India’s Oldest Surviving Hotel: Great Eastern in Calcutta, 1880 Photo
An 1880 photograph of the historic Great Eastern Hotel, one of Calcutta’s (Kolkata) most iconic colonial-era landmarks. Opened in 1840, the Great Eastern Hotel was among the finest establishments of British India. It continues to operate today as the “Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata.” Technically, it is the second-oldest hotel in India, following Spence’s Hotel, which opened in 1830 but is believed to have closed down between 1880 and 1900.
In this rare photo, the Great Eastern stands prominently along the bustling Old Court House Street, an elite commercial hub during the British era. Today, the street is known as Hemanta Basu Sarani, and in later years, tram tracks were laid here, adding to its colonial charm. At the far end of the road, the street meets a “T” junction where St. Andrew’s Church is located. The faint outline of its tower can be seen in the distance. Click photo to enlarge.
Did you know – the Taj Mahal Hotel in Bombay would open 63 years later in 1903.
From the collection – Raja Ravi Varma’s Portrait Photo – Old Postcard 1904.
