In conversation with Veerendra

Since I Was Eight Years Old

My name is Veerendra, and I have been part of Janatha Hotel since I was eight years old. This place isn't just a business to us—it is our entire world, our passion, and honestly, we don't have anything else.

From Jog Falls to Bangalore

The story begins with my grandfather, who came to Bangalore from Kundapura in the 1960s. He was a cook, skilled at preparing food for functions and gatherings. In 1956, when they were building the dam at Jog Falls, there was no food available for the workers and engineers. My grandfather saw this need and set up a canteen there. The engineers who ate with us were so impressed that they suggested we move to Bangalore, saying it would offer a brighter future for the children. There's still a bond from those days that continues even now.

Walls That Are Almost 90 Years Old

In 1971, my father's brother, who was 54 then, took over a house and turned it into what became Janatha Hotel. The building itself has walls that are almost 90 years old—you can feel the history in the structure. This area was different then. Dairy farming was famous here, and during the 70s and 80s, 8th Cross between Sampige and Margosa was the prime market area. People used to come all the way from Vijayanagar just to shop and eat here. It was the prime location.

There Was Still a Forest and a Big Lake

I grew up watching this neighborhood change. When I was young, there were so many temples around, including the Kadu Malleswara temple. Back then, there was still a forest and a big lake nearby. The rains were different in the 60s and 70s—it was more abundant. But as the years passed, nature gave way to development, more buildings came up, and the charm of the old days slowly faded.

The Area Maintained Its Charm Until Around 2005

The area maintained its charm until around 2005. After that, the IT boom hit, and everything started developing rapidly. The market that once drew people from across the city became more local, serving the immediate neighborhood. But we've held on to our ways.

The Sentiment of Eating at Home

Today, I manage this location while my uncle runs the one at Sachchandra Circle. We've made a conscious decision to stay offline—no tie-ups with delivery platforms and no online presence. People ask us why, but we believe there's something about the sentiment of eating at home, of coming to a place to have a meal. People have to come here to understand what we are about.

Built on an Old Friendship

We still have customers who have been coming since the 70s. Some of them have been eating here for decades, and there is a respect that is built over all these years. We have friendships that go beyond business—like with Shasidhar Reddy's father, whose house we took on lease and turned into one of our locations. There was no documentation, no papers, as is needed today. The hotel is built on an old friendship, and these relationships matter to us.

This Is All We Know, and This Is What We Love

This is a third-generation hotel now. My grandfather started with that canteen at Jog Falls, my father's generation established us here in Bangalore, and now I am carrying it forward. We have watched this city transform around us—from a place where people came from other areas to eat and shop, to a tech hub where everything moves fast and online. But we have stayed true to what we believe in. For us, this work is a passion. This is all we know, and this is what we love.