Heritage Hotels in Maharashtra: Experience the Traditional Maratha Hospitality

The third largest state in India, Maharashtra is the meeting point of varying lifestyles, cultures, diverse topography and rich heritage. It is the state that witnessed the rise of powerful and valiant Maratha dynasty under the reign of Chattrapati Shivaji and various other rulers. Heritage hotels in Maharashtra offers comfortable accommodation options for the leisure and business travelers, coupled with traditional Maharashtrian hospitality.

Most of these hotels were the erstwhile summer palaces of Maharajas and abodes of British officers. However these royal titles were abolished by the Indian government after independence. Also, it was quite expensive to bear the maintenance cost of these palatial mansions which led to their conversion into luxury heritagehotels. These hotels are gracefully embellished with chandeliers, antiques, classic miniature paintings and exquisite period décor. In this blog, I will mention a few names of the heritage hotels in Maharashtra for your kind perusal.

The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower

Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

Just a stone’s throw away from Mumbai’s landmark monument ‘ Gateway of India’, The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower is the flagship property of the Taj Hotels, Palaces and Resorts. Opened in 1903, this five star heritage hotel in Maharashtra has played host to dignitaries, celebrities and nobilities from all around the world. The hotel has 558 guest rooms including 44 suites that are divided into an elegant assortment of categories and overlook the Arabian Sea. It would not be an overstatement to call this hotel a fine repertoire of arts and crafts. The hotel features an exquisite collection of paintings and artifacts such as Belgian Chandeliers, Bastar tribal art and Goan Christian artifacts.

The Gordon House, Mumbai

Hotel Gordon House, Mumbai

Built as a tribute to Arthur Gordon, The Gordon House is a chic and classy five star boutique hotel located in Colaba, Mumbai. Gordon’s passion for art & architecture is well reflected in the interiors of The Gordon House hotel. The hotel boasts of 28 tastefully designed rooms that are classified as Mediterranean Rooms, Country Rooms and Scandinavian Rooms and come equipped with a range of modern amenities.

Fredrick Hotel, Mahabaleshwar

Fredrick Hotel, Mahabaleshwar

Established in 1924, Fredrick hotel is a lavish mansion that has been converted into a heritage hotel. It has been patronized by various high end clienteles which include industrialists, diplomats and film stars. The guest rooms in this heritage hotel are designed in the Victorian style and features state of the art amenities and a private verandah. There is a dining area where Indian, Chinese, Continental and Mughlai food is served.

The Verandah in the Forest Matheran

Verandah in the Forest Matheran

Owned and managed by the Neemrana Group of Hotels, The Verandah in the Forest Matheran is the most popular heritage hotel in Maharashtra. Built by Captain Brar in the 19^th century, on the isolated Western Ghats, it is a dream place to visit. The hotel has a total of 11 guest rooms segregated into 5 categories- Chenoy, Elphinstone, Kotwal, Petit and Sassoon.

After reading this blog, I can say that the above list of 4 hotels has options for tourists with all kinds of budgets. 

The USP of Heritage Hotels in India

The erstwhile maharajas of India would have never thought that their summer palaces and forts will be used for the accommodation purpose in the 21st century. But the corporate hotel chains such as Taj, Oberoi and Welcome Heritage have turned this dream into reality by acquiring these heritage properties. The concept of ‘Heritage Hotels in India' has been started after the independence of India. Post 15th August, 1947, various princely states entered into a treaty with the Indian government to become a part of the country and subsequently their homes were transformed into the heritage hotels. In this blog post, I will talk about the key points that need to be taken care of and challenges faced during their conversion of a heritage property in a lavish hotel.

1. The first and the foremost thing that one needs to ensure that the property must retain its old-world charm,    without compromising on the modern technology. A balance needs to be maintained between the old and new.
2. Heritage hotels in India are more tourism centric than a regular five star hotel but it entirely depends upon the attractions located in the vicinity of the hotel.
3. The key qualification of a heritage hotel in India is that the property must be built before 1947. Only then you will find the grandeur of history and architecture.
4. Try to include 80% locals in the hotel staff as people from cities especially metropolitan are reluctant to settle in the far-flung areas. Depending on their level of understanding things, the training process of such people is designed and is quite time consuming as compared to the HM graduates.
5. In order to sell as a heritage hotel, it is quite imperative to create attractive locations and travel packages so that tourists can enjoy sightseeing tours, in addition to the modern comforts.
6. The conversion of a heritage property is a tedious task. The task begins with ensuring that the property meets the terms and conditions of conversion in the first place. The next thing is the restoration of these properties, without destructing the heritage appeal. Since these properties were never planned to be converted into hotels, the problems which are generally being faced includes thick walls, poor plumbing system and common bathrooms
7. Budget hotels in heritage destinations are the major competitors of Indian heritage hotels as they offer a more luxurious ambience at a particular price.

The above mentioned points says a lot about the criterion on which a heritage hotels are selected, basic marketing policy, their staff and competition. If all these terms are met, a good heritage hotel can be created.

Heritage Hotels in India: Experience the Grandeur of Erstwhile India

India has a glorious history wherein the mention of rajas-maharajas hold an important place. Even though many years have passed away, the charm of the erstwhile royals of India still fascinates tourists through the heritage hotels in India. A typical heritage hotel in India abounds with grand courtyards, intricate architectural designs, miniature paintings and antique furnishings.

If statistics are anything to go by, some of the best  heritage hotels in India are situated in the states of Rajasthan, Kerala, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Among the heritage hotels in Rajasthan, Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur holds a special place. Udaipur is a popular from the perspective of honeymoon destinations in India and Taj Lake Palace is one of the major reasons behind it. Adjudged as the best romantic hotel in India, the 17^th century Jag Niwas (Lake Palace) has been taken over by the Taj Hotels, Palaces and  Resorts. The hotel has a total of 83 guest rooms and suites, each of which is tastefully designed with silk rugs, ornately carved furniture and colorful frescoes.

The God’s Own Country ‘Kerala’ too has its own share of heritage hotels, most of which are located either on the beaches or in the backwater region. Built around 70 years ago, Keraleeyam Heritage  Home, located along the backwater frontage of Alleppey, bear a resemblance to a traditional Kerala home. Each room is decorated with handmade cots, chairs and tables. In terms of cuisines, Puttu is the specialty of this place. It is a steamed rice cake garnished with coconut gratings cooked in bamboo crust.

The city of Gwalior, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, has a long history dating back to the 8^th century, when it was ruled by Tomaras. Later, it came under the control of Mughal emperors and subsequently to the Scindia clan of Marathas. When it comes to Heritage hotels in Madhya Pradesh, the Usha Kiran Palace is around 120 years old and has played host to the King of England. It is set amidst 9 acres of beautifully landscaped lawns and is fitted with intricate stone carvings and subtle filigree work.

Most of the hotels in Gujarat, at some point of time in the history, were the private mansions and palaces of the former rulers of Gujarat. The Garden Palace hotel is a popular heritage hotel, built by Nawab Saheb Manover Khanji Babi in 1883 AD. This beautiful mansion is set in well manicured gardens, agricultural fields and orchards. If the royalty and panache of the erstwhile India enchant you in any manner, plan your stay at any of the above mentioned heritage hotels in India.