LMB Hotel
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The LMB Hotel as seen in a July 2007 photography (click image to open large version) |
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depiction of what the LMB hotel may have looked like had it been developed within the constructs of its historical architecture. 3D rendering by Shri Surjit Singh Ji of architectural design firm Studio IMCON (click image to open large version) |
| SOURCE: Information supplemented by Interviews with LMB owner Shri Ajay Agarwal and Shri Om Prakash Sharma, Head of Archaeological Society in Albert Hall. |
At one time, the LMB Hotel may have been a classic example of Jaipur architecture and lifestyle. The lowest storey was used for shops and the upper two as a residential area. The shop owners likely sold jewels as the building was situated in
the jewelers’ bazaar. However, this changed in the 1900’s, with the opening of the Lakshmi Industrial Works’ Jaipur branch known as the Lakshmi Bhandar. This business was established in 1929 and sold cosmetic products, including an especially popular type of hair oil. Shortly afterward, the location attracted the interest of a man named Mr. Maliran Ghodhawat. He was a neighborhood halwai, or sweets maker, and felt that Jaipur lacked good vegetarian food. He was inspired to convert the building into a vegetarian hotel and restaurant. Maliran had little money and had to sell many of his possessions and take heavy loans, but eventually bought all of the Lakshmi Bhandar. He then began constructing LMB Hotel in 1958 and finished in 1962. He built the hotel by demolishing the original structure in favor of a more modern look with glass windows. The LMB hotel, or Lakshmi Mishthan Bhandar, was thus born. Unfortunately, while the LMB Hotel is a great success story, it may have unknowingly set a precedent at the time and inspired others to follow suit. Johari Bazaar, where the LMB hotel is located, now is lined mainly by many unsightly urban structures that have replaced the old havelis.
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