8 Indian Hotels Harnessing Art For A Greater Cause

These hotels in India have ingeniously leveraged art for more profound purposes beyond mere decorative embellishments, thereby unlocking its immense potential to enrich the overall guest experience.

Lost Royal Grandeur: The Leela Palace, Kukas, Jaipur

The hotel pays homage to the lost grandeur of the Sheesh Mahal, a palace of a thousand mirrors built by a king for his star-gazing queen. The Mohan Mahal restaurant in Leela Place Jaipur reincarnates this history each night, with 350,000 pieces of cut glass reflecting the soft glow of dozens of candles and the soothing sounds of Sufi music. Crafted by the descendants of the original creators of the Sheesh Mahal, the Mohan Mahal is open only for pre-booked diners, offering a unique and exclusive dining experience.

Address: Jaipur-Delhi Highway, NH 11, Kukas

Check their website for more info.

A De Facto Art Gallery: The Taj Mahal Place, Colaba, Mumbai

The hotel's portfolio goes beyond aesthetics, boasting an extensive collection of over 4,000 artworks, including over a hundred museum-quality masterpieces from Indian artists from the Post-Independence era, such as M.F. Husain, S.H. Raza, and Jamini Roy. For over a century, this property has been a haven for art lovers, with an art gallery spread across three rooms on the first floor and the rest of the artwork adorning the property's rooms and corridors with elegance.

Address: Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai

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Art For Wellness: Ananda in the Himalayas, Narendra Nagar, Uttarakhand

At Ananda in the Himalayas, a wellness retreat, the art installations in the resort are used to release serotonin, suppress mental anguish, lower stress and add to the holistic vibe of the property. Whether as yantras as emblems, mandalas on walls or sculpture that depicts the motion of sound waves, when we say namaskar at Ananda, art helps to restrain the wandering mind and connect to a higher power.

Address: The Palace Estate, Narendra Nagar, Uttarakhand 

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Preserving A Forgotten Art Form: Pullman, Aerocity, New Delhi

The Artist Junction at Pullman has collaborated with The Art Registry to showcase the traditional art of Basohli from Jammu, created by rural women as a part of the hotel's interior. Basohli art is considered the first school of Pahari paintings, and the hotel's inclusion of this art encourages artists to keep this lost art alive.

Address: Asset No 02, Gmr Hospitality District, IGI Rd, Aerocity, New Delhi

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A Reflection Of The Destination: The Hyatt Regency, Mansarovar, Jaipur

With jaali, jharoke and chhatri in architecture, the ebbing art of araish, thikri, gold-leaf, and Shekhwati frescos, the freshly built Hyatt Regency had gone rummaging into the treasure trove of royal arts and crafts and all the forgotten architectural practices to bring it into their hotel. Deriving inspiration from Amer, Nahargarh, Kesar Kyaari, and the Sheesh Mahal, this hotel is the microcosmic form of all the traditional art and architecture that represents Jaipur.

Address: Iskcon Rd, Mansarovar, Jaipur

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For A Cause: The Oberoi Vanya Vilas, Ranthambore

At the Oberoi Vanya Vilas Ranthambhore's world-famous artist: Mr M.D. Parashar demonstrates soot art and displays his soot paintings of Ranthambhore's tigers in their art walk. This art form is particular to Parashar and the region, and the live demonstration and display bring awareness to wildlife.

Address: Ranthambhore Rd, Sawai Madhopur

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A Consistent Theme: The Rohet House, Jodhpur

This luxury boutique property in the heart of Jodhpur city uses the vibrant Pichwais art liberally on its otherwise pastel muted down interiors to create a consistent theme in the property. Primarily a temple art originated from the town of Nathdwara uses Krishna, Radha, cows, trees and lotus as characteristic motifs. The theme of Pichwai further exudes on its drapes, upholstery, and tile work to create a multisensory artsy experience during a stay in this property.   

Address: PWD Rd, opposite Dilip Garden, P.W.D Colony, Jodhpur

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 An Icon For An Artist: ITC Maurya, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

In 1979, Krishen Khanna used the curved surface area of the lobby dome to create a spectacular mural titled The Great Procession. Since then The hotel’s lobby has been an art museum of a sort and this mural is Khanna’s most significant work. It took four years to complete and is a fusion of Mauryan past and the present, still fresh and rich in cultural texture. The artist used a range of colours: from brown, muted reds, pinks, yellow and whites to an occasional display of dramatic black. The hotel is adorned with other paintings of Krishen Khanna, like “Lady with a Hawk” and “The Girl on a Swing”.

Address: Sardar Patel Road, Diplomatic Enclave, New Delhi

Check their website for more info.