History of Taj Malabar

In 1919, Lord Willingdon was appointed Governor of the Madras Presidency. It was his vision and optimistic enthusiasm which gave impetus to these proposals. The scheme was promoted by a co-operative arrangement between the Governments of India, Madras, Cochin and Travancore. The proposed scheme for dredging this area aroused a lot of controversy and technical interest as it was considered the most difficult since the Suez. Sir Robert C Bristow was appointed engineer-in-charge, at the age of thirty nine. His task was to ensure freedom from erosion of the peninsula to cut a deep channel through the sand bars and constant dredging of the channels within the Harbour to provide entry for deep sea fishing. In 1929 with outside dredging work and similar work being done within the Harbour, material dredged was pumped into a reclamation area which measured 900 acres. In 1931 ocean going steamers began regular visits to the Cochin Harbour.
Meanwhile the reclamation area was being filled more rapidly owing partly to the annual silting and partly to the extensions of the dredging operations in the Mattancherry Channel.
In a state Banquet on 8th December, 1933. The Maharajah requested that the reclamation be named after Lord Willingdon in recognition of the contribution he had made towards not only visualizing but working towards successful completion of the project. To quote Sir Robert Bristow - “The Willingdon Island is a large island I have dredged up from the bottom of the sea.”
In 1934 some shipping lines were interested in bringing passenger vessels to Cochin. The Bibby Line owners and their agents Harrison’s & Crosfields indicated their willingness to call at the Cochin Harbour if the following two conditions were met: · Proper lighting for the outer channel · Hotel accommodation for disembarking passengers.
In fact it was they who suggested that the Government could build a hotel for the passengers. Sir. Robert Bristow, who was entrusted with building the island (later known as Willingdon Island) wanted an assurance that, if expenses were incurred to build a hotel, ships would be brought in by the lines. Simultaneously, Sir. Bristow took action to seek Government approval for a building that would be redesigned as a Government Hostel In Aug 1934 proper lighting arrangements were made in the outer channel. In Oct 1934 the Madras Government agreed to construct a hostel mainly for the accommodation of ships passengers. Sir. Bristow gave assurance that an up to date hostel would be built in the North West corner of the reclamation. As told by him, “it will contain 20 double bed rooms each with a bath room, large public rooms and the usual attraction plus a swimming pool (covered). It will be in the most convenient place for passenger vessels, just opposite their mooring in fact and on the healthiest site available with all the rooms open to winds all day “. The hostel was constructed by Sir Robert Bristow‘s department in 2 months at a cost of two lakhs, which was charged to the port. The hostel opened on 8th March 1935 by Messer’s Spencer’s and Co and the first Bibby Liner, “Shropshire “arrived at the port on 9th March, 1935. The opening of the hostel, which was considered, to be more like a hotel was awaited in great anticipation. While it was extensively covered in the press, The Mail featured the arrival of the steamer which highlighted the advantage of Cochin as a passenger port and referring to the new hotel, it said, “The fine new building constructed by the port authorities on Willingdon Island and now nearing completion will be run by Messer’s Spencer’s and Co. it is meant for the accommodation of passengers and other visitors. It occupies one of the best sites in Cochin facing the harbor and the berth where the passenger liners will lie. It will be equipped with all modern conveniences, including an open-air swimming bath and will be one of the most attractive and up to date hotels in South India. The hotel is expected to open early in March.” The hostel, which was initially known as the Willingdon Island hotel was later renamed the Malabar Hotel. Initially a L- shaped building with European sanitation and even a swimming pool, also had facilities for exclusive lunch and dinner parties. The flooring was polish teak. The hotel went on to become so successful, that soon another wing was found necessary to complete the U-shaped building as it stands today. The advent of this hastened the development of the Naval Base. A site on Willingdon Island was allocated to the Navy / Military as a part of the Port’s defense. The Malabar hotel entertained guests and provided state of the art accommodation but then came the 2nd World war. The war hastened the process of naval works in Vendurathy and the Malabar Hotel as well as the new Administrative block next door were used as quarters and offices for the Defense forces. The next year a passenger jetty, a special rail sliding with passenger platform and a customs house were built next to the Malabar Hotel. Before the Taj Group of Hotels took over in 1984, the hotel was run by D C Johar and Co who had taken over the hotel from its first lessees Messer’s Spencer’s and Co who were responsible for running the hotel and maintaining the exquisite property. Initially there was only the Heritage Wing, which was known for its simplicity, ethnicity and tastefully done with intricate wooden flooring consisted of 33 rooms; the block was renovated and started functioning from 14th April 1987. The pressure of occupancy necessitated the requirement for the construction of a new block. Plans were made to start a new wing i.e. the Tower wing consisting of 63 rooms. The architect behind it was the well renowned Mr. M Khadri, who was also known as the “Sheriff of Bombay” In 1987 Taj Malabar boasted of the Rice Boat which was a coffee shop, a Chinese restaurant the Jade Pavilion, The Sao Gabriel bar which was named after a Portuguese ship, the ambience provided in the bar, made the guest feel like as if he were in a ship itself, there were also 3 banquet halls namely, Bristow hall, Willingdon hall and Raja Varma hall whereas the new block i.e. the Tower wing was under construction. The Taj Malabar went through 2 phases of renovations, the 1st phase dealt with the Heritage wing, which was completed by May 2001 by the end of which which Taj boasted of the “Aquarius”.