RAAJKUTIR SWABHUMI
For inspired luxury
Unlike others in the list, this isn’t a real rajbari. Raajkutir is part of Swabhumi, an urban cultural centre. This Salt Lake City landmark spread over 13 acres of what once used to be a dumping ground, is in the throes of a massive rollout of food and retail courts over the new decade. The Kolkata-based Salient Design Studio ( salientdesignstudio. com) has fashioned a makeover for an entire campus that champions sustainability and conservation, while interpreting a vintage, eclectic, and British rule-inspired Bengali vibe. Think of it as a contemporary version of colonial Calcutta.
Instead of the crumbling feel of a real rajbari, you get a glitter-andshimmer zamindari feel at Raajkutir. Look closer and you’ll spot a thread of inspiration in the details—cast-iron balconies, kota stone, locally handwoven shitalpatia ( murta plant mats, classified by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage), and decor elements crafted by artisans from Shantiniketan. The colonial theme spills into the flagship restaurant, East India Room, where Beckty Meunière ( bhetki fish grilled with parsley and butter) and Chicken a la Kiev lead the AngloIndian menu with Portuguese, Dutch, and Mughal influences.