ashokism...

Aug 29, 2025

Another landmark crumbles...

I chanced to see on social media the recent flyover work taken up at Goripalayam, Madurai. It was sad to see the American college shopping complex getting demolished to pave way for the road widening. As the city grows, its inevitable that it devours structures as a side effect !

I was especially saddened to see the pictures of the 50+ year old Hotel King Metro in rubbles. Iam sure it is etched strongly in the collective memory of Maduraites..

For me personally, there was a time in the year 1992, when I studied B.Sc Physics at the American college (for a few months before I got admission to join Architecture...), walking down with my classmates Vaidhi, Dina, Nedu and other friends to King Metro juice centre for a glass of fruit mixture was almost a daily affair in the evenings. The Chole puri and chilli parotta were quite popular dishes at the King Metro restaurant...