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'''Le Colonial''' is an old colonial house located in [[Cochin]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]. It is now used as a hotel.
'''Le Colonial''' (also known as the '''St Francis Bungalow''', '''J Thomas Bungalow''', and '''Jan van Spall Huiss''') is an old colonial house located in [[Cochin|Kochi]], Kerala, India. It is now a heritage hotel after being acquired by [[Neemrana Hotels]].


Le Colonial was built by the [[Portuguese empire|Portuguese]] in 1506. It is said to have housed [[Francis Xavier]] and [[Vasco da Gama]]. It remained in the hands of the Portuguese for 150 years and when Cochin was conquered by the Dutch it was one of the rare houses not to be destroyed during the assault. Le Colonial housed the Dutch governors until 1795 when it was sold to the British. It then belonged to J. Thomas, a British tea trader.
==History==
<!-- Note: This section may have an overuse of citations. -->
Le Colonial was built by the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] in 1506,<ref name="IcciCoch">{{Cite web |title=Le Colonial 1506 {{!}} ICCI Cochin |url=https://iccicochin.com/kochi-heritage-tour/the-portuguese-story/le-colonial-1506/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |language=en-US}}</ref> at the same time as [[St Francis Church, Cochin|St Francis Church]].<ref name="UnusualHotels">{{cite web |title=Le Colonial |url=https://www.unusualhotelsoftheworld.com/LeColonial |website=www.unusualhotelsoftheworld.com |access-date=17 March 2025}}</ref> It is said to have housed [[St Francis Xavier |Francis Xavier]], granting it the name '''St Francis Bungalow''',<ref name="UnusualHotels" /><ref name="Sahapedia">{{Cite web |title=Le Colonial (Residence of St. Francis Xavier) {{!}} Sahapedia |url=https://iccicochin.com/kochi-heritage-tour/the-portuguese-story/le-colonial-1506/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |language=en-US}}</ref> and has additionally housed [[Vasco da Gama]].<ref name="IcciCoch" /><ref name="KeralaTourism">{{Cite web |title=Le Colonial {{!}} Kerala Tourism |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/hotels/le-colonial/3694 |access-date=2025-03-26 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Choomti">{{Cite web |title=Le Colonial {{!}} Choomti Travellers |url=https://www.choomti.com/le-colonial/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |language=en-US}}</ref> It was the Portuguese governor's private residence as opposed to his main office.<ref name="UnusualHotels" /><ref name="Sahapedia" /><ref name="KeralaTourism" />


The building was constructed in 1506 at the same time as [[St Francis Church, Cochin|St Francis Church]]. It was the Portuguese governor's private residence as opposed to his main office. St Francis Xavier is said to have lived in the house which has, among other names, also been called the '''St Francis Bungalow'''. Above the main gate one can see the date of construction and the Dutch addition of "VOC" (Venerable Dutch East India Company).
It remained in the hands of the Portuguese for 150 years, and when Kochi was conquered by the Dutch, it was one of the rare houses not to be destroyed during the assault. After Kochi was conquered, Le Colonial housed the Dutch governor.<ref name="UnusualHotels" /><ref name="Sahapedia" /><ref name="KeralaTourism" />Above the main gate, the date of construction and the Dutch addition of "VOC" can be seen, as it was owned by the Venerable Dutch East India Company.<ref name="UnusualHotels" /><ref name="KeralaTourism" /> During the Dutch occupation, French Admiral [[Mahé de La Bourdonnais]], while traveling from [[Pondicherry (city)|Pondichéry]] to [[Mahé, India|Mahé]] in North Kerala, spent a night as a guest in the house. In 1795, [[Major Petrie]] and his [[British East India Company]] army took over [[Fort Cochin]]. After the capitulation, van Spall received Major Petrie as his guest in the house, who had added lithographs and etches onto the wall.<ref name="UnusualHotels" /><ref name="TelegraphIn">{{Cite web |title=Heritage havens {{!}} The Telegraph Online |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/heritage-havens/cid/1669516 |access-date=2025-03-26 |language=en-US}}</ref>


The last Dutch governor [[Jan van Spall]] sold it in 1795 to the British. That is why it was also called '''Jan van Spall Huiss'''. The original sales deed can be seen framed in the house. During the Dutch occupation, French Admiral [[Mahé de La Bourdonnais]], on his way from [[Pondicherry (city)|Pondichéry]] to [[Mahé, India|Mahé]] in North Kerala, spent a night in the house. In 1795, [[Major Petrie]] and his [[British East India Company]] army took over [[Fort Cochin]], and after the capitulation van Spall supposedly received Major Petrie as his guest in the house.
Le Colonial housed the Dutch governor until 1795, when it was sold to the British by the last Dutch governor [[Jan van Spall]], and the original sales deed can be seen framed in the house.<ref name="TelegraphIn" /> By 1947, it belonged to J. Thomas, a British tea trader, and the house came known to be as the '''J Thomas Bungalow'''.<ref name="UnusualHotels" /><ref name="Sahapedia" /> In 2004, it was saved as a historic monument as it got acquired by [[Neemrana Hotels]], and was restored.<ref name="UnusualHotels" /><ref name="KeralaTourism" /> It is currently owned by John Persenda.<ref name="TelegraphIn" /> The house now contains many works of art and antique furniture.<ref name="IcciCoch" /><ref name="KeralaTourism" /><ref name="Choomti" /> Each room is named and styled after figures connected with its past: Jan van Spall, Major Petrie, J Thomas, Vasco da Gama, Mahé de La Bourdonnais, [[Tipoo Sultan]], the British [[viceroy]] and his ADC.<ref name="UnusualHotels" /><ref name="TelegraphIn" />


The house was sold in the mid 20th century to the tea trader J Thomas and came to be known as the '''J Thomas Bungalow'''. In 2004, it was saved as a historic monument. The house now contains many works of art and antique furniture. Each room is named and styled after figures connected with its past: Jan van Spall, Major Petrie, J Thomas, Vasco da Gama, Mahé de La Bourdonnais, [[Tipoo Sultan]], the British [[viceroy]] and his ADC. Maureen van Spall is alive and well in the Netherlands.
==References==
{{reflist}}


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Latest revision as of 12:07, 11 February 2026

Le Colonial (also known as the St Francis Bungalow, J Thomas Bungalow, and Jan van Spall Huiss) is an old colonial house located in Kochi, Kerala, India. It is now a heritage hotel after being acquired by Neemrana Hotels.

History[edit | edit source]

Le Colonial was built by the Portuguese in 1506,[1] at the same time as St Francis Church.[2] It is said to have housed Francis Xavier, granting it the name St Francis Bungalow,[2][3] and has additionally housed Vasco da Gama.[1][4][5] It was the Portuguese governor's private residence as opposed to his main office.[2][3][4]

It remained in the hands of the Portuguese for 150 years, and when Kochi was conquered by the Dutch, it was one of the rare houses not to be destroyed during the assault. After Kochi was conquered, Le Colonial housed the Dutch governor.[2][3][4]Above the main gate, the date of construction and the Dutch addition of "VOC" can be seen, as it was owned by the Venerable Dutch East India Company.[2][4] During the Dutch occupation, French Admiral Mahé de La Bourdonnais, while traveling from Pondichéry to Mahé in North Kerala, spent a night as a guest in the house. In 1795, Major Petrie and his British East India Company army took over Fort Cochin. After the capitulation, van Spall received Major Petrie as his guest in the house, who had added lithographs and etches onto the wall.[2][6]

Le Colonial housed the Dutch governor until 1795, when it was sold to the British by the last Dutch governor Jan van Spall, and the original sales deed can be seen framed in the house.[6] By 1947, it belonged to J. Thomas, a British tea trader, and the house came known to be as the J Thomas Bungalow.[2][3] In 2004, it was saved as a historic monument as it got acquired by Neemrana Hotels, and was restored.[2][4] It is currently owned by John Persenda.[6] The house now contains many works of art and antique furniture.[1][4][5] Each room is named and styled after figures connected with its past: Jan van Spall, Major Petrie, J Thomas, Vasco da Gama, Mahé de La Bourdonnais, Tipoo Sultan, the British viceroy and his ADC.[2][6]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Le Colonial 1506 | ICCI Cochin". Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "Le Colonial". www.unusualhotelsoftheworld.com. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Le Colonial (Residence of St. Francis Xavier) | Sahapedia". Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Le Colonial | Kerala Tourism". Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Le Colonial | Choomti Travellers". Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Heritage havens | The Telegraph Online". Retrieved 26 March 2025.
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