Sprucing up the Taj West End Hotel

Sprucing up the Taj West End Hotel

The Hindu

Priority will be given to the restoration of the colonial buildings on the premises while retaining their old-world charm



BANGALORE: The city's oldest surviving hotel will turn 100 this year. Of course, West End existed even before that as the English Gentlemen's Lodge, run by the Bronson couple. The Taj West End, as it is now known, has become a part of Bangalore's history and is an example of what the city was once — full of greenery.

It is among the more eco-friendly commercial enterprises in this region where you can still find a century-old tamarind tree overlooking the swimming pool and providing shade to diners on the patio.

The restoration of the colonial buildings with their wide verandas is a priority for P.K. Mohankumar, who recently took over as General Manager of the hotel. "The Grand Old Lady of Racecourse Road will retain her old-world charm while being a global hotel in every way," he says. One of its villas will for the next two years host the Indian cricket team's new coach, Greg Chapell.

Close to 60 per cent of the guests at West End are from overseas with those from the U.S., usually on business, topping the list. Visitors to the city from the U.K., Germany, Japan and other Asian countries are among frequent customers of the hotel. "Overseas visitors form their first impressions of a country based on their experiences at the hotel they stay at, and we realise we are representing the progress and status of our country. We are also looking at domestic tourists and the young crowd from the city itself and want to be known as a lively place, century-old buildings and all," explains Mr. Mohankumar.



P.K. Mohankumar, General Manager, Taj West End.

His plans go beyond the hotel's three properties in Bangalore. "We have not promoted the city or State the way Kerala has ... Bangalore can be the base for weeklong tour packages covering Mysore and the wildlife parks around it. The city's mild climate itself should be an attraction besides all that it offers by way of entertainment, even though the local touch still needs to be enhanced when it comes to leisure-time activities," he feels.

Of course, many may still prefer the unique ambience of the old tamarind tree at the Taj West End.