Heritage Residences in Proximity to Kolkata for Your Independence Day Long Holiday Booking
Kolkata, a city steeped in history and culture, offers a unique blend of the old and the new. For those seeking a taste of the city's rich past, several boutique heritage stays provide an immersive experience.
Mahishadal Rajbari, West Bengal
Built in 1926 by Janardhan Upadhya and designed by a French architect, Mahishadal Rajbari once served as the seat of a feudal dynasty. Now partially converted into a museum and homestay, it offers a glimpse into a world that once measured itself in rituals and symbols. The palace, with its oil portraits, cracked furniture, and family crest-bearing chair, has settled into a quieter life. Notably, Mahishadal Rajbari is famous for its annual Ratha Yatra celebrations that started in 1776 and its ancient Durga Puja festivities.
Rajbari Bawali, West Bengal
Just an hour's drive from Kolkata, the over-250-year-old Rajbari Bawali has been beautifully restored by Ajay Rawla. The grand palace, with its striking portico, verdant central courtyard, and two floors lined with corridors, arches, and pillars, offers tastefully decorated rooms, two ponds, a swimming pool, a billiards room, a library, a spa, and is furnished with antique Bengali furniture and Southeast Asian artefacts.
Chaudhuri Zamindar Bari, Amadpur
Located about a hundred kilometres from Kolkata, Chaudhuri Zamindar Bari offers a boutique homestay experience in a building that was once the home of a landed family. It features three double rooms and a larger room for four, offering a blend of period details and modern comforts.
Nihar On The Ganges, Kolkata
Originally the residence of Roy Bahadur Radhakanta Deb, a scholar and reformer, Nihar On The Ganges is now a boutique heritage stay, run by the travel collective 100 Miles. The renovation is sparse and attentive, allowing the building to speak for itself. Above the mansion is the Sunset Travel Cafe, offering a high view over the river's shifting silt and soft geometry.
Heritage Stays in Kolkata and Beyond
For a cultural and historical boutique stay in Kolkata, several options stand out. Raajkutir, Kolkata (IHCL SeleQtions) offers a calm, heritage ambiance in the heart of the city. The Oberoi Grand, known as the “Grand Dame of Chowringhee,” provides old-world charm with luxurious modern facilities. Ivy House, an 80-year-old property in the Ballygunge residential area, is themed around Bengal’s local flora for a uniquely cultural stay. Lalbari, a 100+ year-old heritage bungalow in Kolkata’s Bhawanipur area, offers an immersive cultural experience in a well-preserved historic setting.
Each of these heritage stays focuses on preserving historical architecture and local culture while providing comfort and boutique hospitality. They provide excellent opportunities to experience Kolkata’s layered history—from colonial times to local artistic traditions—in an immersive way.
The Denmark Tavern, originally opened in 1786 and restored by the National Museum of Denmark, INTACH, and the West Bengal Heritage Commission through the Srirampur Initiative, is a restored heritage hotel and cafe located in Serampore, West Bengal. It offers a glimpse into the bustling pub for European travellers during the Danish rule of Serampore from 1755 to 1845.
For those seeking a cultural and historical boutique stay in Kolkata, these options offer an authentic heritage ambiance, historical significance, and personalized experiences.
- At Mahishadal Rajbari in West Bengal, travelers can immerse themselves in a world of rituals and symbols, as the palace, once a seat of a feudal dynasty, now serves as a museum and homestay, with annual Ratha Yatra celebrations and ancient Durga Puja festivities.
- For those seeking a home-and-garden experience with a touch of cultural immersion, the restored Rajbari Bawali in West Bengal offers tastefully decorated rooms, antique Bengali furniture, Southeast Asian artifacts, and scenic landscapes that include two ponds, a swimming pool, a billiards room, a library, a spa, and a verdant central courtyard.
