In a tranquil end of South Kolkata, lies the palatial red bungalow, Lal Bari which is over a hundred years old. It is an ode to ancient Kolkata with ornate chambers replete with artefacts and rare books. Barrister Ashok Roy had built Lal Bari in 1900, which was later bought by the former Chief Minister of West Bengal, Siddhartha Shankar Ray. His father Sudhir Kumar Ray had been living on rent in Lal Bari. Thus, the former CM had spent a major part of his childhood in the mansion. In the 1950s, he finally bought Lal Bari. A few years back, one of his family members turned Lal Bari into a heritage homestay to offer an experience entwined with the rich history of Bengal.
Lal Bari, The Heritage Bungalow In The Heart Of Kolkata
Renowned personalities like Motilal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi and Ravi Shankar had visited Lal Bari in the past. Mahatma Gandhi had delivered a speech from a verandah of the mansion. It has a spectacular drawing room with antique furnishings, stunning paintings, statues and an infinite number of books.
The living room comprises a king-size bed, a wardrobe, a writing desk and a dressing mirror, all made of Burma teak. The vintage atmosphere inside the mansion will let you experience profound nostalgia. Outside Lal Bari, there is an exquisite, lush green lawn.
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Relish Traditional Bengali Thalis
A stay at Lal Bari will not only allow you to soak in the city’s culture but you can also relish highly flavourful traditional Bengali meals. Lal Bari offers Chicken Thali, Mutton Thali, Fish Thali, Prawn Thali and Vegetable Thali. The meals essentially comprise two seasonal vegetable curries, moong dal, potato fries, rice, luchi ( Bengali style puri), poddadum, chutney and sweet dish, along with any one option from chicken curry, mutton kasha, Bengali fish curry, prawn coconut curry and paneer curry. The wholesome and comforting thalis are priced between ₹400 and ₹800.
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Lal Bari also provides laundry and ironing facilities to its guests. Rates of staying here start at around ₹3,800/night. To book your stay, click here.
Address | 2, Beltala Rd, Bakul Bagan, Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal 700026