Another iconic Mysuru restaurant to down shutters over COVID-19 worries

Mysuru: After the famous hotel Southern star, the favourite of who is who in Southern Karnataka, including Sandalwood stars as well as politicians— Hotel Ramya Mahendra on Dewan's road is closing shutters from Sunday.

For over four decades, it was not only the favorite adda of locals, film stars and politicians, the restaurant saw a huge tourist influx from across the world. The restaurant was famous for its Masala Dosa and Badam Halwa.

The hotel was being frequented by iconic film stars like Dr Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan and Ambarish and also politicians from former chief minister Mr S Bangarappa to Mr Siddaramaiah. Unfortunately, the owners are forced to pull down their shutters and end the four decade old legacy due to COVID-19.

“Owing to Covid situation, it has become difficult to bear the losses and manage expenses including rent. Also I am above 60 years of age now and with multiplying Covid numbers and with most of the infected being asymptomatic, it is tough to identify infected. I do not want to the health of myself or my staff and customers at risk. So I have decided to close it,” Mr G G Mahendra, owner of the hotel told Deccan Chronicle.

Hotel Ramya was a huge brand in Mysuru carrying a legacy of food with their signature style crispy Mysuru masala dosa stuffed with a thin coat of red chutney and aloo palya (curry), served with dollops of butter on the top. The accompaniment would include the green coriander chutney and delicious sambar which no visitor to the city wanted to miss. A trip to Mysuru was incomplete without a pit stop at the famous Ramya Mahendra Restaurant.

The announcement came late on Thursday evening. Mysuru, the hotest tourist destination in South Karnataka with monuments constructed by erstewhile rulers of the Mysuru Wodeyars, is also known as cultural and yoga capital of the State. With 220 cases and 92 active cases including 24 cops and one health care worker, almost every alternate road is blocked as containment zone in Mysuru.

Yet undeterred by Covid situation, nostalgic Mysureans were seen rushing to have their last bite of lip-smacking masala dosa and badam halwa at the restaurant. They also shared their emotions on hearing the news with owner Mr G G Mahendra.

But while each customer is a permanent customer for long, Mr Mahendra personally interacted and consoled customers saying he would set up another restaurant soon once the covid situation stabilises. One of the regular customers, Mr Sunil who had been frequenting this restaurant since his childhood days paid one last visit to the popular food joint to take a parcel on Friday morning. Also Mr Narasimha, a server at the restauant for the past 15 years, said he was very upset about the closure of the place and he would wait and rejoin if the business restarts.

The cultural capital of the State Mysuru is not just about its architectural marvel of picturesque palaces, heritage buildings which speak volumes about history. The city is also about the aesthetic beauty, greenery, educational institutions, tourism, mysore jasmine, mysore pak and so on.

The traditional food culture is being told and retold through generations by several age old humble food joints that show a different side of the city. These restaurants carry a part of history themselves and are usually thronged by visitors and tourists. Mysuru masala dosa is a must have om every menu card.

Sandalwood Thespian, Dr Rajkumar would always love to savour his favourite butter masala dosa at Ramya, whenever he visited Mysuru. And he even got their specialty badam halwa packed to his house.

Hotel Ramya started by Mr G G Mahendra's father, Mr G B Govindraj Shetty over four decades ago, earlier functioned as drive in restaurant at the premises of the Cosmopolitan club of Mysuru. Former Chief minister Bangarappa never missed eating dosa at Ramya after playing a game of tennis at the Cosmopolitan club.

Also, former chief minister Mr Siddaramaiah made his way to relish masala dosa here atleast thrice when he was the Chief Minister. Actor cum politician Mr Ambarish too had last visited the hotel in February 2018 before his sad demise and had savoured his favourite avalakki set dosa at the hotel.

Adda for families and friends, a meeting point for all politicians, on top of check list by visitors and tourists to Mysuru, Ramya Mahendra will at last become part of history of Mysuru from Sunday.