hotel: ITC GRAND CHOLA, Chennai

Place: CHENNAI 

For over a millennium, the Chola royal power held sway over much of southern India. The grandeur of  their structures holds visitors spellbound even today. So it is not surprising that as ITC Hotels, one of India’s largest hospitality groups makes a push for greater prominence, they make a statement that reverberates with Chola grandeur and royal lineage in Chennai.  

Whether it will it usher in a new era of hoteliering in India, just as another hotel in another coastal city by a bay did more than a hundred years ago, remains to be seen. However this hotel has the scale and and the ambition to be a game changer.  It is however difficult to comprehend ITC’s newest and biggest hotel, the Grand Chola without going into getting into some numbers. 

The Sangam staircase is as impressive an entrance as any in India

Built at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore, this 600-room hotel, spread over 1.5 million square feet in an eight acre plot, one of the largest to date in India, promises to change Chennai as a destination by significantly adding MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) capacities to the city. It has 100,000 square feet of banqueting and convention space which includes 30,000 square feet of pillar-less ballroom, named after one of the greatest Chola rulers, Rajendra. It is another matter that this seemingly unending ballroom, in which one cannot see from end to end due to the slight curve of the building, can be divided into eight individual ballrooms and can accommodate 2,500 people.

Rajendra is the largest banquet hall in the city

This hotel is slated to alter the tourism and convention landscape in the region, ITC group chairman Yogesh Deveshwar had said at the launch of hotel complex in Guindy, which was inaugurated by the Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa. MICE accounts for about 10-15 per cent of the city’s total hotel demand. Growing that the segment will be a challenge, admitted Deveshwar. 

Nakul Anand, Executive Director and head of the group’s hospitality division said, “The Grand Chola is ITC’s tribute to Tamil Nadu and an iconic asset for Chennai, as an archetype of the culture and ethos of the region. The grandeur and unique attributes of the hotel will provide a fillip to the hospitality sector in Chennai in addition to transforming Chennai into India’s convention capital.” Chennai, more a gateway to south India than a genuine tourism destination itself in the past, in recent years has seen the growth of industrial hubs in its periphery, with significant presence of sectors such as IT, auto, shipping, leather, woodwork, FMCG, etc. 

That it might. The hotel, the ninth in ITC’s Luxury Collection and part of global chain Starwood, reportedly even left the Chief Minister spellbound. After rumoured delays in allocating time for the inauguration, J Jayalalitha spent about the double the allocated time as she toured the expansive property, even though the state government reportedly denied permission for a planned helipad last year. The hotel, which has opened partially, is expected to finally employ over a thousand personnel, while about four times the number have worked for a number of years to realize this dream in concrete and imagination. With four separate entrances, and three wings, with the first housing Executive Club rooms, while the second wing has ITC One rooms, Towers rooms and all the suites and the third wing is for long stay residences.

The Lotus Lounge, an undemarcated area where one cannot hear outside noises, is a modern
application of Chola technology

Design antecedents

Those coming in from the main or West entrance for a meeting or convention could straightaway take a choice of extensive escalators from the pre lobby area, but would impressive the grand staircase in the main lobby, called Sangam, and reminiscent of magnificent palaces of yore. It used Traventine Romano Classico marble, interspersed with symmetrically arranged pillars finished in elegant white stucco, reminiscent of the temples of South India.

Rich detailing and numerous nods to the region's
history make this hotel a delight to explore

The architects, Singapore-based Smallwood Reynolds Steward & Steward LLC, have used Chola architecture as the inspiration for the façade and motifs in the hotel. Once inside, take note of Thanjavur’s Brihadishvara Temple inspired pillars and wall textures. In contrast to the rich mélange of the exterior façade, the walls in the interior are serene, almost sparse, and in neutral tones, lending an added feeling of serenity across this vast hotel. Visual leitmotifs include carved elephants raising their trunks in veneration, the Wheel of Life or Chakra, the four petalled clover floral motif and the intricate fretwork on panels and columns—each chosen for its relevance to Chola themes. And impressively, they have been hand carved by artisans from Mahabalipuram! Among the materials used are stone, granite, marble and wood. Note the impressive backlit onyx marble at the bell desks, though in other parts of the hotel the marble has  been sourced from distant parts of the world, including Italy, Spain, Morocco, Turkey India, China and Pakistan. 

Understated may the language of the hotel interiors, but look out for the individual works of art. A spectacular bronze and copper horse in the lobby is a reminder of Chola valour.  Large urns in deep brown and black grace the entrance to the lobby. These water urns were traditionally used to store water during summer months, and today are meant to symbolise the concept of responsible luxury. Pillar designs are sourced from Gangaikondacholapuram Temple. Door handles are exquisite metal peacocks in pairs. Even the exhaust in The Madras Pavilion is in the shape of a lotus! Water design elements are comparatively scarce, though there are three pools over the western entrance atop the banquets. Innovative features include a 'lotus lounge' an undemarcated area within which you can hear echoes but not a foot outside of it, a modem application of Chola technology.

Food destination

Cafe Mercara's warm interiors

When finished, the hotel will have 10 food and beverage outlets, offering a variety of cuisines, which includes the outlets the group is hoping will later expand to other hotel properties, including a fine dining Italian restaurant Ottimo, whose cooking range alone costs a crore, along with Madras Pavilion, a three meal buffet outlet and Café Mercara Express, a 24-hour signature coffee house. 

A much anticipated restaurant is Royal Vega, which will offer signature vegetarian dishes from across the country. Regular ITC hallmarks such as Peshawri and Pan Asian will also feature. Also on offer is the ambitious single malt and cigar lounge, Cheroot and Tranquebar, a bar for understated luxury, not forgetting 'I' Place - The Fun Pub! The gourmet shop, Nutmeg, with its extensive collection, sold out on the very first day itself.

The hotel will have 23,000 square feet of ITC’s signature Kaya Kalp spa and 21,000 square feet of luxury retail space. It became the world’s largest LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum rated hotel.

The digital valet has multiple uses

The hotel abounds in many firsts. It uses cutting edge technology in many aspects, including one-of-its-kind iPad controlled technology that will have all the controls in the room, from lights to AC and even looking at who is at the door without getting up. Of the 600 accommodations, 78 will be serviced apartments, which are yet to open. Just in case it is all too large to comprehend at one go, there is an interactive concierge display system in the lobby that can map out the direction to follow, and transfer the information to your phone!

ITC, which had started its hospitality journey in 1975 from the same city, already has 8,000 rooms in the country, and plans to add another 5,000 odd in the next five years with an investment of about Rs. 25,000 crore in the next five years. The Grand Chola is probably the glittering crown of this extensive empire.

Open to the directions

A view of Madras Pavilion

Vallavan is the north entrance, a drop off point for the Grand Raja Raja Chola Suite

or the Grand Presidential Suite guests and for ITC One. Guests get personalised check-ins here.

Sembiyan, the drop off facing the east, is the dedicated entrance for the high end luxury retail area – the Grand Luxe Street.

Killi, the drop off facing the south, functions as the entrance to the Chola Residences – the high end serviced apartments at ITC Grand Chola.

The grandest entrance, to the west, also serves as the main gate. This entrance is called the Chola drop off and leads to the Grand Stairway in the palatial lobby – Sangam.

The total quantity of marble used in the hotel is 92,000 square metres

The total quantity of external granite cladding is 12,000 square metres

The total external painted area is 15,000 square metres

An inhouse theatre, Kalai Theatre will be on 2,625 square feet with a seating capacity of 45 persons 

Returning the garden to the city

The front facade of ITC Gardenia

Place: BENGALURU

It’s an effort to give the garden back to the Garden City. That’s the philosophy that ITC’s buzzworthy hotel in Bangalore, Gardenia, is run by. Small by the standards of some humungous hotels being built today, the 292-room Gardenia is on its way to make history as it is likely to become India’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum hotel. It has already sent in its final submission to the Washington DC-based green building rating agency.

“An ‘eco responsible’ ethos is an inherent part of our system and in creating the ITC Royal Gardenia, the challenge was to see how luxury and responsibility could be in harmony together,” says Nakul Anand, Chief Executive, ITC Hotels Division. And the two are married. Your room has no obvious reminder to be eco-friendly, the processes are built in. “Which is why it took four instead of the planned two years to make the hotel,” reveals a member of the staff.

ITC has already achieved LEED certification for some of its earlier structures, including the Green Centre in Gurgaon and its hotel in Kolkata, Sonar Bangla, “which is the first green hotel that has been registered for CDM benefits,” says YC Deveshwar, Chairman ITC.

The vertical gardens at the hotel may have been a
bit forced due the size of the plot, the idea of the
gardens going vertical are a great draw

As eco-tourism is on the rise, in what could possibly be the norm for the future, right from the conception, extreme care has been taken to ensure eco-friendliness at the hotel, informs Vidya Prakash, Project Manager. The four-acre land, at a prime location in Bangalore, earlier had ITC staff quarters, a lush green space. While 48 trees were relocated, two trees came in for special attention. An old pipal tree was moved and another and a larger tree that could not be moved was incorporated into the design. When I visited during the final stages of construction, the tree had a protective covering. The original topsoil of the land was set aside and reused! 50% of the site area has been restored.

Water management at the hotel is an important component. While the existing subsoil water was used during construction, rainwater harvesting has been integral to the project. Water used in the basins is filtered, purified and recycled several times. There is 100% reduction of potable water usage for landscaping by using treated waste water and efficient irrigation systems. So water surplus is the hotel that it can provide its neighbour across the road, the Bangalore Club, with surplus water. Gardenia uses solar energy generated by six parabolic discs for all outdoor lighting, steam generation and hot water system. All cars are to be parked in the basement, avoiding the heat island effect. All of the wood used in the hotel has been sourced from the forests certified by the Forest Standing Council (FSC), meaning the wood is from forests specially grown for this purpose.

The naturally ventilated lobby - it has no AC, but the tunnel like
structure of the hotel keeps it permanently cool  

The use of natural light is maximised, with 79% of the spaces having a minimum daylight factor of 2%. CFL bulbs are used for lighting throughout the hotel while 90% of the building occupants are provided with individual lighting controls and 50% of the building occupants provided with thermal system controllability. Yes, those small touch screens provided in your rooms are not to be ignored. I did the first day, only to later figure out how fascinating they were in kind of controls they provided.

The green experience starts right from the moment you enter—there is no door to the entrance lobby. It is cold, and you almost want to request someone to turn down the AC, only to realise that there is no AC here. The wind funnel created by the capital H shape of the building keeps it cool. The most striking feature—the lobby has four huge vertical gardens—green panels of syngoniums and philodendrons. To save space, they are now on walls, in more than one location in the hotel. Prepared by Singapore-based RP Jickky of Tropical Environment, these are on a wall 90mm thick and are drip irrigated every other day for 15-20 minutes.

Gardenia does not compromise on luxury on any count. The restaurants, the spa, the pavilions all give the same experience as any other luxury hotel. Only you can indulge here, feeling comfortable that despite the luxurious stay, your carbon footprint is mininal.

Green rooms

ITC Gardenia rooms have many green practices built in. Discover:
* Double insulated windows reduce noise and heat, leading to less use of ACs.
* Efficient plumbing fictures and water limiters reduce water use
* The locks are RFID (radio frequency indicator) enabled.
* The JVD Minibar does not use CFC to cool.
* A multifunctional tool, InnCom can be used as a telephone, connect MPs players, regulate all electrical controls.
* Toiletries are eco-friendly.
* The bathrobes are made of organic cotton.

Floral interpretation

Place: KOLKATA

At the lobby of ITC Sonar Bangla.

Alpanas with rice paste are a common tradition in West Bengal. Here a contemporary twist as it is done with flowers. The diyas just heighten the impact on  grey-black granite floor.

This shot is taken in the evening. 

Once and future palace

The Fernhills Palace is now part of the Welcomheritage
group of hotels

Place: OOTY

Ooty has been a favourite with holidayers for a long time. The English, to escape the stifling heat and humidity of the plains of south India, found it to be great retreat.

Among the best known destinations in this hill town is the Fernhills Palace. Captain F. Cotton of the Madras Engineers Regiment built the first Fernhill Bungalow as far back as 1844. Over the decades, owners kept changing, till the then maharaja of Mysore, Chamarajendra Wadiyar X, just 12 years old, bought the property in 1873.

Since then, this sprawling estate, built over 50 acres, has been with the erstwhile Mysore royal family. The family has given it out to many hospitality chains to run it, but been satisfied with any, as a result the property has been part of many a hotel group. It is currently part of Welcomheritage's list of hotels, though the Wodeyars remain its owners.

The Palace itself is full of relics of a past era. Past rulers of the dynasty cast their watchful eyes on you as you pass them in halls, rooms and corridors full of memorabilia from eras long gone by. There is a profusion of period pieces - tables, beds, desks, lamps, pianos, dressers, paintings all crowd around almost atop each other as space has run out. I had to actually run out to take breather - on to beautiful, moderately landscaped gardens that retain some of their natural charm. And they are beautiful - just a look at the pine trees, or silver oak or red gum, or cypress trees will reassure you on that point. If you stay at the Palace, or even just happen to visit, you would be well advised to spend more time exploring the sprawling estate.