look | Do you like donne biryani for breakfast?
When you think of breakfast in Bangalore, pictures of crispy masala chutneys or soft, steamy idlis and sambar immediately come to mind. But that’s not all the city has to offer.
What if we said you can eat biryani? Not just any biryani but Dani Biryani – a South Indian specialty made with short-grain rice and served in dried banana, or dan, pouches. Non-vegetarian breakfast options are not new to Bengaluru, with every establishment having its own dedicated fan base.
Shivaji Military Hotel stands with a legacy of 114 years. Tucked away in a quiet lane opposite the bustling Banashankari Bus Stand in south Bangalore, the Shivaji Military Hotel is easy to fool by its serene exterior.
Enter, and you hear the chatter of hungry customers, starting at 8 a.m. As the day progresses, the noise gets louder, the lines get longer and the service gets faster. Started in 1908 by S Mannaji Rao, the Shivaji Military Hotel has been run by three generations of the Rao family. In the more than 100 years of its existence, the hotel has seen its share of ups and downs.
But its popularity really took off after Bengaluru became a software hub. Currently, it is being managed by Mannaji Rao’s grandsons, Rajeev and Lokesh.
How is a typical day at Shivaji Military Hotel?
Reporting: Nalme Nachiyar and Simran Ahuja
Script & Voiceover: Nalme Nachiyar
Video: Sudhakar Jain