Forty history enthusiasts went on a walk on Sunday to unravel the historical significance of certain landmarks at Thycaud in the city. The Thycaud Hill Heritage Walk, which was organised under the aegis of the Heritage Walk Trivandrum, covered various areas, including Government Model School, Government Training College, Clarke’s Bungalow, Government Arts College, and the Thycaud Residency.
The group which met at Government Model School proceeded on a tour that led to memorable experiences for the participants. They discovered several interesting facts about the institutions located in the area.
The forum understood much about Government Model School, which is the first English-Malayalam-Tamil medium school in Thiruvananthapuram and boasts an illustrious history. Although the school began in 1885 at the spot where St. Joseph’s School is located currently, in 1903, it was shifted to the present compound at Thycaud. The school moved to the present grand main building constructed in the European style in 1910, during the reign of Sree Moolam Tirunal. The first principal of the school was G.F. Clarke, an Englishman, and the charming Clarke’s Bungalow on the campus was his residence. In June 1911, a teachers’ training college started functioning alongside the school. In 1924, the Travancore government decided to sanction an arts college in the area, and it was established in the present college building. The list of college alumni includes several prominent personalities of modern Kerala, including 180 members of the Malayalam film industry.
The original ‘Residency hill’ bungalow dates back to 1815, the time of Resident and Diwan of Travancore Col. John Munroe. It now houses the Kerala Institute of Travel and Tourism Studies.
The bungalow has been used by several prominent guests of Travancore, including Viceroy and Governor General of India Lord Curzon. There is a flagpole at the residency, now only half its original height.
Heritage Walk Trivandrum coordinator Bina Thomas said the Thycaud area had many more significant landmarks which deserved to be explored further in the coming months.
