Restaurant at royal address

The historic Victor Palace of Coochbehar is going to get a new look. The century old palace is in a dilapidated state and will be restored by the Central Public Work Department. A tourist lodge along with a restaurant and a bar will be set up in the regal building.

The CPWD’s offices in Siliguri and Calcutta will take up joint responsibility for the job. According to CPWD source, central government has provided Rs. 20 lakh. Local Rajya Sabha MP Tarini Roy has donated another 20 lakh for the projects. The Tourism minister Mr. Dinesh Dakua has said that he expects the new tourist lodge to boost tourism of the district.

The palace was the residence of Maharaja Kumar Victor Nipendra Narayan (1887-1937). He contributed a lot to the development of this princely state. His education in London was sponsored by the Queen of Victoria and thus he took the sobriquet of `Victor`. The façade of the two-storied palace will remain the same while the interior will take a new look. The work on the palace is expected to be finished by March 2006.

A suite and two more suites and a conference room will be built in the ground floor and upstairs respectively. Ananta Roy, zilla parishad sabhadhipati said, `Main aim of this project is to attract the high profile tourists and definitely the new look Victor Palace will be another feather in the tourism crown of our district.`

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