Locals see new life in old world

When Svatma opened its doors last year in the temple town of Thanjavur, owner Krithika Subramaniam was clear about showcasing the region as a confluence of dance, music, art and culture. A restored family home, authentic south Indian cuisine and a visit to the temple being no longer enough for the well-travelled tourists of today, Subramaniam decided to curate tours to Swamimalai for its iconic bronze statues and temple bells, homes of veena-makers for a glimpse into the craft of making the instrument by hand, and to small textile units of the famed gold embroidered silk sarees of Thanjavur.
“We want to ensure that the guests are immersed in the cultural history of the region and can appreciate it in all its glory .So from an extensive tour of the Brihadeeshwarar temple to the musical gems and rituals of the community, everything is on offer,“ says Vidya Venkat, manager at Svatma, and adds that the local community is very much a part of the programme. But the cultural trip does not end there, as the guests are also treated to an evening of dance and music which in turn acts as a platform for local artists, both young and old.
Preserving old homes to offer an exotic experience is no longer the only priority for heritage hotels in Tamil Nadu. Hoteliers are engaging with local communities in the region to provide a deeper glimpse into the culture of the place and in turn ensuring job opportunities.
For The Bangala in Karaikudi, one of the first majestic traditional Naga rathar homes to be converted into a hotel, employing people of the region has always been part of their success story. From local staffers who add spice to the traditional fare in the kitchen to the architecture of the house with its intricate woodwork and tiles, everything subtly piques the curiosity of guests about crafts of the region.
“When we use silk sarees as upholstery for interior décor, kottan baskets for storage in guest rooms and specially-designed Athangudi tiles for flooring at the restored hotel, the guests show interest in buying them from the weavers or tile-makers,“ says Meenakshi Meyappan, proprietor of The Bangala, which opened in 1999. She adds that the hotel has helped the weaving community, with sarees earlier selling for small amounts now being bought for about a lakh. “The entire staff takes pride in being an ambassador of Chettinad culture both because it is a source of income and is steeped in heritage that is crumbling,“ she says.
Working in that direction is the Neemrana Group in Tranquebar and CGH Earth's heritage hotels in Puducherry with both hotels recruiting staff from poor families and training them to interact as professional workers.While the bamboo furniture at the property in the erstwhile Dutch port is made by local craftsmen, CGH Earth sources toiletries from the NGO Voluntaire that works with destitute women. “We are a small unit and do not have resources for mar keting and hotels are our only source of reaching customers,“ says Shanthi of Voluntaire. As exposure to traditional crafts re quires an expertise and interest, heritage hotels often fail to exploit the potential of a region, says historian and heritage enthusiast Pradeep Chakravarthy . “A lot needs to be done in Tamil Nadu, especially Tirunelveli, in terms of engagement with local communities and many heritage hotels do not realise that it is mutually beneficial.Trained local staff can act as guides to the area, throwing up lesser known information that makes the experience all the more exciting, besides economically helping the region,“ he says.
Until a few years ago, 50-year-old Malliga was breaking stones as a daily wage labourer in Tranquebar to support her three daughters, but being employed as one of the housekeeping staff at the Neemrana hotel has meant that her days of hard labour are gone, and she can bank on a steady income. And with Thangam House, another property of Neemrana at Tranquebar, ready to open in the next few months, more women from the region like Malliga have hope of finding financial stability.