Heritage Hotels: The reminders of the royal past!

The royal legacy of the past gets revived not only by the monuments and cultural sites; the heritage hotels in India also play a vital role bringing the legends back to life. The invasion by different rulers in India introduced new architectural forms in the country along with enriching its culture, tradition, language and history. After independence many of the royal residences have been transformed to heritage hotels of which Taj Mahal Palace & Towers, Mumbai; Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur; Hanwant Mahal, Jodhpur; Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur; Vivanta by Taj, Sawai Madhopur; Usha Kiran Palace, Gwalior; and Garden Palace, Balasinor are the most renowned ones. While some hotels represent the grandeur of Mughal architectural style in a beautiful manner, others are the fine embodiments of Rajputana forms of architecture. To meet the needs of the modern day tourists, these hotels have been refurbished with neo-baroque décor where an eclectic mix of antique forms with ultra-modern materials and finishes.

Taj Mahal Palace & Towers, Mumbai: It’s neither a palace, nor a pleasure house of the Maharajas; yet it is considered to be a landmark in the hospitality industry of the country. The Taj Mahal Palace & Towers was envisioned by Jamsetji Tata, a great visionary businessman and the founder of the Taj Group. The hotel was built 21 years before the Gateway of India. Situated near the Arabian Sea at the heart of Mumbai, the hotel played long-time host to celebrated guests like George Bernard Shaw, Barbara Cartland, Douglas Fairbanks, Sir Richard Attenborough, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Mick Jagger, Margaret Thatcher, Prince Charles, Jacqueline Onassis, William Jefferson Clinton, David Rockefeller, and Lord Wedgwood among others. The hotel has completed its Centenary in 1990s and on this occasion the entire hotel has been renovated.

Taj Mahal Palace

Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur: Maharana Fateh Singh, one of the greatest rulers of the erstwhile Mewar region built the Fateh Prakash Palace as an exclusive venue for the royal functions. The hotel is situated on the western shores of the picturesque Lake Pichola in Udaipur. The history-soaked interiors, dotted with miniature paintings, portraits, royal artifacts and the armory of the Mewar dynasty transport the guests to the heyday of yore. This hotel property is run and managed by the HRH Group, which has set its own benchmark in the hospitality industry of the country.

Fateh Prakash Palace

Hanwant Mahal, Jodhpur: Amidst the vast and serene desert milieu, Hanwant Mahal is a fine heritage property located in Jodhpur. It was earlier a royal house which has been converted to a European style club house later on. The hotel is named after Maharaja Hanwant Singh, the son of Maharaja Umaid Singh. The hotel is situated right under the Umaid Bhawan Palace, giving it most beautiful view of the majestic building. The hotel houses luxurious rooms, fine dining zones, recreational and gaming zones, and also offers host of other services that turn each stay to a royal extravaganza.

Hanwant Mahal

Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur:Amid 18 acres of manicured Mughal garden, the Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur is standing like a testimony of the regal past of Rajasthan. Taking inspiration from Indo Saracenic style of architecture, this beautiful palace building was built in the year 1745. The hotel blends well the modern day comforts with that of bygone era royalty to make the guests savor a stay amid pure luxury. Its proximity to main shopping center and historical monuments of Jaipur makes it one of the most sought after heritage hotels in Jaipur.

Jai Mahal Palace

Vivanta by Taj, Sawai Madhopur:The only heritage hotel in Ranthambore, Vivanta by Taj Sawai Madhopur offers an ambience that restores the thrill of jungle and at the same time the luxuriousness of a five star hotel. The original lodge was constructed around 80 years ago as a hunting lodge for the Maharajas of Jaipur. Not much have changed in the lodge over the years. The original art deco styled lodge still houses the original dining hall, bar and lounge. The roaring of the valorous Bengal tigers is most common as the lodge is just 5 kilometers from the famous Ranthambore National Park.

Vivanta by Taj

Usha Kiran Palace, Gwalior: With a history more than 120 years old, the Usha Kiran Palace, Gwalior has hosted many who’s who of the world including the King of England. The hotel is stationed amid 9 acres of lush green garden. Here the rich history of the past is outfitted with artistic stone carvings and delicate filigree work. This heritage hotel property is owned and managed by the celebrated Taj Group, which is a veteran leader of the hospitality industry in the country.

Usha Kiran Palace

Garden Palace, Balasinor: The private residence of the royal family of Balasinor, the Garden Palace is one of the finest heritage hotels in western India. Built in 1883 by HH Nawab Mohammad Munnawar Khanji Babi, the Nawab of Balasinor, the hotel hosts thousands of national and foreign guests every year. It is not the décor only that make this heritage hotel stand tall, it mounts high in its hospitality measures also.

Garden Palace

The Maharaja Express train schedule and itineraries, designed by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), offers the guests the aforementioned heritage hotels during its five exclusive journeys. Here’s where all the different journeys takes the guests to:

Heritage of India: Taj Mahal Palace & Towers, Mumbai; Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur; Hanwant Mahal, Jodhpur; Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur; Vivanta by Taj, Sawai Madhopur

Treasures of India: Vivanta by Taj, Sawai Madhopur; Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur

Gems of India: Vivanta by Taj, Sawai Madhopur; Jai Mahal Palace

Indian Panorama: Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur; Vivanta by Taj, Sawai Madhopur; Usha Kiran Palace, Gwalior

Indian Splendour: Vivanta by Taj, Sawai Madhopur; Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur; Hanwant Mahal, Jodhpur; Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur, Garden Palace, Balasinor.