India, April 11 -- The Lalitha Mahal Palace is back in the news. again. The Karnataka Cabinet has once more decided to invite private players to repair, restore and manage the Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel.

It sounds promising. It always does. The same decision was announced in 2024 and several times before and several years prior and nothing came of it.

Which raises the obvious question: When will the Lalitha Mahal actually be restored?

For years, Mysureans have harboured a quiet fear that by the time the Government finally acts, Lalitha Mahal will no longer be fit for restoration, only reconstruction.

But now, according to the latest tender notification, bidders must submit an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of Rs. 25 lakh, while the tende...