Kerala House

The original main structure is the Cochin House, which was the residence of the Maharaja of Cochin whenever he visited the capital city for sessions of the Chamber of Princes. Built by Khushwant Singh's grandfather Sujan Singh and his father Sobha Singh in 1911, the house is known as 'Vyukunt'. It was from here that Sobha Singh supervised the construction of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House as well as the North and the South blocks as a senior contractor. Due to rising debts, Sobha Singh sold the palace to Cochin Maharaja H.H Rama Varma who came to Delhi to attend the Chamber of Princes in year 1920.

In 1927, the Cochin Government decided to construct an annex next to the main palace to accommodate an office facility and staff quarters. By 1940, on request of the Government of British India, the annex building was handed over to the government to accommodate the war offices of India. From 1942-1945, the building became the temporary office of the Political Representative of the United States of America to British India (de facto American Embassy). In 1945, the government of India handed over the building back to the Cochin Government.

After Independence, when Kochi joined with the Indian Union, the house became the state property of the Kerala government and chose to adopt it as 'Kerala House', a permanent mission of the state to the Central Government.

Another structure which is administered by Kerala House is Travancore House, the former residence of the Maharaja of Travancore, located close to Kerala House.

Modern annex of Kerala House

Conference room

The Kerala House belongs to Kerala State Public Works Department. The house is administered by the Controller of Kerala House, who reports to Hon. Resident Commissioner[2] Currently Kerala House offers accommodation facility to members of assembly and other politicians from Kerala who visit New Delhi on official duty.

The controller is assisted by a chief administrative officer and various section officers and assistants. The house has three major divisions functioning

• The Office of Protocol Department, which has a chief protocol officer who oversees all protocols procedures accorded to state ministers and other officials while they visit New Delhi
• The Office of Liaison Department has three departments,

Liaison Wing is headed by the Liaison Officer and is assisted by seven Assistant Liaison Officers. This office is responsible for follow up and co-ordination of various matters/projects/schemes of Government of Kerala with Government of India including release of funds etc. This wing also looks after appointments of State Ministers and Officials with various Union Ministers and Officers.

M.Ps Cell

An M.Ps Cell is functioning in Kerala House to cater the official needs of M.Ps from Kerala. This Cell is also headed by Liaison Officer and is assisted by Assistant Liaison Officers.

Law Wing

A Law Wing headed by the Law Officer and assisted by an Assistant is functioning in Kerala House to effectively take up legal matters of Govt.of Kerala with the High Court, Supreme Court and other courts in Delhi.

PWD Wing

PWD Wing; headed by Assistant Executive Engineer and assisted by Assistant Engineer and Overseers is functioning in Kerala House for maintenance and repair works of Kerala House.[3]

• The Information and Public Relations wing-

Kerala Information Office, Kerala House , New Delhi is headed by Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations Department and is functioning in Kerala House for co-ordination works with Media and to look after the PR requirements of the State Government, including the conduct of various cultural programmes. This office organizes press conferences, issues press releases, video footages , photographs and other media coverage activities for Chief Minister, State Ministers and other Government Programmes. Information office is also the co-ordinating agency for the state in major events like India International Trade Fair, Republic Day Parade etc.

Tourism Information Office

A Tourism Information Office headed by the Deputy Director and assisted by a Tourist Information Officer is functioning in Travancore Palace located at K.G Marg to cater the needs of tourists visiting Kerala.

Guest apartments

The guest house in Kerala House consists of two Blocks. The Main Block part of the annex building having 33 rooms, including the three VIP Suits and Additional Block having 30 rooms mainly used for families of officials and staff of Kerala House. Rooms are allotted to visiting MPs, MLAs, Government officials on duty, Judges and Judicial officials etc. In some cases rooms are also allotted to private individuals, based on government directives or proper references.

The historic Cochin House has been renovated to restore its classic beauty. The palace has been exclusively reserved accommodating Governor of Kerala, Ministers and VIPs of higher protocol ranking. The Palace features 7 suites and 3 rooms apart from 2 security quarters.

Apart from this a 48 bed Dormitory is available at Travancore House complex. Travancore House features a cultural museum, office of Kerala tourism and reception facility for tourists, a state hall accommodating 100 guests and an amphitheater for 250 delegates.