Halcyon Castle

Halcyon Castle was built in the 1930s in the city of Travancore, state of Kerala, India. Originally the castle was built by Sri Rama Varma Valia Koil Thampuran, consort of Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi (who was the aunt of Maharaja Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma), and it served as a summer retreat. [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005122500410600.htm&date=2005/12/25/&prd=mag& Varma, Indira (25 December 2005) "Halcyon days at Kovalam" "The Hindu" Chennai (Madras), India] ;] This "royal palace" has been converted into a deluxe hotel. The castle became disputed when the ITDC (India Tourism Development Corporation) who was running the hotel sold out the hotel to a private Hotel resort group. [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/04/09/stories/2003040909480300.htm Radhakrishnan, S. Anil (9 April 2003) "Report to be submitted on Halcyon Castle row" "The Hindu" Chennai (Madras), India] ;] The government of Kerala is trying to take the possession of the castle by claiming it as a heritage site, although, not without challenge by the hotel group. [ [http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/14/stories/2004101405420400.htm Staff Reporter (14 October 2004) "Halcyon Castle council impleads itself in case" "The Hindu" Chennai (Madras), India] ;]

The Halcyon castle is also known as Kovalam Palace, as it is situated in the international beach resort of Kovalam in Trivandrum. The palace is now under the possession of Leela Group, which runs the 6 star deluxe hotel in Kovalam. [ [http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/09/stories/2006030924340300.htm Special Correspondent (9 March 2006) "Government not to part with Halcyon Castle" "The Hindu" Chennai (Madras), India] ;] [ [http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IER20060318231739&Title=Kerala&Topic=0& (19 March 2006) "Castle premises still under Leela Group’s control" "The Sunday Express" India] ;]

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