Rahmaniya Hotel

Down in Rahmaniya Lane, right in the middle of the Chalai Bazar, that’s where you’ll find our place. If you’ve ever been to Chalai in Thiruvananthapuram, you know it’s crowded and loud almost all the time. Our hotel is part of that bustle. We start early in the morning because the market starts early. There's always the smell of spices and people shouting outside our doors. It’s not the kind of place where you come for a silent retreat, that’s for sure. We keep the tables moving and the kitchen going as fast as we can. It gets hot, especially in the afternoons, but we have the fans running. We’ve been here long enough that the local shopkeepers come by for their breaks. The building is old and the lane is narrow, so getting supplies in can be a bit of a headache with all the carts and people in the way. We do our best to keep everything wiped down and ready for the next person walking in from the market. It’s honest work, and it keeps us busy from dawn till well after dark. We don’t have any fancy signs or decorations, just the name on the front and the food we cook every day. It's just Rahmaniya Hotel, sitting right there where it’s always been in the heart of the trade area for people who are hungry and need a quick meal.