Soumya Sudarsan

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The Waverly Hotel & Residences draws its inspiration from the rich heritage of Whitefield, which is often forgotten in the midst of the area’s transformation into the Silicon Valley of India. The rooms in Bangalore Waverly Hotel pays tribute to Whitefield’s rich historical “British” connection through a ‘colonial meets contemporary’ concept. The Whitefield we know today began in 1882, when in a generous moment, the then Maharaja of Mysore, Charmaraja Wodeyar, granted 3,900 acres towards the creation of a settlement for the Anglo-Indian community of the area. As such, Whitefield was born, named after David White who conceptualized the idea of this settlement and also resided here. Over time, Whitefield developed into a homely Anglo-Indian village that attracted people from Bangalore City and those who were a part of the historic Kolar Gold Fields. It was one of the very few formally planned Anglo-Indian settlements in India, boasting of a relaxing lifestyle, colonial-style architecture, quaint bungalows, sprawling orchards and farms as well as delightfully named cottages. In 1896, a young British army officer by the name of Winston Churchill arrived in Bangalore and, as narrated by the ex-prime minister himself, fell in love with the weather, flowers, and butterflies the city had to offer. In fact, the historic Waverly Hotel Bangalore Club proudly claims this butterfly-obsessed officer still owes the club 13 Rupees from an unpaid bill during one of his visits. The young Lieutenant was a frequent visitor of the Waverly Hotel in Whitefield, Bangalore, where he is believed to have also stayed on occasion. Rumour has it that during his visits, Churchill courted Rose Hamilton, the daughter of James Hamilton, who was the then owner of the Inn. The Waverly Inn still stands today as one of the top hotels in Whitefield, Bangalore, though it is now a private residence.