Kolkata, one of the most eclectic cities to travel in, is now warming up to the idea of luxury hotels and stays. To the already existing Park Hotel, Taj Bengal, Hotel Hindustan International, ITC Sonar, Hyatt Regency and the heritage Great Eastern and Oberoi Grand, have been added in recent times a pool of luxury properties fit to be the pride of any great city. 

The city, known for its rich culture and heritage, is not only home to gleaming new extravagant hotels but also boasts of having heritage hotels of equal stature, hotels like the Great Eastern which has housed icons like the American writer Mark Twain, the monarch of United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II and Russian leaders, Nikita Khrushchev and Nikolai Bulganin.

The Lalit Great Eastern, then and now

Being the most important hub in eastern as well as in north-eastern India, several industrialists, entrepreneurs, people belonging to the film industry, expats and tourists are frequent visitors to the city, who look forward to a relaxed and memorable stay. Hyatt Regency and ITC Sonar Bangla are located in eastern Kolkata, Oberoi Grand and Park Hotel are in central Kolkata, and Taj Bengal sits pompously in the western part of the city.

The Hyatt Regency, spread over 6.5 acres, is popular for its landscape and being closest to the IT hub of the city, Sector V in Salt Lake, makes it well-suited for guests arriving in the city for work linked to the IT industry, whose number is not a small one considering that information technology is one of the most vibrant industrial sectors of West Bengal. ITC Sonar Bangla woos travelers with its international and lavish style of putting up visitors.

Hyatt Regency

Taj Bengal is ideally located for tourists, at a stone’s throw from the National Library, the Royal Calcutta Turf Club, Alipore Horticulture Garden, Victoria Memorial and other popular landmarks. The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata (earlier called Great Eastern Hotel) prides itself as the first luxury hotel in Asia. The longest continuously operating hotel (165 years) is a heritage milestone which has been restored to its grandeur through a painstaking seven-year process by The Lalit Group. The hotel portrays three different styles of architecture - Victorian, contemporary and Edwardian, making it an eye-catcher amongst the flurry of the city. The Oberoi Grand, sitting in the heart of the city, will attract you with its majestic pillared entry and neo-classical structural design. It is one of the few luxury hotels which provides facilities like tennis, golf and horse-riding; these and other points have helped it bag the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards four times - in 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014.

Among other offbeat lavish residences for travellers and also for people residing in the city is Ganga Kutir, which is the perfect getaway, being located on the outskirts.

Ganga Kutir

Inspired by the villages of Bengal, the 16-guest-room accommodation is an absolute treat,, with handcrafted window decors, a terracotta brick fort inside, a pool overlooking the river Hoogly and a soulful spa and rejuvenation centre.

The polished new upscale hotels like The Park Plaza, The Gateway Hotel EM Bypass, The Pride Hotel and Swissotel Hotel are the brand new additions to the list of extravagant stays with luxurious amenities, convenient llocations and all-inclusive business facilities, making them a complete experience. In addition to these, Kolkata will see the opening of a Westin property by the Starwood Group in October, 2015 at Rajarhat, which would neighbour another upcoming luxury hotel and a set of luxury serviced apartments, the JW Marriott; Marriott touts itself as a skyscraper.

These plush abodes not only display opulence and finesse, but also add to the already existing charisma of the city, following as they do the highest international standards of luxury hotels.

Swissotel Hotel

Written by Ankita Bose for Team M3.tv