The New Woodlands Hotel was founded by K. Krishna Rao, who was born to a Hindu priest in Kadandale near Mangalore on 21 October 1898.
In Chennai, he worked in various positions at a hotel as a cleaner, helper, server and finally, junior cook.
The owner of the restaurant was impressed by his hard work and dedication and made him the manager of one of his hotels on Acharappan Street in Georgetown.
[2] In 1938, the Raja of Ramnad estate sold one of his posh residences in Royapettah, Chennai, to a building contractor named Bangalore Munivenkatappa, who started the Woodlands Hotel (a.k.a.
After the lease expired, Krishna Rao was denied renewal by its owners, which prompted him to purchase land at Dr. Radhakrishna Road, Mylapore, to set up the "New Woodlands Hotel".