The Parsi Dharamshala in Secunderabad has provided shelter to weary travellers for over a century
The Chenai Parsi Dharamshala at Secunderabad is more than 100 years old, but its appearance belies its age. The cool, inviting white premises are not crumbling under the weight of its years, and have been clearly taken care of meticulously throughout the years. This heritage building, which is officially called the Bai Pirojbai Edulji Chenai Parsi Dharamshala, was established in 1889 and has provided shelter to many a weary Parsi traveller right from the era of the Nizams. This is why the complex received the Intach Hyderabad Heritage Award in 2025.
Now, the trustees of the establishment — Sohrab Chinoy, Darius Chenai and Jamshed Chinoy — make sure that the place remains a home away from home for members of their community. Besides providing food and accommodation to travellers at nominal rates, the Dharamshala also hosts marriages, Navjotes and other gatherings.
History
The Dharamshala was the residence of Khan Bahadur Seth Edulji Sohrabji Chenai and Bai Pirojbai Edulji Chenai. In 1889, the couple donated the property to be used as a resting place for travellers. In 1893, the Bai Pirojbai Chenai Hall was added, followed by the construction of the Jamshed S Chenai Hall in 1919. In 1929, the Edulji S Chenai Pavilion was added.
What changed
However, many features of the original complex have changed to minimise the damaging effects of wear and tear, the trustees inform. The chandeliers in the spacious dining hall were bought later, and the original building was equipped with modern fitments to cater to the needs of the new-age travellers. The building floors, which were earlier paved by Shahabad tiles, have given way to Kota stone tiles. The portraits of eminent Parsi personalities from the city, including those of the founders, have been redone with the help of digital technology, add the trustees.
What remains same
Despite the renovations, the high-ceilinged interiors of the Dharamshala give away its age. The sloping roofs of the dining hall covered by terracotta tiles and the fans fitted with ultralong rods take you back to a time when the complex would be lit with candles, not electric lights. The beautifully-carved American tin ceiling and the metal columns of the pavillion, which were imported from Switzerland, make you pause and admire their vintage beauty.
