India’s Oldest Hotel, Great Eastern, Calcutta, 1880 Photo
An old 1880 photo of India’s oldest hotel the Great Eastern in Calcutta (Kolkata). The Great Eastern opened its doors during the colonial era of 1840 and is still operating in Calcutta. Technically it is the second oldest hotel in India, the oldest was the Spence’s Hotel. The Spence’s Hotel opened in 1830 and is believed to have closed down between 1880 to 1900.
However, the Great Eastern continues to operate even today and is now known as the “Lalit Great Eastern”. The broad road seen in front is “Old Court House Street“. It was an upmarket commercial street in the British era. Now known as the “Hemanta Basu Sarani”. At a later period tram tracks would be laid here. The Old Court House Road ends in a ‘T” junction where St Andrew’s Church stands. The church’s tower is visible rather obscurely in the extreme foreground. Click on the photo for better view.
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., J N Tata Statue At Churchgate Mumbai, Old PC 1905., Making Of The Mullaperiyar Dam – Old Print 1895., Stone Carvings of Victoria Terminus Mumbai – Old Print 1886.
