British Residency bungalow (1819), Kollam, Kerala built by John Munro

Biritish Residency ,Kollam, Kerala. SkyscraperCity

The British during the colonial days had many Government Guest Houses built in the princely states where the British Resident would stay and entertain the vising dignitaries and acted as a link between the British administration and the ruler. The  Residency Bungalow, is a two-store palace located  on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake at Aashramom (also Asramam). Normally British residencies built across India in the princely states served as a residence for military officers and politicians.  An important feature is a well-furnished large hall  for political discussions between the British representatives led by resident officer  and the ruler and his advisors.
in the city of Kollam, Kerala, India. Incidentally, Asramam is one of the prime locations in Kollam city because of the presence of  many important institutions here.

British Residency, Kollam, Touristlink

Above image: British Residency - One of the historic buildings in Kollam. Till 1829, Quilon was the capital of the Travancore State with the headquarters of the British Residency situated here. Construction began in 1811 and completed in 1819. Captain Arthur was in charge of design and construction.  .............

Built by Colonel John Munro between 1811–1919, the Residency Bungalow is a prominent landmark in this city. The other noted  landmark being the Chinnakada Clock Tower.

British Residency Bungalow, Quilon, Kerala. en.wikipedia.org

The colonial Bungalow is close to the site of the old Kollam Airport  at Asramam . The building came up during the reign of Travancore  Rani Gowri Parvati Bayi when Colonel John Munro was the British Resident. Constructed with a blend of European, Indian and Tuscan architecture, the central part has a rounded front with a large gable decoration. There is a crown with a lion seated on it atop the building with the motto Dieu et mon Droit (God and my right) inscribed above. The conference hall in the palace with  an antechamber, an adjustable partition-like door and a large fanlight arching over divides the two rooms can be accessed through a tall entrance door - 10 feet (3.0 m) in height. The door is made of glass panes.   Embossed over the main doorway is  a   motif of a large arch with an ornamental keystone  resting on pillars.  The walls of the conference hall are decorative and have  cornices and dentils bordering the four sides with embossed designs of festoons, urns, and floral forms. As for upper story, rich wooden flooring is quite attractive.  

British Resident John Monroe en.wikipedia.org

Above image: General John Munro (June 1778 – 25 January 1858) of the East India company  was a Scottish soldier and administrator who served as Resident and Diwan of the States of Travancore and Cochin between 1810 and 1819. He played a role in  suppressing  the famous  Vellore Mutiny and  later was s appointed Quartermaster-General of the Madras army.. He introduced several reforms in favor of poor people in Travancore and played a role in the growth  of Christianity in this part......

.Vintage photo, British Residency, Kollam, Kerala. sahapedia.org

Above image:  British Residency Kollam, Kerala;  photo taken in 1900 by the govt photographer Zacharias D’Cruz. Two- story structure  in native style with  a high  colonnaded verandah - a series of columns  set all along the ground floor. The first floor verandah  with balustrades (a railing made of balusters or ornamental elements) and intermediate columns of about half the size of the ones below. The verandas in some bungalows are covered  by rattan ( thin palm stem forming mesh ) blinds  to cut down sunlight. It is  characteristic of central apsidal (a semi-circular ending) shape and  hipped roof (a roof where all four sides of the roof slope downwards to the walls from the peak) forming a conical profile. Walls are raised on both floors   except the center. Tiled sunshades supported by brackets are new additional features. so are the gables - mukhappu at the ends........... 

In some places, the walls are adorned with  antique prints in polished wooden frames. Of particular interest to us is the one that depicts the battle of Seringapatnam, dating from 1802. The Edward Rose garden enhances the old charm of this colonial mansion. This Residency building is one of the most majestic colonial structures in India. Elegance in simplicity, affluence in artistic work.