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 RegencyTaj 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