The Imperial - a living musueum where history and art meet hospitality

In the heart of colonial Delhi stands the grand old duke of India’s hospitality, The Imperial. A palatial grand structure that is technically a hotel but can easily be classified as a museum. Anubhuti Krishna writes about the place that was conceptualized by renowned architect F. B. Blomfield in 1934 and inaugurated by Lord Willingdon in 1936. The Imperial, New Delhi is a living museum today, one where you can not only witness history but also be a part of it.

Ode to the grandeur of Colonial India

The Imperial was designed to be the finest monument in Lutyens’ grand vision of the new capital’s original master plan and Blomfield brought in his genius to create a unique blend of Victorian, Colonial and a playful dosage of informal Art Deco style — a fitting tribute to the new age India. It was placed on the second most important social boulevard of the nation, the prestigious Queensway, now called Janpath, the first being the grand and ceremonious Kingsway, now known as Rajpath and was the first amongst the legendary Four Maidens of the East which, as popularly believed, included The Strand in Rangoon, Raffles in Singapore and the Great Eastern & Oriental in Calcutta. Lady Willingdon, the wife of the then viceroy Lord Willingdon, was intimately involved in the design and interior decoration of this grand structure and also conferred upon the place its lion insignia and the name, The Imperial. Both of which continue to represent the hotel almost 90 years later.

Post opening in, The Imperial became the go-to place for the whose who of the colonial India. During final years of the independence movement, it was here that visionaries like Pandit Nehru, Mahatama Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Lord Mountbatten often met. Incidentally, of the hundreds of artefacts that still live in the hotel today, pictures from these conferences can be seen lining the same rooms where the events took place.

Living museum of art

Art is an intrinsic part of The Imperial. Since its inception the space has been a repository of priceless pieces that have been carefully preserved through the decades. Hundreds of original engravings and lithographs that go back to the 19th century line its walls and adorn the halls and corridors here. Starting from the Lahore Lounge, dedicated to the paintings of the Anglo Sikh wars and featuring the portraits of the two war heroes Sardar Hari Singh and Shyam Singh along with the medals won in these wars, The Imperial has three main art galleries that spread across its length and breadth.

The First Floor gallery, called Views In Lucknow, showcases the works of General David Scott Dodgson who was smitten by the imposing domes, intricate minarets and sprawling gardens of Lucknow. James Fergusson’s works titled Rock-cut Temples of India find a place in the Southern wing. The second floor exudes a sense of calm with tranquil drawings of The Himalayas, its foothills and the people portrayed by James Ballie Fraser and some others.

The Third Floor Hallway of Art is a visual treat of vivid, bright colors depicting the people and scenes of life in Northern India. Honorable Emily Eden enjoys a pride of place here. The Northern wing on this floor showcases works of James Atkinson, an amateur artist in the Bengal Medical Service who during his tenure continued to draw and paint scenes from India along with his wife, also smitten by the land. The Southern wing of third floor exhibits works of Hon. Charles Stewart Hardinge whose lithographs were titled Recollections of India and were divided into two parts: British India and the Punjab and Kashmir and The Alpine Punjab. The inspiration behind his enchanting paintings stems from his fervent wish to expose the magical diversity of the land and water of India.

While there is no place bereft of art in the sprawling campus where, it is The Royal Ballroom, that steals the show with its Bourne and Shepard, The Durbar of the Nawab of Maler Kotla. The 11’x 22’ oil on canvas and vividly depicts the generous luxury of the early 1900s. In perfect sync with the larger than life oil painting, the adjacent halls of the Royal Ballroom proudly house life size oil portraits of royalty of seven different princely states: H. H. Nawab of Maler Kotla, H. H. Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, H. H. Nawab of Rampore, H. H. Nawab of Mursheadabud, H. H. Maharaja of Gwalior, H. H. Maharaja of Jaipur and H. H. Nizam of Hyderabad.

The legacy lives on

While the entire hotel is open to you if you want to take an art tour or even stay for a quiet artsy weekend, it is 1911, the iconic all day diner is where you can head to if you want a slice of this history every now and then. Named after the historic year, 1911, when King George V had declared New Delhi as the Capital of India 1911 pays a tribute to this historic milestone that led to the emergence of New Delhi as a seat of India’s power. The space, complete with a brasserie, a lavish verandah, terrace and lawns still reflects the ethos of the post colonial India The space was earlier called The Garden Party but was re-named as 1911 in late 1990s.

Diners at 1911 are treated to a wide and eclectic world cuisine including the classics from the time of its opening. The space is dotted with antiques and photographs from the Delhi Durbar and offers a glimpse into the life of the 1900s. As Mr. Vijay Wanchoo, Sr. Executive Vice President and General Manager, puts it “1911 was the golden year in the history of our country, and 1911 at The Imperial showcases that beautifully. The Art Deco interiors are exquisitely matched with British Raj trivia and the Battalion views, combined with impeccable dining experience and offering cuisines from world over.”

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