New Woodlands Hotel
Encyclopedia
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.
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 matha
s 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.
Udupi cuisine
Udupi cuisine is a world-renowned cuisine of South India. It forms an important part of the Cuisine of Karnataka and takes its name from Udupi, a town on the southwest coast of India in the state of Karnataka. The Udupi cuisine has its origin in the Ashta mathas of Udupi founded by...
vegetarian restaurant in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
. 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 KadandaleKadandale
Kadandale is a village in Mangalore Taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, India.The village is native place of Kadandale Krishna Bhat of Hotel Woodlands fame...
near Mangalore
Mangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
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 matha
Matha
A matha ) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism and Jainism. A matha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.-Advaita Mathas:...
s in Udupi and for sometime as a "helper" in a hotel near Kadandale. In the early 1920s, he moved to Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
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
Anna Salai
Anna Salai , formerly known as Mount Road, an abbreviated form of St. Thomas Mount Road, is an arterial road in Chennai, India. It starts at the Cooum Creek, south of Fort St George and ends at the Kathipara Junction in Guindy...
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
Ramnad estate
The Ramnad Estate is a permanently settled Zamindari estate in the Ramnad subdivision of the Madura district of the erstwhile Madras Presidency in British India. It comprises the southern and eastern parts of Madura district.The estate was ruled by a Zamindar who bore the title "Raja"...
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.