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Belhaven Palace

Coordinates: 8°30′56″N 76°57′24″E / 8.51556°N 76.95667°E / 8.51556; 76.95667
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8°30′56″N 76°57′24″E / 8.51556°N 76.95667°E / 8.51556; 76.95667

Belhaven Palace is a mansion of historic importance located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It currently houses Reserve Bank of India's Visiting Officers' Quarters.

History

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The mansion was originally owned by Theodore Lawrence Gomez,[1] a wealthy businessman of Portuguese descent. T.L. Gomez maintained a racecourse around the elevated area around the property.[2] In the late-1880s, the palace became the venue for a club where Europeans in the city socialized.[3] In 1902, the mansion was bought by Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma for his Royal Consort Vadasseri Ammachi Panapillai Amma Srimathi Lakshmi Pillai Karthiani Pillai Kochamma.[3] RBI purchased the bungalow from the descendants of the erstwhile Travancore Royal Family in 1968. The regional office of RBI operated out of this building from 1968 to 1982.[4] In 1984, when Southern Air Command[5] was set up, Belhaven Palace housed the headquarters of the command. It continued to be so till 1996 when the headquarters was moved to Akkulam.

References

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  1. ^ "Maya Gomez". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  2. ^ Staff Reporter (2019-07-29). "Heritage Walk explores low-key landmarks in Thiruvananthapuram". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  3. ^ a b "Avenue Kowdiar - Premium Homestay at Kowdiar, Thiruvananthapuram". www.avenuekowdiar.com. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  4. ^ "Reserve Bank of India - Trivandram - Profile". m.rbi.org.in. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  5. ^ "Southern Air Command, Indian Air Force - Database". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2019-07-31.