Shahdara gets glitzy with 4 swanky hotels

Luxury just checked in to Shahdara. A tall multi-storey block of contemporary architecture in a largely low-income area, five-star Kempinski Ambience hotel is as much a surprise as a shock.

Luxury just checked in to Shahdara. A tall multi-storey block of contemporary architecture in a largely low-income area, five-star Kempinski Ambience hotel is as much a surprise as a shock.

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Plush suites, spas, heated pools, top-of-the-line restaurants - not usually associated with east Delhi, considered to be on the wrong side of "Jamuna" (Yamuna) - are all there for the taking. And there is more.

Park Plaza, Holiday Inn and Ginger, too, have built hotels in Shahdara's central business district, which has emerged as the Capital's newest hospitality district.

But, why Shahdara?

"This is the place to be. The 2010 Commonwealth Games changed the face of east Delhi and our hotel is going to be an icon that would be part of east Delhi's rise," said Kempinski hotel manager Vella Ramasawmy.

"East may not be hip but despite the perception, it has the spending power," said Akshay Kulkarni, regional director (hospitality) South and Southeast Asia, Cushman & Wakefield.

Also, a strong wedding banquet market would always be there, he said.

The 480-room Kempinski, which claims to have the country's largest banquet hall with a seating for 6,000, had a soft launch Thursday and would open for business next month. Also opening next month is 91-room Park Plaza.

"There no room for expansion in south Delhi and central Delhi is anyway 15 minutes away from the east. And, there is a Metro station nearby," said Siddharth Chaudhry, general manager, Park Plaza.

With malls and more hotels planned - Shahdara may well be the Capital's next must-go address.