Mangaluru, April 2, 2025 – The Moti Mahal Hotel, a well-known landmark in the heart of Mangaluru, is set to shut its doors in mid-April 2025, bringing an end to its decades-long legacy. The closure comes as a result of a prolonged land dispute with the neighboring Milagres Church, which has claimed ownership of the property.
Located on Falnir Road, just steps away from Milagres Church, the three-star hotel has been a popular destination for travelers and locals alike, offering 90 well-appointed rooms, multiple dining options, and a central location near Hampankatta. However, the hotel’s fate was sealed after a legal battle over the land, which traces back to a lease agreement from 1961. St Antony Charity Institutes, affiliated with Milagres Church, had leased the 1 acre and 70.5 cents of land to the hotel’s operators for 50 years. The agreement stipulated that the property, along with any structures built on it, would revert to the church upon the lease’s expiration.
The dispute escalated in recent years, with the church asserting its rights to reclaim the land. Despite efforts by the hotel management to negotiate an extension or resolution, the courts ruled in favor of Milagres Church, ordering the hotel to vacate the premises. The final deadline for the handover is now set for mid-April, marking the end of an era for the establishment that has been a fixture in Mangaluru’s hospitality scene.
Local residents and frequent visitors have expressed mixed emotions about the closure. “Moti Mahal has been more than just a hotel—it’s a piece of Mangaluru’s history,” said a longtime patron. “It’s sad to see it go over a land issue.” The hotel, known for its vegetarian and non-vegetarian restaurants, swimming pool, and banquet facilities, has hosted countless events and served as a convenient stop for business travelers and tourists due to its proximity to the railway station and key landmarks.
Moti mahal hotel in Mangaluru is closing down mid April as they lost a land dispute to Milagres church
— Shrinidhi Hande (@enidhi) March 31, 2025
The decision has also raised questions about the future of the site. Milagres Church authorities have not yet disclosed their plans for the property, though some speculate it could be repurposed to support the church’s charitable initiatives, such as St Antony Charity Institutes, which aids orphans and the destitute.
For now, the staff and management of Moti Mahal are preparing to wind down operations, with bookings reportedly being halted beyond mid-April. The closure underscores the challenges faced by historic businesses in navigating property disputes, leaving Mangaluru to bid farewell to one of its most cherished establishments.
As the city braces for this change, the loss of Moti Mahal serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between tradition and legal realities in a rapidly evolving urban landscape.