Raajkutir- Boutique Hotel will give a glimpse of the Pre-Independence times of the Bengal Renaissance
Table of Contents
Raajkutir happens to be one of those places, which will transport you to a bygone era of what erstwhile Bengal looked liked. The Zamindar themed style hotel has a rooted vibe of Bengal and yet signifies an unparalleled class and elegance in its decor. With an iron-clad balcony, a huge courtyard that showcases elegant fountains, colonnaded verandahs, and those huge arches make the place looks regal.
Little About Raajkutir
To my surprise, as soon as I stepped into the premises of Raajkutir, I remembered vividly that this place used to be nothing but a dump yard a few years back and now has been taken over by the prestigious Ambuja Realty group to convert into a boutique hotel which has a world-class standard of luxurious hospitality.
I have always been fascinated with Heritage Properties in Bengal which has been converted into Luxury hotels/ resorts while keeping sustainability in mind. And Raajkutir is one of those places, where despite of not being a heritage property, one will not feel the same. In fact, I was taken aback as soon as I was given a royal welcome upon check-in.
Very interestingly, a visualized adaptive theme that revolves around the character of Raja Kaliprashanna Singha of Erstwhile Hogladanga ( which is now named as Swabhumi) and its descendants. Each rooms, courtyard and restaurants have a visual thematic presentation of how the royalty in Bengal looked like . What we now look at as an urban chic hotel, was actually built from the scratch keeping sustainability as a top priority.
What Raajkutir has to offer us?
Upon check-in, I was greeted with a courteous welcome with some very refreshing drinks and a welcome Arati. As I was further escorted through the courtyard which is definitely my favorite place to be, I checked into my room which is named “Boro Bouthan”. I was given a proper sanitization protocol familiarization. They have ensured that the check-in is done with utmost care in terms of social distancing keeping safety in mind.
Raajkutir offers three categories of rooms in a total of 33 rooms:
Among these are Superior Rooms, Deluxe Rooms and Premium Rooms. One of the rooms is the suite room which is named as Raja Babur Room, which belongs to the zamindar’s son, Nrishinghoprotap Singh, and his wife Soudamini. It is done up with vintage style furniture, pink walls, large four poster bed and hath paankhas to add to the elan.
Each room is named after the family members which are fictionally created. As mine was Boro Bouthan. The rooms have a very earthy decor but are equipped with all modern facilities like E-Safe Locker, Mini-refrigerator , Large TV, Iron, and Iron Board and all housekeeping amenities. Each room is very spacious and has ample light coming in. The best part of what I loved about the rooms are the authentic Bengal snacks which are kept in Boyam “Porcelain Containers” . As soon as I stepped into my room , I munched on the tasty Moa, Naadu’s (coconut Jaggery mix homemade sweet).
The elegant courtyard in the centre, houses a huge fountain area beside their outdoor restaurant which is done up in pristine white theme. This place roars with the hymns of evening arati with sounds of conch shells and bells (ghonta). In the morning the entire ambience is ethereal because of soulful rendition which plays in the background.
It has a large swimming pool which is adjacent to the spa and a fully equipped gymnasium.
Raajkutir also houses some of the largest and the most elegant Banquets for hosting multiple occasions with large gathering capacity. It has f
Raajkutir houses three Swanky Restaurants
The East India Room | Royal Bengali Affair
The menu here inspires from the kitchens of Bengal Zamindar house with an influence of British cuisine. As Bengal went through several colonization like British, Dutch, Portuguese and even Mughal era. The Bengali cuisine has a wide range of food menu to choose from. Hence, in East India Room, the menu recipe has been tastefully crafted with a palatable mix of french, continental, and authentic Bengali cuisine.
What I loved was the fact that the chef and the butlers personally get in touch with the guest to know their food choice and prepare food as per the guest’s taste palate. This had a very personalized approach. As they like to give a feel of “home away from home”. They have kept the nostalgia of Bengal in yesteryears alive while keeping excellence as a top priority.
Open: 7:00am – 8.30pm
The Swig | Opulent Bar lounge
A fully loaded bar with an English colonial look having an opulent decor with chandeliers and elaborate wood and ironwork. The exquisite interiors give a very sophisticated ambiance. The choice of music played generally depends on the niche crowd, keeping mostly in classics and ambient genres.
Winter evenings are a delight to sit under the moonlit sky to savor winter barbeque while sipping on some of the choicest wine /liqueur from the wide range of liquor to choose from. The Lounge offers an extensive beverage menu inclusive of a collection of vintage single malts and cigars which makes it an absolute favorite among connoisseurs.
Open: 4pm onwards
Loafer’s Cafe | Bakery
One place where you will get the perfect Victorian Hi-Tea with hand-crafted scones, pastries, macaroons, quiche, club sandwiches, variety of tea, or sinful aromatic coffee. This cozy cafe will not disappoint you at any cost. As Loafer’s cafe is a one-stop place, if one is looking for a quick breakfast stop or a sweet treat post-dinner or maybe an evening pit stop for a quick hi-tea meeting.
Open: 11am – 9pm
Raajkutir houses not one but few of the biggest Banquet Halls in Kolkata.
Adding to the hotel area which has a huge courtyard, cafe, restaurants, 33 rooms, swimming pool gym etc, it also houses 5 big banquet halls. Raajkutir has the capacity to hold not just one but 4-5 big different events with a large gathering capacity on a single day. They have a ballroom which is a huge pillarless banquet.
So, if you plan to have that dream wedding with a royal ambiance to create timeless memories. Raajkutir is surely the place for you.
Quick facts on Raajkutir
- If you step into Raajkutir, it will make you forget that this is not any heritage or an old property but has been done from the scratch in such a way that guests will be onboard a time capsule to experience royal Bengal in yesteryears.
- Raajkutir is located in the heart of the city and very close to Central Kolkata and popular tourist attractions.
- Bookings can be done through https://raajkutir.com/ or booking.com
Want to save it for later then PIN IT!
Hence, I would say that if you are looking for a royal sojourn in the heart of Kolkata, then Raajkutir will definitely suit your choice. A perfect blend of history and luxury with a hint of nostalgia.
Did you read my other post on Historical Bengal? Then head to my Murshidabad Post.
Also, read more about the Most celebrated festival in Kolkata –Durga Puja
Disclaimer – I was invited for a staycation at Raajkutir. But as always all my opinions and views are based on my own experience.
I would be happy to stay connected with you all through Instagram |Facebook | Twitter
Comments
Liked the narrative. Interested in places like this and try to visit. Hope the prices will be my pocket friendly.
Author
Thank u I am glad u liked it ..I am sure u ll like the place