Exploring the legacy of Colonial era
The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata takes enormous pride in occupying the position of being the oldest luxury, five-star hospitality set-up in India and Asia.
For heritage and art-buffs interested to have a glimpse of a palatial, luxury, heritage property that dates back to the Raj era, look no further beyond and head straight to The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata. Sprawling over 3 acres of land on Old Court House Street in Dalhousie Square, the five-star property is a bucket-list experience for heritage lovers in today’s era. Taking a Heritage Walk to explore the property will surely make you travel back in time.
It was way back in 1830 when a British baker named David Wilson had set up a bakery that formed a favourite hang-out for the officers of East India Company. Spurred on by the success of the bakery, David Wilson embarked upon a venture to come up with a luxury hotel. The hotel was set up in 1840 and was renamed Auckland Hotel after the then Governor-General of India. Better known as Wilson’s Hotel, it was in the form of ‘C’ shape that emerged as an iconic luxury hospitality landmark during the Raj era. This is incidentally the premier hospitality property in the country to get illuminated back in 1883. Also known as Great Eastern Hotel in contemporary times, the legendary property was acquired by The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group sometime in 2005. It was a tough challenge for the new owners to renovate the property and after seven long years of painstaking renovation, it was reopened as The Lalit Great Eastern sometime on
November 19, 2013.
The heritage property has three prominent blocks – the Victorian Block, the Edwardian Block and the Contemporary Block, of which the Victorian and Edwardian Towers are the heritage wings. To begin with, the Heritage Walk kicks off in the Main Lobby in the Contemporary Block that has the symbol of ‘Fish’ considered auspicious in West Bengal. There is a grand piano at one corner of the Main Lobby manufactured by M F Rachal & Sons, Hamburg (Germany). The piano was once the pride of Maxim’s Bar in the bygone Auckland Hotel. One can come across the age-old vats where the dough was kneaded in the bakery, and in today’s times, these vats serve as planters at the entrance of the hotel.
The Contemporary Block has dining options including Tea Lounge, Legacy Grill and Alfresco, the all-day dining outlet. Besides, the Great Ballroom and Rejuve-the Spa are in the new block. One can gape at the innumerable artefacts in the Victorian
Block that comprise Venetian mirror and blue potteries that were all made in Bengal. There are artsy interiors and shola works that are eco-friendly traditional artworks of Bengal.
The Edwardian Block is supported with huge iron beams and there is antique stuff comprising terracotta artworks, century-old charcoal irons, bread moulds, and a three-legged table on display. The legacy rooms are sprawling ones. Each Edwardian room is replete with a bay window. The 8-feet gigantic cup standing on the balcony that was received by A L Bilimoria, the former Chairman of the hotel by Queen Elizabeth II will make heads turn.
There is the old-world riveting iron staircase that brings you down to the Bakery nestled in the Edwardian Block. The USP of the Bakery is the presence of a century-old, grand old oven made from the house of Baker Perkins Limited of England. The oven is no longer functional but is well-preserved and adorns the Bakery. A portion of the wall of the Bakery remains untouched to pay tribute to the old Bakery. Adjacent to the Bakery is Wilson’s The Pub.
Those interested in the Heritage Walk will have to shell out `1,000 that comes with high tea and `1,500 with high tea and wine. For more information and bookings, call 033 44447777.