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The historic Fairlawn Hotel is all of 218 years old. Located in one of Kolkata's busiest commercial center - Suddar Street. This is an unconventional hotel in the sense that it is far removed from the modern, sophisticated and lifeless 5 star culture where artificial smiles and packaged life style rules the roost. Not so, the Fairlawn Hotel where meal times are still heralded softy with "Sahib, Memsahib, dinner is ready, please don't be late"
The edifice of the Fairlawn Hotel was originally built by Mr. William Ford and ever since then the property has been possessed in succession by a number Europeans and today Violet Smith who along her husband Ted, a Major of the British army has been the owner of this hotel since 1962. Although Ted is no longer alive and the hotel too has changed its profile from a proprietary concern to a private ltd. company with Violet Smith and her daughter Mrs. Jennifer Fowler as joint MD. Apart from the change of business structure, nothing much has changed.
The hotel exudes a rich historical ambience and if one goes through the guest records one will come across celebrities of the stature of late Ismail Merchant, Tom Stoppard, Patrick Swayze and his crew, Rock legend Sting, internationally renowned best-selling author Dominique Lapiere and his wife, landscape artist Julian Barrow to name just a few.
Over the years, Fairlawn hotel has become one of Kolkata's most preferred hotel, a virtual home away from home for discerning guests from the Western world. In spite of the fact that there is no dearth of luxurious 5 star hotels in Kolkata, yet Western tourists prefer Fairlawn for its authentic European ambience. It may not be the most luxurious hotel in town, but it is a hotel with a character - An outstanding European character.
The hotel is so stepped in history, that most of the hotel staff too have been recruited and employed from among the staff who had worked in Fairlawn hotel earlier.
Being a 200+ year old hotel, people might have reservations about the condition of the rooms. Rest assured, all the bedrooms have been recently renovated and a dedicated maintenance crew guarantees that the bedrooms and other miscellaneous amenities are working efficiently 24/7. Of course, there is bound to be some wear and tear. But hats off to the hotel management, the bedrooms are not only well furnished, they still radiate the old world charm of colonial India.
All the rooms are not only elegant but are also very Europeanized as far as interior designing is concerned. Rooms come in double and single occupancy with provisions for extra bed.
In Kolkata summers are long lasting and for eight months Kolkata experiences the scorching heat. Of course, at Fairlawn hotel all the rooms are fully air-conditioned which was not so earlier and the manner in which the A/c's have been installed speaks volumes about the craftsmanship. There are no signs of damage or any cracks appearing on the walls as a result of the installation of A/C machines.
Apart from air conditioner, each room has attached bathroom, with running hot and cold water, Telephone, Satellite TV that beams BBC, CNN, STAR and Coffee/Tea making accessories are available in the rooms.
Last Updated On: 2011/07/21
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