By Dr. K. Javeed Nayeem, MD

The Lalitha Mahal, now named the Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, one of the most magnificent among the many Palaces in our city of Maharajas, is once again back in the news, after seven years. Located on a vast expanse of landscaped gardens at the base of the imposing Chamundi Hill, it was built by Maharaja Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, between the years 1921 and 1930, for the exclusive stay of the Governor General of India and also as a royal guest house, especially for his European guests.

Designed by the architect, Edwin Wolleston Fritchley and built by the civil contractor, B. Munivenkatappa, who also built the Vani Vilas Hospital in Bengaluru and the twin steel girder bridges across the Cauvery and Kabini rivers at their confluence in T. Narasipur.

Way back in the year 1974, this Palace was converted into a heritage hotel and it was leased to be run by the Ashok Group of the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) until the year 2018, after which the Karnataka Government took it back from the ITDC, upon the expiry of the lease.

In a shocking move, it rejected an attractive offer of the prestigious Taj Group of Hotels and handed over the management of the property to, The Jungle Lodges and Resorts, its own semi-private agency. This act instantly converted its management into mismanagement, which is not at all surprising because the JLR which has experience only in running tiny, Spartan Resorts across the State, is clearly not capable of the humongous task which is what it takes to run a huge high-end, luxury hotel in a befitting manner. It was exactly like asking a person trained only to drive a car, to get into the cockpit and fly a plane!

The result is that this iconic symbol of the living style and hospitality of the royals has fallen into disrepair and is also now in danger of completely falling apart too, like the many other historic buildings in our city, which have been the victims of Government apathy and incompetence. And, mind you, this transformation is already well on its way and a visit to the place will show you what I mean. While the ITDC itself, despite all its experience, fell short of what was expected from it, the JLR has eminently succeeded in converting this most magnificent Palace into a mere roadside                Musafirkhana!

This sad fate was predicted by many right thinking Mysureans but the Government paid no heed to voices driven by common sense. Along with a few others, I had written a full column about it and more importantly, my friend N.K.A. Ballal, who had been its Manager for many years, during his over three decades of service with the ITDC, had written in great detail about the pitfalls and foolishness of this decision.

But even this voice of concern, backed by long experience in the field, was brushed aside, along with the offer of the Taj Group. The result was that while this Palace was left standing in utter shambles, the Taj Group decided upon a tie up with another already functioning, high-end hotel and is now all set to enter the playing field. Had its bid been accepted, the persons at the helm of its affairs, with their rich experience, would most certainly have done justice to what would have been expected of them.

I say this because every royal property that they have taken over for management, across our country, has been getting the care that it deserves, to keep its dignity, grandeur and image intact.

Notable among them are the Rambagh Palace (Jaipur), Umaid Bhavan Palace (Udaipur), The Lake Palace (Udaipur), The Falaknuma Palace (Hyderabad) and the Taj Nadesar Palace (Varanasi), to name just a few. Every one of these properties, under long term management contracts, offer memorable royal experiences to their guests, blending our historic royal grandeur with the best taste of modern luxury.

Now, having missed the right bus and left standing at the bus-stop, our Government seems to have realised how wrong it was in its foolhardy decision and has announced, four days ago, that the property is once again open for bidding by players in the field of hotel management, for a thirty-year lease. But whether there will be any takers worthy of the role, or whether our Government which has now become desperate to save its image, will have to settle for another marriage of convenience and compromise, is to be seen.

So, let us all hope that it will be a happy and lasting marriage, because that is all that we Mysureans can do!

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