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| The Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry, deccanherald.com |
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| The Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry, Mysuru. starofmysore.com |
Mysuru city is one of places in india which is dotted with more than 500 plus heritage buildings and many of them are the legacy of the Mysore ruling family. Among them about 150 are officially notified whereas the rest are waiting for the heritage tag. Since such old buildings have relevance with the past the connectivity needs to be safeguarded. Unfortunately, it is not so in many sites across india, The Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry is an old heritage site and it has to be repaired and restored for the posterity. This way we can protect the ethos of this city and its cultures.
The Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry on Vinoba Road, Mysuru built 150 years ago and earlier, was maintained by the Municipal Administration and is a famous landmark in this city. Now it is being managed by Sri Nanjaraja Bahadur Chatra Managing Committee under the Muzrai Department. The Choultry was built with a view to providing affordable lodging facilities to thousands of tourists who visit this place.
Built on a 10-acre land in the way past, it is under the control of the state government and way back in 2018 the Congress government had a proposal to build a hostel for the for the Maharani’s Women’s Arts College as this site is just across the college.
The president of the Sri Nanjaraja Bahadur Chatra Managing Committee categorically stated that “The Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry will not be demolished at any cost as it is a heritage structure. We will retain the building and utilise the space behind the Choultry to construct the Hostel. There was a rumor that a proposal was on the anvil to construct a College Hostel upon demolishing the old Choultry. That “There are no demolition plans'' is a good news for the heritage enthusiasts.
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| illegal bldgs. the Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry, Mysuru. starofmysore.com |
According to officials this site houses many tenants who pay low rent. They are: Mayura Hotel run by the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), a Garage, two service stations-cum-petrol pumps, the Information Department, and an old weighbridge. Besides, there are a few houses being occupied by members of State Government Employees Association,
The crux of the matter is parts of the site have been on lease with the government since 1975 and some are facing legal litigation. Sri Nanjaraja Bahadur Chatra Managing Committee is keen to take back the land and have already sent a proposal to the government ''not to renew any lease,” said the president of the committee
Inscription on the wall, Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry, Mysuru
starofmysore.com
The President of the Committee Sri Krishnappa mentioned that the hostel for Maharani’s Women’s Arts College (established in 1902) will come up on an one acre plot behind the Choultry which will be retained as it is a heritage structure. The unauthorized buildings, etc behind it will be removed legally to work on the hostel project. The Congress ministry agreed to hand over one-acre of land behind the Choultry to build the hostel.
Way in the past, when there was a fire mishap in the palace in 1897 some of the important items were stored here while the royal family of Wadiyar shifted their residence to Jaganmohan palace.
