Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
MoreBack to News Headlines
Hotel Maris: a 50-year-old journey and Madras-Ceylon connection

Hotel Maris: a 50-year-old journey and Madras-Ceylon connection

The Hindu
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 5:07 PM GMT

Hotel Maris on Cathedral Road turned 50, with a rich history of family ties and cultural connections in Chennai.

Hotel Maris, which stands on Cathedral Road, turned 50 last week. I had helped in putting together a video commemorating this, and I must say it enabled me to secure some more stories to add to the extraordinary tapestry that is Chennai.

In a brilliant talk that S .Muthiah delivered in 2003 at the Tag Centre on India-Sri Lankan relations, he spoke of how Maria Pillai embarked on the career of a kangani, a person who hired labour in Tamil Nadu for the tea estates in then Ceylon. But there was a lot more I learnt during my recent research, thanks to Anand Rengaswami, the present Managing Director of Maris and grandson of Maria Pillai.

When Ceylon became independent in 1948 and British estate owners began leaving in a hurry, one of them, a Turnbull, offered his holding to Maria Pillai, on a pay-when-able basis. And that is how the family got into estate management. To assist Maria Pillai, his second son, Rengaswami Pillai, moved to Ceylon. But Madras was his idea of a cultural metropolis.

South Indian classical music and dance were Rengaswami Pillai’s great passions, and it was to soak in the December Music Season of Madras that he began coming each year to the city in the 1960s and when he did, he invariably stayed at Hotel Swagath. He eventually became a close friend of the owner Ramakrishna Aithala.

Thus, when in 1972, the newly named Sri Lanka nationalised all its tea estates without compensation and Rengaswami Pillai found himself out of business, it was to Madras that he came seeking fresh ventures, and it was Aithala whom he consulted.

The Madras of the early 1970s had a great need for good quality and yet at the same time affordable hotels. Aithala felt Rengaswami Pillai ought to start one and what was more, identified location and architect. The former was historic Cathedral Road, where on land belonging to The Hindu family, Swarga Drive-In, a small restaurant was barely functioning. This was acquired, and as for the architect, it had to be Atchyut R. Chundur, who specialised in hotel projects — Kanchi, Swagath, Srilekha (now Courtyard Marriot), and Maris were all his designs.

The Hindu has a detailed article on him in its issue of September 23, 2020. The hotel was inaugurated on January 15, 1975, with Rengaswami Pillai handing over the key to a room to his father Maria Pillai and the latter signing the guest register. And with that Maris got going. Apart from its affordable rates, it became well-known for long-serving staffers who knew guests and their families by sight. The vegetarian food, still served on banana leaves at the Anandam Restaurant, was a big hit, as was the bar, named The Permit Room, as a doffing of the hat to Tamil Nadu’s prohibition era, when tipplers needed permits.

Read full story on The Hindu
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
‘Malai koothu’ has evolved, but there’s not much in the art form for ‘koothadi’

Experience the cultural richness of 'malai koothu' in the Yelagiri Hills, a traditional temple dance form rooted in mythology.

Stalemate continues over unified Mass

Tensions rise as factions clash over unified Mass in Syro Malabar Church, leading to protests and police intervention.

More ‘resources and efforts’ required to nurture India-Central Asia links: S. Jaishankar

Efforts to enhance India's connectivity with Central Asia through Chabahar port discussed by External Affairs Minister Jaishankar.

A home production

What awaits gated communities that assume the responsibilities of facility management? There is the possibility of workers becoming trusted lieutenants

Maharashtra government cancels approvals for 903 projects

Maharashtra cancels approvals for 903 development projects to prevent misallocation of funds and pave way for new initiatives.

A pillar and a peak that are held most sacred by the Irula tribe

Discover the sacred Rangaswami Peak and Pillar in Kil Kotagiri, Nilgiris, a site of worship for the Irula tribe.

Kannada Sahitya Parishat seeks Karnataka High Court’s permission to intervene in plea on Thug Life release  

The Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) on Thursday filed an application in the High Court of Karnataka seeking permission to intervene in the petition filed by Raaj Kamal Films International on the issue of releasing Tamil film Thug Life in Karnataka, after controversy cropped up owing to actor Kamal Haasan’s statement that “Kannada is born out of Tamil”.

World Environment Day celebrated in Dindigul, Theni

World Environment Day activities in Dindigul and Theni districts include tree planting, competitions, and awareness programs against plastic pollution.

Old careers continue to remain relevant, say experts

Experts at the webinar on Emerging Careers 2030 highlight the importance of humanities and sciences for future job opportunities.

Bengaluru stampede: BJP demands resignation of CM, Dy. CM and Home Minister on moral grounds

BJP demands resignation of Karnataka government officials after stampede at RCB victory celebrations in Bengaluru.

Dindigul Corporation begins removal of flagpoles installed in public places

Dindigul Corporation removing flagpoles from public places as per Madras High Court orders, cost to be recovered from parties.

Non-working streetlights could hover around 50,000-60,000 in the city

GHMC faces delays in streetlight maintenance as new agency selection process could take up to two months.

High Court for temporary measures to protect Chellanam coast

Kerala High Court addresses sea erosion prevention measures, waterlogging issues, and drainage maintenance in Kochi city.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
T.N.’s non-communicable diseases screening programme for workplaces to now cover small enterprises and offices

Health Department expands NCD screening to small businesses, targeting 6 lakh employees in Tamil Nadu, part of Health Budget initiatives.

The rising challenge of university and college closures Premium

Global higher education faces challenges with rising student enrolment but also closures and mergers, requiring attention and sustainable strategies.

Stalin hands over appointment orders to 1,304 forest staff

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin appoints 1,304 forest personnel, inaugurates research center, and awards environmental champions in Chennai.

BJP is pitted against INDIA bloc in Nilambur: Chandrasekhar

BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said that the electoral battle in Nilambur is between the BJP candidate and the INDIA alliance. “There is only one candidate who speaks of development. That is BJP’s Mohan George,” he said. Describing the candidates of the United Democratic Front (UDF), the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and P.V. Anvar as part of the INDIA alliance, Mr. Chandrasekhar said that the people of Nilambur had only two options: either to vote for Narendra Modi politics or INDIA alliance politics.

The university versus constitutionally protected speech Premium

Let us celebrate a diversity of opinions as in a vibrant democracy as every opinion counts and the university truly signifies a universe of knowledge

Police officers told not to post photos in uniform on social media 

Tamil Nadu police officers warned against sharing uniformed photos and confidential information on social media and interviews.

People’s convention demands conservation of KAU’s model jackfruit farm 

Protest against transfer of Kerala Agricultural University's organic jackfruit farm to Kerala Veterinary University gains momentum.

Cabinet clears DA hike, Metro Phase 2B expansion and ₹33,000 crore for road development

State Cabinet approves wide range of decisions including Dearness Allowances, Hyderabad Metro expansion, road development, and Health Care Trust establishment.

Govt. intends to increase green cover in State to 50% by 2047: Satya Kumar Yadav

Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav on Thursday said that the State government is aiming to increase the green cover in Andhra Pradesh from the current 29% to 50% by 2047 under the Swarnandhra 2047, through massive sapling plantation programmes.

Maturity shown by political parties amid Indo-Pak tension should continue to ensure nation’s security, growth: RSS chief

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat emphasizes unity, security, and growth post-Pahalgam terror attack, denounces religious conversion as "violence".

Girl from tribal community in Kalvarayan Hills earns her seat in IIT

17-year-old A. Rajeshwari from a remote village in India secures a spot in an IIT against all odds.

MSME parks set to industrialise Andhra Pradesh big time, says Minister Kondapalli Srinivas 

MSME parks set to industrialise Andhra Pradesh big time, says Minister Kondapalli Srinivas. The government is striving to attract entrepreneurs to invest in the State by offering them tailor-made incentives and extending the required support, and the efforts are paying off, he says.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us