Great Eastern Hotel, Heritage hotel in Dalhousie Square, Kolkata, India
The Great Eastern Hotel is a substantial Victorian building with grand pillars, wide verandas, and intricate architectural details from the colonial era. The structure showcases typical English design elements spread across multiple floors, housing various guest areas and public spaces throughout.
The hotel opened in 1841 and served as primary accommodation for British traders and officials during the height of colonial rule. It became a social gathering point for the British community and represents a key period in Kolkata's urban development.
The hotel maintains traditional Bengali and Anglo-Indian cuisine through its restaurants, where dishes follow recipes passed down from the colonial period. The dining rooms still display the formal elegance of that era with their classic furnishings and traditional service style.
The hotel is located near major financial institutions and government offices, providing meeting spaces and conference facilities for business travelers. Its central position makes it easy to reach the surrounding historic areas and administrative centers on foot.
The hotel retains original features from 1841, including the manually operated elevator system and early Victorian-era furniture. This functioning historic lift is increasingly rare and demonstrates the engineering craftsmanship of that period.
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