Late Mr. Akula Chalapathi was the pioneer who laid the foundation of the Akula family’s hospitality legacy. Renowned for his expertise in authentic South Indian cuisine and traditional halwai sweets, he built the business on values of quality, consistency, and guest-first service, which continue to inspire the group today.
Explore the dynamic story of Akulas Group’s ascent – a narrative unfolding from its modest origins in wartime factories to its present-day position as a pioneering force in the global hospitality landscape.
Our journey began in 1954, when our grandfather established a humble yet iconic hotel in Tirumala, right in front of the sacred Tirumala Temple, under the name LNB – Lakshmi Narayana Bhavan. Rooted in devotion, tradition, and authenticity, LNB quickly became a trusted destination for pilgrims and locals alike.
Specializing in pure South Indian vegetarian cuisine, LNB earned its reputation for wholesome tiffins, traditional meals, and freshly prepared sweets, crafted with time-honored recipes and uncompromising quality. Every dish reflected simplicity, purity, and taste—values deeply aligned with the spiritual essence of Tirumala.
This legacy of over seven decades laid the foundation for our unwavering commitment to quality food, ethical practices, and heartfelt service. What started as a small family-run establishment has evolved into a tradition of excellence, passed down through generations and carried forward with the same passion and integrity today.
Building on the trust and goodwill earned through Lakshmi Narayana Bhavan, our family expanded into the hospitality segment between 1974 and 1984 with the establishment of Mallikarjuna Nilayam, a landmark accommodation facility located right in front of the Tirumala Temple.
With approximately 135 well-maintained rooms (keys), Mallikarjuna Nilayam was thoughtfully designed to serve the needs of pilgrims visiting Tirumala, offering clean, comfortable, and affordable stays in close proximity to the sacred shrine. The property quickly became a preferred choice for devotees due to its strategic location, disciplined operations, and service rooted in tradition and care.
This phase marked our transition from food service excellence into large-scale hospitality management, strengthening our operational expertise in room operations, guest services, maintenance, and high-volume pilgrim management—experience that continues to guide our hospitality standards today.
Between 1985 and 1995, our business entered its second generation, marking a significant phase of growth and transformation. Under the visionary leadership of Akula Mallikarjuna, Founder of Akulas Arena, the legacy of Lakshmi Narayana Bhavan (LNB) was successfully expanded from Tirumala to Tirupati, catering to a rapidly growing pilgrim and urban population.
This phase represented a strategic shift from a single-location legacy establishment to a scalable hospitality and food services model. By upholding the same core values of quality, discipline, and devotion-driven service, the second generation strengthened brand recall, operational systems, and customer trust across locations.
The expansion during this decade laid the foundation for organized hospitality management, blending traditional South Indian culinary excellence with evolving guest expectations—setting the stage for the modern, institution-driven operations that Akulas Arena is known for today.
From 1996 to 2002, our strategic focus shifted toward diversification into multiple business streams, with comparatively reduced emphasis on expanding the hospitality portfolio. Despite this transition, the strength of our core values and operational excellence ensured that the LNB brand continued to grow in reputation and trust.
During this period, our presence became especially prominent in large-scale catering services across Tirumala and Tirupati, serving pilgrims, institutions, and community gatherings with consistent quality, hygiene, and reliability. This phase strengthened our capabilities in high-volume catering operations, logistics management, and service scalability, further reinforcing brand credibility in the region.
The experience gained during these years became instrumental in shaping a resilient, service-driven organization—well prepared for structured growth, professionalization, and incorporation in the years that followed.
From 2003 to 2023, the brand was restructured and renamed as Akulas Arena Food Services, marking the beginning of a new era of organized, large-scale expansion. This period represents the most significant growth phase in our journey, driven by a strong corporate leadership team, professional systems, and deep industry relationships.
Akulas Arena successfully established a robust footprint across multiple cities and states, emerging as a trusted name in institutional and corporate catering services. Our operations expanded into metro cities and premium educational institutions, where consistency, compliance, food safety, and service excellence are paramount.
By combining decades of traditional culinary expertise with modern operational frameworks, Akulas Arena built a reputation for reliability, scalability, and long-term partnerships. This phase firmly positioned the organization as a preferred food service partner for corporates, institutions, and campuses across India—laying the foundation for continued growth and future-ready innovation.
From 2023 onwards, the third generation has assumed leadership, steering the organization into a new phase of corporate reinvention and structured growth. Under the leadership of Akula Manoj, the business has undergone a comprehensive transformation—from a traditionally family-owned enterprise into a process-driven, professionally managed corporate organization.
This phase emphasizes the implementation of robust systems, standardized processes, defined policies, and governance frameworks, ensuring scalability, compliance, and long-term sustainability. With a clear strategic vision, the organization is expanding across four focused hospitality domains:
While embracing modern corporate practices, the organization continues to remain deeply rooted in its 70+ years of culinary heritage and service excellence. This balance of tradition and innovation positions Akulas Arena for accelerated growth, national expansion, and enduring partnerships across public and private sectors.
At Akulas Arena Food Services, we believe exceptional food is only complete with exceptional service. With over 22 years of industry expertise