Nainital: The Metropole Hotel in Nainital has witnessed a dramatic transformation over the decades. Built in 1880 in Gothic architectural style, the hotel was once a prestigious retreat, attracting elite guests from across the world.
Once a prestigious retreat, the Metropole Hotel in Nainital hosted Pakistan’s founding leader, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, during his honeymoon in 1919. Later, this hotel became enemy property post-partition and has now been temporarily allotted for parking by the Union Home Ministry, aiming to ease traffic congestion in the town.
A hotel of grandeur & prestige
Spread over 10 acres, the Metropole Hotel was a lavish establishment, boasting 75 rooms, 16 cottages, 24 servant quarters, and five tennis lawns. It was renowned for its flat non-corrugated, galvanized tin-roof, a design that later became known as the ‘Nainital-pattern roofing’, influencing architectural styles across India.
Among its most famous guests was Pakistan’s founding leader, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who spent his honeymoon at the hotel in April 1919 with his wife Ratibai. The hotel’s scenic surroundings and exclusive amenities made it a preferred destination for high-profile visitors, including Hungarian painter Elizabeth Sass-Brunner, who created the artwork ‘Last Winter’ inspired by the hotel’s landscape.
Ownership & transition to enemy property
At the time of India’s independence in 1957, the Nawab of Mahmudabad owned the property. However, following the partition, the Nawab migrated to Pakistan, acquiring Pakistani citizenship. In 1968, the Enemy Property Act was enacted, and the Indian government declared Metropole Hotel as enemy property, preventing its private ownership or commercial use. Over the years, the hotel fell into disrepair, and encroachers gradually occupied its open land.
Encroachments & legal action
By the early 2000s, the once-celebrated property had become dilapidated, with makeshift homes built on its open lands. In 2023, around 134 families were evicted from the property following Supreme Court orders, clearing the way for surface parking development. In October last year, the custodian office of enemy properties under the Home Ministry issued a temporary No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Nainital district magistrate, allowing surface parking on an ad-hoc basis.
Government’s decision to convert metropole into parking
To address Nainital’s growing parking crisis, the Union Home Ministry issued formal directives on Wednesday, allocating the Metropole Hotel complex to the Uttarakhand government for temporary use as a parking facility. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for approving the request, stating that the move will significantly ease traffic congestion and improve logistical convenience in the region.
Historic Metropole Hotel transitions into a functional space
With final government approval pending, construction for the surface parking facility is expected to begin soon. Authorities assure that the state government is committed to ensuring efficient parking solutions, making Nainital more accessible for visitors. As the historic Metropole Hotel transitions into a functional space, its legacy as a luxury retreat remains a significant part of Nainital’s heritage.
