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Accommodation in Kolkata

Accommodation in Kolkata

As is the case in the other gateway cities, accommodation in kolkata is comparatively expensive. Mid-range hotels tend to be over-priced and, if travelling on a budget you should listen in hard to the travellers’ grapevine. Cheap lodgings go up and down in quality. And do remember that the prices below do not include tax.

Luxury (US$100-250 per room night)
kolkata’s most opulent hotel is also a part of the city’s tradition. The Oberoi Grand, 15 Jawaharlal Nehru Rd (tel 292323, tlx 5919, 5937, fax 033-291217), simply glows in the ambience of British kolkata and must be the definitive Raj-style hotel of India. Packed with period furnishings and colonial character, it’s a virtual museum of pre-war splendour, keeping alive the tradition of empire. Facilities include three speciality restaurants, an elegant pool, a business centre, and the best disco in kolkata. In keeping with the Grand’s policy of old-style charm blended with modern convenience, rooms are both elegant and functional, priced from US$160 single, US$175 double.

The Taj Bengal (283939, tlx 21-4776, 5988 TAJC IN, fax 033-281766, 288805), 34B Belvedere Road, is located in Alipur, a green part of the city, near the zoo. Opened in late 1989, impressively city, elegant and modern in style, the Taj has developed a reputation for good food and service, comfortable rooms and some excellent facilities. Rooms are from US$160 single and US$175 double.

Mid-range (US$25-100 per room night)
kolkata’s two other properties with five-star pretensions and prices are the Park Hotel (tel 297336, 297941, tix 21-5867, fax 033-298027), 17 Park Street and the Airport Ashok. The Park Hotel is well located—almost all of central kolkata is within walking distance, but rather uninspiring. Rooms from US$75 single and US$85 double. The Airport Ashok (tel 569111, tlx 21-5296) is only 1 km from the airport and a convenient place to move out to if you are taking a 5 or 6 am departure, but is convenient as a base during a stay in kolkata. Rooms are from US$60 single and $65 double. In terms of facilities, neither hotel makes it into the Big League. kolkata has many mid-range hotels of varying quality. Hotel Hindustan International, 235/1 A.J.C. Bose Rd (tel 442394, tlx 21-7164) is a useful fall-back, and very pular with Westerners. Rooms are a little overpriced at Rs1600 single, Rs1850 uble, but food is good and so is the swimming-pool—pretty essential in sticky cutta. Better all-round value is Great Eastern Hotel, 1-3 Old Court House St (tel 331, tlx 21-7571), a well-located place with superior food, adjustable air-con-ditioning, spotless carpets and large, quiet rooms at Rs900 single, Rs1050 double. Just renovated, Hotel New Kenilworth, 1-2 Little Russell St (tel 223403, tlx 21-3395) has a nice open-air garden bar and select single/double rooms at Rs950 /1050. Ask for a room in the pleasant old wing.

The Fairlawns Hotel, 13A Sudder St (tel 244460, 241835) enjoys the reputation of the ‘weirdest hotel in India’. A real period piece, with Noel Coward furnishings and wildly ostentatious lounges, it has a year-round clientele of real oddballs. The hotel has delightful air-con single/double rooms at US$45 single, US$60 double (all meals included), a restaurant full of po-faced waiters in peacock turbans, cummerbunds and white gloves, and a Barbara Cartland-esque manageress. The twinkling fairylights over the entrance (put up one Christmas, never taken down) only go off when the gong sounds for dinner. Travellers are fascinated, and enjoy playing out their parts in a kind of ongoing soap opera.

Budget (under US$25/Rs750 per room night)
Far less strange is the nearby Astoria Hotel, 6/2 & 6/3 Sudder St (tel 241359), with spacious, elegantly furnished double rooms. Carlton Hotel, 2 Chowringhee Place, near the Grand Hotel (tel 288853), is another peaceful place clean and comfy. Rooms here are from Rs200 single. Lindsay Guest House, 88 Lindsay St (tel 248639) has popular air-con rooms at Rs350, cheaper non-air-con rooms are also available. Finally, the excellent East End Hotel, Kys Rd (off Free School St), offers huge double rooms with bath.

The cheaper hotels are concentrated in and around Sudder St—inevitable, because it’s so convenient for bus/rail stations, tourist office and GPO. The backpackers’ choice is the popular (and crowded) Paragon Hotel, 2 Stuart Lane, off Sudder St. This has good cheap meals, a nice sitting-out area and a handy sun-roof for drying clothes. Directly opposite, Modern Lodge has less space, but cleaner rooms and a better dormitory. The YMCA (tel 292192), 25 Jawaharlal Nehru Rd, has air-conditioned rooms at Rs400 single, Rs500 double. A sign reading ‘Pets and Private Servants Not Allowed’ sets the depressing, humourless tone. The YWCA (tel 297033), Galiway House is only for women residents and has rooms from Rs200. At Howrah station, the Rail Yatri Niwas is convenient for early starts and late arrivals at the station. Rooms are from Rs200 (non-air-con) and Rs350 (air-con).

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