If you want to stay far from the congested heart of Kolkata, you like large open spaces, and you want the pampering of a spa, this latest entry into Kolkata’s luxury hotel market exudes luxury and comfort. If, however, you want to have the sights at your doorstep and prefer not to deal with endless taxi rip-offs, Oberoi Grand and The Park offer similar luxuries at the same price. Priding itself as a “business resort hotel,” the ITC looks from the outside like the quintessential grotesque concrete structure rising from open marshland; once inside, you’ll find a soporific escape from the intense reality of Kolkata.
Courtyards and lily ponds separate accommodations blocks, each with its own lounge area and exclusive facilities. While some rooms in the Sheraton Tower overlook the pretty lily ponds, the rooms to ask for are the ITC One rooms that overlook the Sundarbans (littoral forests in the Ganges delta). Every room in the latter category (and above) also has a plush black leather massage lounger. Plus, the hotel’s huge pool and spa are welcome respites after a day trudging Kolkata’s streets. Schedule a meal at Dum Pukht or Peshawari to get a taste of Lucknowi or North West Frontier cuisine, respectively.