Heritage On A Platter

Guests love heritage hotels, and India has plenty of these to offer. However, what is the trick to keep them coming back for more?

- Vinita Bhatia

An air of mystery and charm surrounds the numerous palaces that dot India’s landscape. They give a glimpse into the life of royalty and an era where no luxury was too ostentatious or impossible.

It is no wonder then that travellers, international and national, can never get enough of them. Many of these palaces have now been converted into heritage hotels and are more than happy to showcase their historical charisma.

FEEDING MIXED DESIRES 

A varied mix of travellers visit these heritage hotels, from travellers wanting to deep dive into historical elements in an opulent setting, to millennials who want to soak up the local culture with Instagrammable visuals, yet with a cosmopolitan environment. Meeting this dichotomy in expectations can be quite challenging, as hotel operators managing these properties cannot touch the palace’s core architecture and design.

Explaining how she has managed to crack this code for Umaid Bhawan, which is managed by Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris, general manager, Mehrnavaz Avari said that they have retained the art deco style of the property but have also ensured that it is not overtly Indian in its styling as a palace, so that it meets the sensibilities of all guest profiles.

“We have not tried to put various Rajasthani elements and make it colourful; instead, it has a very serene environment. However, we offer a cache of experiences that guests can pick and choose from, because we understand that not everyone will partake in everything,” she elaborated.