New Woodlands Hotel

The New Woodlands Hotel is an Udupi-style vegetarian restaurant in Chennai. Established in 1938 by Kadandale Krishna Rao, it is considered to be a pioneer in popularizing Udupi cuisine in the city. Since then, a large number of imitiations and namesake Woodlands hotels have been established in various parts of Chennai.

History

The New Woodlands Hotel was founded by K. Krishna Rao who was born to a Hindu priest in Kadandale near Mangalore on October 21, 1898. Poverty in the family forced Krishna Rao to seek a job at an early age. He worked for sometime in one of the mathas in Udupi and for sometime as a "helper" in a hotel near Kadandale. In the early 1920s, he moved to Chennai at the advice of his brother-in-law. In Chennai, he worked as in a hotel in various positions as cleaner, helper, server and finally, as junior cook. The owner of the restaurant was impressed by his hard work and dedication and made him manager of one of his hotels in Acharappan Street in Georgetown.

In 1926, Krishna Rao moved to Anna Salai where he set up his own hotel, Udupi Sri Krishna Vilas in partnership with owner of another Udupi restaurant, the Udupi Hotel nearby. When the two ended their partnership in 1933, Krishna Rao inherited the Udupi Hotel as his share. Later, he also purchased Udupi Sri Krishna Vilas from the then-owner.

In 1938, the Raja of Ramnad estate sold one of his posh residences in Chennai to a building contractor named Munivenkatappa. Krishna Rao took the building on lease from Munivenkatappa and set up the "New Woodlands Hotel". The hotel was so named for its sylvan surroundings.

References

• Muthiah, S. (2004). Madras Rediscovered. East West Books (Madras) Pvt Ltd. pp. 67–70. ISBN 81-88661-24-4. 
• S. Krishnan (1983). Host to the millions: The Story of Krishna Rao of Woodlands. Madras: New Woodlands Hotel. 

External links

• "Official website of New Woodlands Hotel". http://www.newwoodlands.com/.