After an impressive refurbishment, the Taj Connemara has reclaimed its spot as the iconic Chennai property.
In my suite at the Taj Connemara I was greeted by a welcome note, the envelope secured with a red lac seal that simply said ‘Taj Connemara: Since 1891’, setting a distinctly classy tone to proceedings. Of course, the hotel is much older, opening as the Imperial in 1854. Some say it is South India’s oldest. The building is even more venerable, having earlier served as a guesthouse for visitors to one of the palaces of the Nawab of Arcot. In 1891, the hotel was renamed in honour of the Baron of Connemara. Lady Connemara also stayed here for a year and a saucy tale hangs by it, but you must visit yourself and let the staff spill the beans. Laterrun by mega-retailers Spencer and Co, it was the venue for classy dinner parties and elegant balls. It was also one of the first places to introduce centralized air-conditioning, which must have been a blessing in sultry Madras. I soon had history oozing out of my ears.
It was after a two-year refurbishment that the Taj Connemara had a much-anticipated relaunch late last year. It lit up Chennai’s otherwise quiet party calendar. Luminaries like Anand Amritraj and The Hindu’s N. Ram turned up, not to mention the unassuming chairman of Tata Sons, N. Chandrasekaran. We could all have been in an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel—if only the idlis hadn’t been so good. Most of the partygoers retired at 11 sharp, reminding us that this was still Chennai.
この記事は Outlook Traveller の March 2019 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Outlook Traveller の March 2019 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Chutneys For Every Season
GROWING UP IN JHARKHAND, I've always been enchanted by the state's culinary landscape. Here, the local cuisine never fails to surprise with its depth and variety.
BADGE OF HONOUR
IN THE DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE of tourism, where greenwashing often taints sustainability, certifications can help distinguish between genuine efforts and marketing gimmicks. Green certification systems encourage businesses to enhance their environmental credentials.
WHEELS OF TIME
IN 1947, TRAINS CARRYING REFUGEES ACROSS THE BORDER WERE SYMBOLIC OF THE TUMULT OF THE PARTITION.
RAILS OF THE Raj
FROM ITS CONCEPTION TO ITS ROLE IN THE NATION'S HISTORY, THE BRITISH INDIAN RAILWAYS IS A PHENOMENON MARKED AS MUCH BY MARVEL AS AVARICE
THE RHYTHM OF BOLLYWOOD
FROM THE RAILROAD THRILLER MISS FRONTIER MAIL 1936) TO SHAH RUKH KHAN DANCING ON A TRAIN IN DIL SE' 1998), TRAINS HAVE GIVEN UNFORGETTABLE SONG SEQUENCES TO MANY HINDI FILMS
MEMORY'S OASIS
REMEMBRANCES OF GROWING UP IN SEALDAH RAILWAY OFFICERS COLONY IN KOLKATA
A FAREWELL × TO FLAVOURS
FROM CUTLETS AND RAILWAY MUTTON CURRY IN DINING CARS TO THE UNREMARKABLE FARE AVAILABLE TODAY, THE JOURNEY OF FOOD ON THE INDIAN RAILWAY IS FASCINATING
HERITAGE ON THE TRACKS
THE ICONIC DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY, FONDLY CALLED THE TOY TRAIN,' HAS HELD ITS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE STATUS SINCE 1999
HIDDEN LIVES
SPANNING 65,000 KILOMETRES THROUGH DENSELY POPULATED INDIA, THE RAILWAYS ARE A BACKDROP TO COUNTLESS STORIES. 'THE UNRESERVED' BY FILMMAKER SAMARTH MAHAJAN CAPTURES A FEW
JOURNEYS WITHIN AND WITHOUT
FOR IMTIAZ ALI, TRAIN JOURNEYS ARE TRANSFORMATIVE, OFFERING GLIMPSES OF INDIA'S DIVERSE SOCIETY AND ITS MANY CULTURES AND RELIGIONS