Thiruvananthapuram, January 09: 'Park View', the 100 year old building housing the Directorate of Tourism, is to be converted into a Heritage Museum at a cost of five million rupees, according to a Press release from Kerala Tourism.
Accordingly, Park View, one of the elegant buildings of the erstwhile Travancore capital, would be restored to its former grandeur, and soon declared a heritage museum showcasing Kerala culture and heritage. The alterations made in the walls, ceilings and rooms of the imposing building over the years, to suit the requirements of a government office, would be dismantled.
Choice antique furniture, crockery, cutlery and other artifacts now scattered across the 24 Government Guest Houses in the State will be displayed here. The museum is expected to become functional by December 2000, when the new building for the Directorate of Tourism is ready.
The heritage museum will resemble a traditional Kerala house and is expected to bring in many foreign and domestic tourists by its proximity to the Museum and Zoo complex in the city. The project is being implemented under the scheme for Central assistance for establishment of heritage museums. Of the five million rupees required, four million rupees will come from the Union Government and the rest from the State Government.
Park View - a witness to history: Built during the monarchy, the Park View building was the official residence of the officers and ministers of both the Maharajas and the democratic governments of free India. Initally it was the official residence of Chief Secretary of the Maharaja. Later, ministers of Kerala like T.V. Thomas and K.R. Gowri, C.H. Mohammed Koya, Ummer Koya, P.R. Kurup, P.K. Raghavan and K.T. George lined here. The last Government official who stayed at the mansion in 1971 was former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Singaravelu. During 1970 - '71 the building served as the interim guest house, while the Thycaud Guest House was under renovation.
This building was also featured in a Malayalam feature film "Enippadikal''. Kerala Tourism has been operating out of here since 1974.