Taj Connemara, five-star hotel in Chennai, India
Taj Connemara is a heritage hotel in Chennai housed in a colonial-era building that was later redesigned in an art deco style. It sits on Binny Road near Anna Salai and offers rooms, two main restaurants, and outdoor grounds shaded by mature trees.
The hotel opened in 1854 as the Imperial Hotel, was later called the Albany, and took its current name in 1890 after Lord Connemara, the Governor of Madras. It was redesigned in an art deco style in the 1930s and was acquired by the Tata group in 1974.
The hotel is named after Lord Connemara, the British Governor of Madras in the late 19th century, and this connection is still felt in the decor. The carved wooden panels inside come from temples in the region and carry motifs more often seen in sacred spaces.
The hotel is within walking distance of shopping areas and central Chennai, making it a handy base for getting around the city. A daytime visit is a good way to take in the grounds and the architecture in natural light.
A grand piano from 1922 still stands in the lobby and originally came from the hotel's own ballroom. The property also holds the Nagavelli well, which is said to never run dry even during the driest months of the year.
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