ibis Kolkata Rajarhat : A vibrant hotel that reflects the spirit of its city

Not many times do you get a chance to explore your native city like a tourist. But when you do, grab it because it is always refreshing to look at things with a new perspective. While I belong to Kolkata, I haven’t spent much time in the ‘city of joy’ as my father was in the army and we have traveled and lived all across the country. And hence the wish to thoroughly familiarise myself with the city has always been quite prominent in my mind. Luckily, this time our trip to Kolkata didn’t just include a visit home but also a staycation at Accor Hotel’s vibrant property, ibis Kolkata Rajarhat and we did get to know Kolkata a little better.

Many say that Kolkata is not a city but an emotion. I truly believe that the quirkiness and contradictions found on the streets of Kolkata can either make you love it or hate it. There is no middle ground here. One of the few cities left in India, where people still stop on the roads to talk to strangers. There is genuine concern in their tone. But you will also find those who may take offense by a small mistake and leave behind sarcasm for you to digest. Some days may feel relaxed while some do feel like a rat race. But those who have stayed long enough can vouch that the city will make you fall in love with it.

Kolkata – a culture dose

A delight for culture lovers and a paradise for foodies, Kolkata must be in your itinerary if you are a traveler. Visiting Kolkata can feel like walking through history in places where British Raj left their ageless footprints. Places like Victoria Memorial Hall, Fort Willian, St Paul’s, Marble Palace and Indian museum stand as a testament to the bygone years. Their colonial architecture is bound to impress you. But if you have time, I implore you to just walk through the streets. If you truly want to understand the rhythm of the city, there is no better place. You will not find a dearth of subjects if you like street photography. Do explore the lanes around Esplanade and Bara Bazaar. You will see how the old and modern buildings coexist seamlessly in these areas.

While most of the heritage sights in Kolkata are in and around the old city area, there are a few interesting places like Science City and Eco Park that are close to the upcoming planned satellite city of Kolkata. Since Rajarhat is relatively close to the airport and the tourist circuit of Kolkata, ibis Kolkata Rajarhat proved to be the perfect base for us.

Inside ibis Kolkata Rajarhat

The first thing that you notice when you enter ibis Kolkata Rajarhat is the colorful decor and warm smiles. I was taken in by the stylish and contemporary decor that represented the soul of Kolkata. It was as if every picture and art piece was saying something about the city. To make things simpler, there is a board that suggests an itinerary and things to do in Kolkata for a couple of days. I found the pictorial representation of the city quite interesting and entertaining. ibis Kolkata Rajarhat also caters to business travelers being close to business parks and IT hubs. It has 189 contemporary rooms that can accommodate business and leisure travelers. There are multiple indoor and outdoor meeting spaces. But what caught my attention were the Instagram-worthy spots throughout the hotel that displayed the daily life in Kolkata. The modern art depicting a turning tram, the yellow taxi and the hand rikshaw are a few that really stood out.

The Rooms at ibis Kolkata Rajarhat

After a quick check-in, we were ushered to our room and we stepped into a cozy room. The room embraced the same style of interiors as in the lobby however had a subtle sense of comfort and homecoming to it. The walls were artistically done and the highlight wall featured the reflection of Howrah bridge in the river. Our room overlooked the Biswa Bangla Sarani road and we enjoyed a spectacular sunset over the distant horizon right from our room. We were welcomed with small handwritten notes from the housekeeping team which definitely added to the delight. On the table was waiting, a tray of traditional Bengali sweets including my favorite ‘mishti doi’ (sweet curd). It reminded me of the kind of greeting that you get when you visit your relatives.

The Dining experience at ibis Kolkata Rajarhat

ibis Kolkata Rajarhat takes its food quite seriously and you wouldn’t get bored easily. The breakfast menu has a wide spread of Indian and continental dishes. You will also find local delicacies like luchi, aloo subji and chowmein. In fact, I was able to spot the usual breakfast dishes of many regions. It is quite difficult to taste everything without getting full.

The lunch and dinner menu is also quite exhaustive with a plethora of local dishes. The in-house restaurant, Spice It serves some of my favorites from the authentic Bengali cuisine like Kolkata biriyanis, doi murghi (chicken in spicy yoghurt sauce), kosha mangsho ( mutton curry), chingri malai curry (prawn curry). I was also very happy with the various local fish gravies that were served during the lunch and dinner buffet. As we know food is one of the most important slices of Kolkata travel. My verdict is that ibis Kolkata Rajarhat adds volumes to your culinary experience and will keep you wanting more.

We toured the city thoroughly over the couple of days that we stayed at ibis Kolkata Rajarhat and are very excited to have visited many hidden gems in Kolkata. A detailed post about our heritage trip will soon be up.

Read about our visit to Barrackpore, the oldest cantonment in India.

I was hosted by ibis Kolkata Rajarhat hotel however all views and opinions expressed are mine.