants of the beginners’ boater cross event of the Malabar River Festival at Kakkayam in Kozhikode on Friday. Special Arrangement

The beginners boater cross event as part of the third edition of the Malabar River Festival was held at the Kakkayam Reservoir in Kozhikode on Friday. Rakshit Singhal from Bangalore emerged the first place winner in the contest. Siddharth Sharma of Jaipur and Sandeep Thuppad from Bangalore came second and third respectively. Twenty five participants from different part of the country took part in the competition, which started at 10 a.m. A large number of visitors had thronged the place to witness the event.

According to V.D. Joseph, chairman of the Kerala State Kayaking Academy, one of the organising partners of the festival, the beginners race was held, more than a competition, as a demonstration event to establish the fact that kayaking could be done by anyone if a little bit of training was given. “The event must have definitely inspired many youngsters here to make their splash into the white-waters in a kayak,” he said.

According to P.G. Rajeev, secretary of the District Tourism Promotion Council, Minister for Tourism A.P. Anilkumar will formally open the Malabar River Festival being organised by the DTPC at Thusharagiri on Saturday. The international white-water kayaking championship, the main event of the festival, will take place on Saturday. Around 50 Kayaking athletes, including paddlers of international repute, are participating in the event. The four-day event will conclude on Sunday. Noted travel documentary host Santhosh George Kulangara will be the chief guest of the valedictory function on Sunday.

Details can be had from www.keralarafting.com, www.kayaksession.com, Manik Taneja 09740067323, (Kayaking), and V.D. Joseph 9447637079 (Malabar River Festival). Interested may register for the event online atwww.malabarfest.com.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kozhikode / by Staff Reporter / Kozhikode – July 25th, 2015

A taste that binds together

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Travel

BangaloreFoodClubBF07jul2015

In 2011, a group of cousins with a love for food decided to start a club called the Bangalore Food Club (BFC). Nanda Kishor KN, a senior member of technical staff, Oracle; Deepak Rajanikanth, a technical lead at IBM; Rakesh R a freelancer and an IT consultant at Compass IT Systems and Solutions and Kiran Ramaprasad, an R&D hydraulic engineer at Yuken Indian Ltd, aimed at getting the foodies of the City together and make them aware of the local food and delicacies available here. 

However, over the years, the club grew by leaps and bounds and today, it boasts of over 1250 members on Facebook.

“There are many food apps today. But most of them focus on luxury hotels and posh eat-outs. That’s how we differ as we give information on all kinds of places from streetside stalls to five star hotels,” says Nanda Kishor KN.

“We share what we experience as foodies and there is no competition. We are very active on Facebook and always follow a theme pertaining to food. For instance, we recently held the ‘idli’campaign, where we focussed on popular and unique recipes of ‘idlis’ prepared by the popular local hotels of Bengaluru.”

“We keep meeting on a regular basis and discuss our love for food with each other. We get a lot of appreciation for our work. There are people who have come to us asking for the address of a particular eatery that we recommend,” says Rakesh.
However, distance proves to be a major challenge when it comes to meetings. That’s when social media comes to their rescue.

Posting photographs about a particular theme not only allows them to be in constant touch with each other but also learn more about food.

“Everyone in the City is well-versed with popular restaurants. But what we want to highlight is the little ‘gems’ of the City,” says Deepak.

“By the end of this year, we are hoping to have 5,000 members. We are very active on Facebook and Twitter,” he adds.

The members also want to help people from other parts of the country settled here learn more about the local food and culture.

“Bengaluru is full of people from different parts of the world and we want to popularise the local food among them. We want small eateries to gain more popularity and be appreciated for their hard work,” says Sahana, another active member.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Surupasree Sarmmah / DHNS- Bengaluru,  July 07th, 2015

Food trucks on a roll

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Travel

Road rovers

spitfireBF29jun2015

Thanks to the number of food trucks that have come up in the City, the foodies here are a happy lot. Though the concept of food trucks is not new in India, it has been gaining popularity in Bengaluru only over the last two years. These trucks have found many takers and one can always spot a lot of crowd around them.
Owned by Sudarshan MS and Francis Xavier along with two others, ‘De3-The Eatery’ was started in March 2013 and serves Continental, Italian and American food. One can spot it in Shanthinagar, Kammanahalli and Jayanagar. “We always wanted to do something different and focus on quality and cleanliness. The idea of starting a food truck came in as we wanted to popularise the concept of mobile and clean restaurants with an open kitchen. So when people see how their food is being prepared, they get a sense of satisfaction,” says Sudarshan.

Many of these food trucks have a clear idea of their target customers. ‘The Great Indian Bhukkad’ was started by Suraj Agarwal in 2014 and caters mainly to the students of PES University, Banashankari. Parked at the college premises, it offers a variety of rolls and wraps among other Chinese dishes. “Our USP is that we cater only to students and our prices are reasonable. The students know that we serve clean and hygienic food and really appreciate the taste. We are glad that we have been able to establish a relationship of trust with them,” says Suraj.

‘Spitfire BBQ Truck’, which was started in 2014 by Sidhanth Sawkar and Gautami Shankar, moves around in Sahakara Nagar, Kammanahalli, Indiranagar and Koramangala. As the name suggests, it serves barbecued delights. “Bengalureans today are getting into food culture professionally. As the city is a melting pot of different cultures, people here are open to different types of food. Everyone has high expectations from us not just because of the food we provide but also the personal bond that we have built with our customers,” says Sidhanth.

Their experience of working in the food industry in the United States led Siddharth and Bharath to start ‘Off Road Food Truck’ (ORFT). The place, which was started in January this year, often stops in Sahakara Nagar and Kammanahalli and serves burgers, sandwiches, Spanish rice, chicken and fried ice creams. “We were working for different restaurants in the US. It was our interest for food that brought us together. Our idea was to go up to people and serve them rather than they coming to us,” says Siddharth. According to him, cleanliness, affordability and convenience are the things that attract the crowd to ORFT.

Some of these trucks are area specific too. ‘Frying Wagon’ in RT Nagar was started merely two months ago but has been seeing great business. The truck serves Chinese dishes and rolls and the dishes are served only on eco-friendly paper plates. Vijay Kesarkar and Soujanya Vijay, the owners, say, “Our business is picking up and now people are aware of us. They look for cleanliness, quality and hygiene and come to us because we meet their requirements. Our prices are reasonable thanks to which, we have a lot of students coming to us. Even the IT crowd comprises a chunk of our customers.”

‘Meals on Wheels’ is another such truck that can be spotted near Richard’s Park in Frazer Town. Serving Chinese cuisine with a twist, one can often see foodies relishing a variety of momos, Chinese ‘bhel’ and saucy lollipops here. “The concept of food trucks is becoming popular in India and people in the City are more open to it now. The business too is growing at a fast pace,” says Syed Harris, who owns the truck along with Aftab and Maaz.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Surupasree Sarmmah / DHNS – June 29th, 2015

Resurrecting Roerich

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Travel, World Opinion

The first phase of Roerich Estate restoration work has been completed. Bangalore Mirror has the first pics of the internationally renowned artist’s dwelling

A few metres away from the house are the huge tombstones place
A few metres away from the house are the huge tombstones place

Russian ambassador Alexander Kadakin’s primary concern when he landed in the city in January was the beautification of tombstones of Russian artist Svetoslav Roerich and actress wife Devika Rani. His visit to Tataguni Estate – the residence of the couple on Kanakapura Road – came at a time when the state government was restoring a part of the property.
And now the first phase of Roerich Estate restoration work that kicked off about a year ago has been completed. The tombstones are spruced up, the quaint cottage where the couple lived has been restored without disturbing the aesthetics, a five-acre rose garden has been laid and the property has come alive. The Phase I work has cost the government Rs 2 crore.

Abode of an artist
The stone building has been restored along with its old charm with the stone left exposed in its original state. Some repairs on the flooring, painting of the building, a fresh coat of polish on the red-oxide flooring, etc gave the house the traditional look.
A few metres away from the house are the huge tombstones placed. The couple’s names are written in Russian apart from English and Kannada.
The pathway leading up the tombstones is done up with granite, with steps. The walkway along the estate and into the wild has been cleaned up. The lake, that once was alive is dead now and the Lake Development Authority is taking up work on clearing out the natural vents to the water body from the adjacent catchment, that have been blocked.
“Due to rampant constructions in the adjacent areas and reckless earth filling up, water from the natural source has been blocked and the lake has dried up. LDA is now opening up the blocked channels and this monsoon, the lake should see some water,” says Manu Baligar, the chief executive officer of the Roerich and Devikarani Roerich Estate Board, which functions under the state government’s revenue department.
On the bund of this lake Roerich couple spent their evenings, Baligar said. The bench has not been altered, unlike the other fancier benches on the bund. The five acre land opposite the house has been turned into a beautiful rose garden.
The 468.33 acre estate is rich with fauna, has sandalwood trees and Bursera plantation from which the couple extracted linoloe aromatic oil. The sprawling plantation regularly has elephants and leopards as its uninvited guests. So much so, Kadrappa, one of the labourers is always armed with a sickle and escorts the guests into the wild with his weapon. Kadrappa, has been a loyal at the estate since 25 years and has seen Svetoslav and Devikarani in their last stages, before they shifted out of the estate and moved into a five-star hotel following ill health.

With a touch of Van Gogh

After a long drawn legal battle at the Supreme Court, against property encroachment, the state government set up the Board in 1996 to protect the heritage left behind by the renowned artist. While a lot of antique jewellery reportedly went missing from the house after the death of the couple, the government moved Roerich’s 241 paintings from his studio in the house to Venkatappa Art Gallery which is now under lock and key. “In the second phase of work, there is a project to set up a world-class art museum on the lines of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. We have asked the archaeology and museums department to come up with concepts. This will be a cultural centre and once the work is completed, all the Roerich paintings from Venkatappa Art Gallery will be shifted here,” Baligar told Bangalore Mirror.

source:http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Others / by Kushala S, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / June 23rd, 2015

A new world, in photos

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's, Travel, World Opinion
Youngsters in the mahout community look at the camera. Photo courtesy: CLIC Abroad Foundation
Youngsters in the mahout community look at the camera. Photo courtesy: CLIC Abroad Foundation

CLIC Abroad is an initiative for American students to immerse themselves in India and take back an understanding of our similarities and differences.

The best way to learn about a country and its culture is to live in the community and follow their daily life, and even better, photograph them to take stories back to friends at home. Students from American high schools have had several such experiences in India, living in States as diverse as Assam to Karnataka, through CLIC Abroad or ‘Children Learning International Cultures’, an organisation founded by travel writer and photographer Bhaskar Krishnamurthy from Karnataka.

Bhaskar Krishnamurthy. Photo courtesy: CLIC Abroad Foundation
Bhaskar Krishnamurthy. Photo courtesy: CLIC Abroad Foundation

Bhaskar has lived through many photography experiences, including, he says, an ULFA militant kidnapping in 1999 before he moved to the U.S.A.! “Photography is often seen as an elitist thing. I didn’t want it to stay that way,” says Bhaskar, explaining how he involved the local communities of Augusta, Georgia, where he lives, in photography festivals. Based on the success of those projects, the engineer felt it was a great idea to do something like this in India. So in 2009, he, along with friends set up CLIC Abroad, with the idea that children from America and people from India mingle at photography workshops held within communities here and together build and narrate stories. Most visits last about 12 days.

“The first camp we had was in Bodoland; after initial hiccups, over 5,000 rural people participated in the rural photo exhibition. My focus is on education through visual representation and empowerment through participation,” he reiterates. A product of SIT Tumkur, Bhaskar studied mostly in various parts of rural Karnataka and then moved to Bengaluru.

“Till date we have brought down over 100 American children studying in classes nine to 12. Just last month was our latest venture where a group of students from the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College lived with elephant mahout communities in Karnataka in Dubare, Sakrebylu, and Aane Chowku (Nagarhole), talking, among other things about the gaps between conservation and the man-animal conflict,” says Bhaskar. CLIC Abroad currently has a tie up with about eight high schools and colleges in America.

“The idea is to understand the dynamics of the community, and figure out how best to participate or help,” adds Bhaskar, giving examples of how sometimes students donate something as simple as shoes and socks which children in remote India don’t have to wear to school. On the other hand, they helped light up an entire village that didn’t have electricity, using solar lamps. The students raise their own funds or save up to pay for their trip.

Shelby Evans, a 20-year-old communication student, says of her recent trip to Karnataka: “Rural, where I’m from, and ‘rural’ in India were very different. Farms were smaller, crops were unusual, and the farm equipment was handcrafted. However, while I found the landscape and the culture to be incredibly different, the people were kind and hospitable. The kindness here is not unlike the kindness of the Southern (American) hospitality, I find at home. It was comforting for me to see that kindness across the world.” Her classmate Austin Morris got to straddle two worlds – riding elephants, coming across King Cobras, and then visiting schools and interacting with children across age groups and seeing how they learn.

Thomas Grant, assistant professor of journalism at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, in an email response, says: “My students and I couldn’t begin to understand India until we had travelled there. In CLIC Abroad, what students get is a chance to touch and feel India in a way that no movie or book ever can. It allows young people from both nations to embrace their similarities and understand their differences in a personal way. I could never teach this. In Coorg, we came to understand India’s relationship with nature. In America, nature is often something to be dominated. If a wolf eats a sheep, the farmer is allowed to shoot it. But in Coorg, we saw wild elephants trampling through coffee estates, yet the farmer was not angry with the elephant. He wanted it to leave, but he wouldn’t harm it. We talked to two girls whose mother had been killed by an elephant, yet they wished no harm on the elephant.

They merely wished that that the elephant would be moved far away. This respect for nature was one of our most incredible takeaways from India. Indians have learned to live with nature, and Americans could learn much from that.”

For details look up www.clicabroad.org

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Society / by Bhumika  K / June 17th, 2015

Belagavi’s tower clock to fall silent

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion

Belagavi :

A British-era tower clock here will be silenced forever to enable widening of a road.

Looking to widen Kalmath Road to 45 feet under its master plan, the Belagavi City Corporation has instructed authorities of the Pioneer Urban Cooperative Bank to raze the %part of the building where the tower clock stands. The bank authorities have secured a week’s time to do so.

The clock on the bank’s building on Kalmath Road sounds its bell every half an hour. Residents of surrounding areas, like %Kalmath Road, Ganapati Galli and Maruti Galli, have an emotional attachment with it. The clock helps some manage their schedules.

The building was constructed 110 years ago. In 1939, the bank management awarded the contract to manufacture the clock to Mumbai’s Swadeshi Electric Clock Company. A large bell from John Tailor Company was fitted into the clock 75 years ago.

The bank has employed a person to wind the clock once a week, and to maintain the tower.

Speaking to STOI, bank manager D R Jadhav lamented that the antique will soon become part of history.

In 1940, the management spent around Rs 40,000 on constructing the bank building. Now, the bank pays a like amount %as property tax, the manager said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bengaluru / by Ravindra Uppar, TNN / June 14th, 2015

At Ballari, a Museum to Tell Stories of a Forgotten Past

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel
A worker giving final touches to a replica of Sanganakallu gudda, said to be South India’s largest neolithic site, inside the museum
A worker giving final touches to a replica of Sanganakallu gudda, said to be South India’s largest neolithic site, inside the museum

Ballari  :

To preserve the stone artifacts found in South India’s “largest neolithic site” located in Sanganakallu village, Ballari, and other places such as Vijayapura and Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, a mini museum is being readied at the cultural complex here.

The goal behind setting up this museum is preserving  the neolithic stone artifacts in a scientific manner and documenting them properly to help research scholars. A few artifacts will also be kept on display for the public.

According to Prof Ravi Korishettar, who conducted research on the site in Sanganakallu for 10 years, the site is the largest neolithic site in South India.

The hilltop site is spread over 1,000 acres.  However, he told Express that rampant stone quarrying has been destroying the site. At the museum, the artifacts Korishettar found during his small-scale excavations will be preserved.

He said as part of his research, he explored around 40 neolithic sites in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and found artifacts after excavations in 20.

In 2008, he appealed to the Ballari deputy commissioner to take steps to set up a mini museum to preserve the artifacts. The DC approved the proposal, but work was delayed for years due to technical reasons.

But the museum is now nearing completion and according to sources, is expected to be thrown open in two months.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Bhukker Madhu Kumar / June 10th, 2015

‘Fabricator’ on world tour after losing a leg

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Travel

Allahabad :

BV Narayana was in his early twenties when he lost a leg after being hit by a group of motorcyclists. After three decades, he decided to tour across the globe to make people aware of traffic norms so that they could be saved from the pain that he had to undergo.

A sports and adventure enthusiast, Narayan had earlier gone around the world, covering 59 countries on bicycle in 1979 when he was 19 years old. Narayana started his journey from his birthplace Bangalore on February 5. He passed through the city on way to Delhi on Monday for onward journey that covers around 90,000 kms. He has designed a vehicle in which his bags, medical kits and other items have been kept.

He said, “I want to sensitise people about physically and mentally disabled persons and above all, I want to ensure that people especially children learn traffic rules and strictly abide by them.”

Narayana, who is employed as a marketing executive at a transport company, opts to call himself a ‘Fabricator’. He designs special vehicles for physically disabled by modifying the ordinary vehicles.

Narayana has put a banner on his bike in which he has make an appeal to parents not to give vehicles to minors, use helmet while driving two-wheelers and not to talk on cell phones while driving. He has also make an appeal to get the blood group of bridegroom checked before marriage.

“Scientists says that same blood group of bride and groom may results in deformity of future generation so I have displayed this prominently,” he said. He intends to tour 25 countries across in West Asia, Africa and Europe. “After receiving visa from Delhi, I would to Mumbai from where I have planned to catch the flight to UAE,” Narayana said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Vinod Khanal, TNN / June 02nd, 2015

Lalitha Mahal Palace , The Cynosure of Mysuru

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel

1) The Royal staircase, constructed using white marbles was used by VVIPs at the Lalitha Mahal Palace. 2) The bed room of the Viceroy's room. [Pics by Ramesh Sarkar]
1) The Royal staircase, constructed using white marbles was used by VVIPs at the Lalitha Mahal Palace. 2) The bed room of the Viceroy’s room. [Pics by Ramesh Sarkar]
by S.N. Venkatnag Sobers

One of the must visit places in Mysuru is the famous Lalitha Mahal Palace which is located in Siddharthanagar. Lalitha Mahal Palace is the largest Palace in Mysuru after Amba Vilas Palace.

Lalitha Mahal Palace was built by the then King Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar in 1921 for the Viceroy of India, who visited Mysuru. Built on a raised ground, the Palace was fashioned on the lines of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and is one of the imposing structures of Mysuru city.

Painted in pure white, Lalitha Mahal Palace was converted into a heritage hotel in 1974. The hotel is now run by the Lalit Ashok Group belonging to India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), Government of India. Despite the hotel being taken over by the Government, it has made sure retain the royal ambience.

Set amidst sprawling landscaped gardens below the Chamundi Hills, the Lalitha Mahal Palace was planned by E.W. Fritchley, the architect from Mumbai and constructed by B. Munivenkatappa. The Palace built in Renaissance architectural style is considered as an adaptation of the St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, particularly the central dome. The architecture of the Palace reflects English manor houses and Italian Palazzos. It is a two storied structure. The supporting structure of the Palace is of Ionic double column. At the ground level, there is a projecting porch. Spherical domes with the dominating central dome sets the front elevation of the Palace. Decorative stained glass has been extensively used to enhance the elegance of the Palace, both in the exterior facades and in interiors doors, windows and ceilings. A lovely view of the Chamundi Hill to the left and in front the Mysuru city is seen from the balcony.

The Palace has exquisitely designed Viceroy Room, a Banquet Hall, a Dancing Floor and an Italian Marble Staircase and is also embellished with small ornamentations, which are said to be replicas from various Palaces in Britain. The full length portraits of the Wadiyar Kings, Italian Marble Floors and Belgian Crystal Chandeliers, Cut Glass Lamps, Heavy Ornate Furniture, Mosaic Tiles and a couple of exquisite Persian carpets gives the Palace its regal ambience. With conversion of the Palace into a heritage hotel, interiors have been modified to provide modern conveniences but most of the earlier sections of the Palace such as the dancing and banquet halls have been retained in their original elegance but adopted as dining halls and conference halls for holding meetings and conventions; these have polished wooden flooring and three stain glass domes in the ceiling. The ballroom in particular, which has been converted into the Dining Hall, is a baroque hall with immensely high ceiling with domed skylights made  of Belgian glass. The floor of the ballroom is also fitted with springs that are adjustable. The ballroom was used by the British for organising parties. The floor was made adjustable to the type of dance they wished to perform on that day. A swimming pool is now an additional provision. The elevator which was installed here in 1921 is still in working condition and is used by the guests who visit the hotel.

Unique features of Lalitha Mahal Palace

Lalitha Mahal Palace is known for some unique features which are not seen in any hotels in city. Paintings of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar and Jayachamaraja Wadiyar which are displayed here are unique as they are three dimensional. One can see the painting turning towards us as we move to different directions in front of the paintings displayed in the lobby area. This was discovered only when the paintings were sent for restoration at Regional Conservation Laboratory a few years ago. The paintings were done by artistes A.R. Vasu and Nagaraj in 1944.

The ITDC has also maintained the fittings in the bathroom which were installed during the construction of the Palace.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel General Manager Joseph Mathias said that the ITDC had taken up restoration works of the Palace since it was old. “The Palace was constructed using the mixture of limestone and mud. For the Palace to be restored, we need experts to take up the restoration works. The ITDC had approached the Regional Conservatory Laboratory (RCL) for the restoration works, they have prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) which has been submitted to our head office in New Delhi. The works will be taken up soon after an approval is given for the same”, said Joseph Mathias.

The ITDC plans to take up the restoration of the domes of the Palace in the first phase soon after the monsoon season ends and in the later stages it will take up the renovation of rooms and other works.

No information on disinvestment

Joseph Mathias said that neither he nor ITDC had received any information with respect to Central Government’s decision to disinvest in Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel. He added that though the Minister had expressed his opinion, no official communication had been received.

Further, he added that the Lalitha Mahal Palace had earned a net profit of Rs. 27 lakh in the past couple of months after he took over the charge as the General Manager of the hotel. He also said that the ITDC had earned a total profit of Rs. 40 crore in last fiscal year.

The reason for the Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel to incur loss in the last fiscal year was due to expenditure on repair works. The ITDC has spent Rs. 54 lakh on repair of roads within the hotel premises, Rs. 26 lakh on Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and Rs. 10-15 lakh on electrical works, said Mathias.

If the hotel is privatised it will become a concrete jungle and the green space which is surrounding the Lalitha Mahal Palace will vanish. People living in surrounding areas of Lalitha Mahal Palace will have no place to go for their morning and evening walks.

The Palace is located on 46 acre land, only 10 acre of land is used for the construction and the rest has been preserved as green cover to provide fresh air for the guests as well as the people living in surrounding areas.

Training for students

ITDC has been conducting training programme for the students who have been brought from the North Eastern States of the country. The corporation has been a part of a programme called Development of North East Region (DONER) which focuses on giving exposure to the students of North-East region.

They are trained for a year in various aspects of Hotel Management such as the Front Office, Food and Beverage Department and others. ITDC also helps in placing these trained students in various hotels across the country.

New initiatives

General Manager Joesph Mathias said that he plans to introduce new schemes for the benefit of Mysureans who wish to visit the Lalitha Mahal Palace.

He added that soon, ITDC would introduce a programme where a person can visit the Palace Hotel paying Rs. 1,200 and stay till evening. The day starts at 11 am; he/she will be given a traditional welcome with a welcome drink. Later, the visitor will be taken on a tour of the Palace Hotel, lunch will be served, he/she can also use the swimming pool. Before checking-out the visitor will be served with tea/coffee and cookies. Others, who do not wish to pay Rs. 1,200 and just want to visit the Palace, will have to pay Rs. 100 as cover charge. They will be allowed to go around in the ground floor of the Palace Hotel and later will be served with coffee or tea. However, they will have to pay extra for having food and beverages.

Mathais also said that he has plans to organise ‘Steak and Sizzler’ festival during August or September and later ‘Dandiya Nights’ during Dasara festivities.

A place for marriages

Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel is known for hosting wedding events. The elite class in Mysuru have had their marriages arranged at the Palace Hotel. The hotel rents out the entire Palace for the wedding and other events. There is also a banquet hall, ball room, swimming pool area, front area of the Palace which are rented out for wedding and other occasions.

Film Shooting

Lalitha Mahal Palace has been a popular destination for film shooting. There have been more than 600 films been shot here. Films starring Rajnikanth, late Vishnuvardhan, Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha and other superstars have been shot in Lalitha Mahal Palace premises.

With ITDC coming up with new initiatives, we only hope the Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel continues to attract a lot of guests who will enjoy their stay at the magnificent structure in city.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Saturday – June 02nd, 2015