Vogue India July 2016

HOTEL OF THE MONTH

The erstwhile walled city of Shahja-

hanabad or Old Delhi is a microcosm of

the way things are and were. Mughal

relics speckle the skyline, and the days

of the Raj are confounded into urban

legends even as serpentine lanes bustle

with 21st-century laissez-faire. Down

one of these nondescript streets lies the

Haveli Dharampura—once a merchant

townhouse, now a boutique hotel.

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combines the beauty of its 200-year-old

architectural history with the solace of

modern luxury.

MODERN MUGHALS

You can approach either on foot or, for

those with luggage, a cycle rickshaw

(four-wheelers don’t quite make it

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buff and red sandstone façade is easy to

spot. Past the grand brass-studded

wooden doors, the liveried concierge’s

discreet bow reminds you that it’s all

about old-world hospitality. The thresh-

old leads to the inner courtyard from

234 VOGUE INDIA JULY 2016 http://www.vogue.in

where the two-storeyed pa-

vilion-style haveli is in full

view, complete with arched

gateways and overhanging

jharokhas. And in spite of

the frenetic marketplace

outside, indoors a lavish,

laidback calm takes over.

Whether it’s stained-

glass accents or arabesque

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mains as historically accu-

rate as possible, making it a

haven for heritage lovers.

The building is besieged in

whispers—steep stone stairs lead to

nooks refurbished into reading rooms

and hookah lounges. With only 13

rooms, guests are few, lending a quiet

air to the place. The spacious rooms are

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rattan furniture.

HAUTE COURTIER

Lakhori, the in-house restaurant,

has concocted a street-food-inspired

living

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menu. From khus-

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galouti kebabs and

even a deconstruct-

ed aloo gobi, the

food captures the

culinary legacy of its

habitat, making this

heritage getaway a

gourmand’s delight.

Over the weekend, dinner is accom-

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dancers who grace the open balconies.

But the star attraction of Dharam-

pura is its rooftop restaurant and view-

ing deck that reveals sweeping views of

the capital studded with the Jama Mas-

jid on one side and the Red Fort on the

other. Haveli Dharampura restores a

memory of what once was. Q

Welcomheritagehotels.in

Housed in a centuries-old heritage mansion, the capital’s

newest boutique hotel is a throwback to the glory days of

the Mughals, says SHAHNAZ SIGANPORIA

HAVELI

DHARAMPURA

Chandni Chowk’s

fi rst restored

haveli-hotel

combines history

with modern luxury

The rooms come

with four-poster beds

The menu is

inspired by local

street delicacies

The rooftop

restaurant of ers

breathtaking views

Classical dance

recitals mark the

weekends

WorldMags.net