Hotels in India have a long and fascinating history dating back to ancient times when travelers were accommodated in temples, ashrams, and dharamshalas. However, the concept of modern hotels in India emerged during the British colonial era, when the British rulers built hotels primarily to cater to their own needs and those of other Europeans living in India.
The first modern hotel in India was The Great Eastern Hotel, which was established in #kolkata in 1841. This #hotel was later renamed The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata and is still operational today. Other notable hotels built during the British colonial era include The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai (opened in 1903), The Imperial in New Delhi (opened in 1931), and The Oberoi Grand in Kolkata (opened in 1895).
After India gained independence in 1947, the hotel industry in India began to grow rapidly. Many new hotels were built, and existing hotels were renovated and expanded. The government also established the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) in 1966 to promote tourism in the country and build more hotels. The ITDC built several iconic hotels across India, including The Ashok in New Delhi (opened in 1956) and The Samrat in New Delhi (opened in 1982).
During the 1980s and 1990s, the Indian hotel industry underwent a significant transformation. Many international hotel chains, such as the Marriott, the Hilton, and the Sheraton, entered the Indian market, and several Indian hotel chains, such as The Oberoi and The Taj Group, expanded both domestically and internationally. The growth of the IT industry in India also led to the emergence of budget hotels, such as the Ginger Hotels chain.
Today, the hotel industry in India is thriving, with a diverse range of hotels catering to all types of travelers, from budget hotels to luxury resorts. Many international hotel chains continue to expand in India, and several Indian hotel chains are also expanding globally.