By N.K.A. Ballal, Retd. Sr. Vice-President, ITDC
The fame of Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel started spreading so much that it became a matter of prestige to get a posting at this hotel! Ultimately in the nineties, I was brought back to this hotel as General Manager, a matter of great pride for a Mysurean. I have worked for nearly eight years as GM of this institution when it was at its height of glory. The GM’s Quarters, a five-bed room edifice with four poster beds, antique sofas and Persian carpets, was an envy of many. This hotel has played host to Heads of States, Bollywood and Hollywood actors, politicians, business tycoons and a host of other vvips. I have lost count of the number of films of all languages shot in this location. From last two years, this hotel has become a favourite location for “Destination Weddings.” I felt very happy acting as a guide on several occasions to point out to the visiting VIPs the salient features of this property. The marble staircase with hidden wiring, Belgium stained glasses, the lithographs with the history of Tipu’s war, the spring dancing floor, the list is endless.
