The Trivandrum Hotel Inaugurated

Thiruvananthapuram, 19th August 2011 – Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Oommen Chandy today inaugurated the renovated Trivandrum Hotel. Hon’ble Minister for Transport, Shri V S Shivakumar unveiled the mural painting depicting the journey of The Trivandrum Hotel. The erstwhile Trivandrum Hotel has been re-launched by Spice Route Ventures Pvt. Ltd. as their fist step into the hospitality industry.

The management of Trivandrum Hotel had organised a seminar – Emerging Trivandrum – as an initiative to take up the developmental issues hindering the growth of the capital city into a world-class city. Shri O Rajagopal, former Central minister, Shri MM Hassan, Chairman – Janasree Mission, Prof Sashi Booshan, Chairman Vylopilly Samskrithi Bhavan, Shri. Suresh Babu A S, CMD Vizhinjam International Port Ltd., Shri P K Venugopal, former Chairman of TRIDA and Shri E M Najeeb, President, Chamber of Commerce. G Vijayaraghavan, Member of the State Planning Board moderated the panel discussion.

Each panellist discussed and touched upon various aspects of development of Trivandrum city. But the one that was unanimously agreed by all was the need to have a Master Plan for Trivandrum that will encompass total development of the city, parallel roads, better connectivity, Area development plan from Attingal, Kaliyakavila, and Nedumangad to the city.

Shri. O Rajagopal said, “Trivandrum has always been know as one of the cleanest cities in the world and it is imperative that we maintain this lead.” He also said that the city has extremely good educational institutions and therefore can build up to become a centre for quality higher education. “One of the major hindrances in the growth of this city is the road infrastructure and we should work towards easing the increasing traffic. One suggestion would be to set up a fly over from Kesavadasapuram to East Fort which will heavily reduce the traffic blocks.”

Shri. M M Hassan said that a high-level committee should be set up to monitor the development of the Capital. Better roads, better connectivity, flyovers, drainage, drinking water and solid waste disposal system should also be implemented and the government should provide more funds to ensure proper development. ‘Water logging near Thampanoor bus stand and railway station is a major problem during monsoon and it becomes a problem for people during this time and with the heavy traffic, I suggest a skywalk should be built for easy commutation for people to the bus stand and the railway station.” He also said that instead of allowing apartments and high rise buildings coming in the heart of the city, satellite towns should be set up on the outskirts.

Prof M G Sashi Booshan said that while major development is happening, the city should not forget its roots and natural beauty and the development should be in such way that it enhances and protects the rivers and ponds and ecosystem of the city.

Mr. O Rajagopal said that the international airport of Trivandrum should be renamed after Maharaja Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma who was instrumental in setting up the city’s first airport. To this Mr. E M Najeeb also suggest renaming the domestic airport in the name Shri G V Raja, who played a key role in setting up the Sports Council in Kerala.

Mr. E M Najeeb, President Chamber of Commerce talked about developing the tourism sector in the state and especially the capital city and steps needed to be taken to provide basic amenities. Mr. Suresh Babu, CMD Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd, said that we should focus our energy in four sectors to develop viz. IT/ITES services, Health Care, Tourism and Education sector.

Other dignitaries who graced the inaugural event were Shri M A Vaheed MLA, Shri V Shivankutty, MLA, Shri R Hari Kumar, Corporation Councillor, Shri. K Padmakumar, IG, Shri Madhava Kumar, DGM, Federal Bank and Shri Ani Jacob, AGM, Federal Bank and Adv K Ayyappan Pillai.

The Trivandrum Hotel, that has been a part and parcel of the heritage of Trivandrum in the cultural, intellectual and political arena since 1893, has played a decisive role in the history of Travancore and later Kerala. The older generations who studied, worked or lived in Trivandrum remember the place for its ethnic Trivandrum cuisine and intellectual/political discussions conducted in the hotel premises.

Presently, the hotel has been taken over by M/s Spice Route Ventures Pvt Ltd as their first step into the hospitality industry. The promoters are Shri. B. Kishore Kumar, an NRI from Oman; Shri. Manoharan Nair, an industrialist with business in Andaman who recently relocated to Trivandrum, and Shri. Krishnapillai, an advocate by profession. The Trivandrum hotel is the maiden initiative of the group, some other ventures in the hospitality sector like house boats in Trivandrum are in the anvil. They have put in immense effort to retain the legacy of the hotel while upgrading the facilities to cater to the modern tastes as well. The renovated hotel also depicts a modern outlook to cater to the present day needs, but at heart carries forward the rich legacy of its past. The hotel has 17 well furnished rooms, two conference halls, four restaurants which include an exclusive vegetarian, ethnic Travancore, ice cream parlour, a fast food joint in the centrally air-conditioned building and a roof top hall.”

Brief History on The Trivandrum Hotel

But the genesis of the building dates back to 1893 when the land and building which was given as dowry to her daughter Jane Miranda by Mrs Maria Jeswanth Norona an Franco-Anglo Indian lady. Jane married Dr Joseph Raymond Dais an Anglo Indian with Portuguese roots who later became the Chief Medical officer of Travancore. Later, the building was leased to the British Postal Department to function as post office. It functioned as the British Post Office till 1934 when Mr. B. S. Sankaran Nair started “Trivandrum Brahmins Hotel”. But it was the social magnate Late Sri KC Pillai who transformed the home-away-from-home cliché into truth for his political and literary friends. The restaurant was synonymous with the ethnic Kerala food served in the traditional manner. More than a hotel it was a cultural centre which played a key role in the history of Travancore and Kerala state.

The Trivandrum Hotel gained reputation as a centre of socialization and attracted eminent guests which included: political leaders like C.Achuta Menon, EMS. Nampoodiripad, K. Karunakaran, N.K Seshan, C.K Mani, Kunjuraman Nambiar, Dr. G. Ramachandran, A.P. Udayabhanu, M.P. Manmadhan,and D. Damodaran Potti; literary giants like Sri. G. Sankara Kurup, Kuroor Neelakantan Nampoodiri, P. Kunjuraman Nair, Uroob,Vailoppilly Sreedhara Menon, Thakazhy, Keasava Dev, Kunjunni Mash, V.T. Induchoodan,Sukumar Azhikode, S. Guptan Nair; artists like Jaya Vijayans, Vidyadharan, M.G. Radhakrishnan and Guru Gopinath; dramatists like Kainikkara brothers, N. Krishna Pillai, T. N. Gopinathan Nair and T.R. Sukumaran Nair and spiritual leaders like Swamy Brahmavrathan, Vedabandhu and Swamy Yathi.

Press Release Desk, TechnoparkToday.com