The Grand Hotel of Kolkata, built in Victorian styled architecture, is on Chowringhee Avenue. The Oberoi Group of Hotels, which competes with the Taj Hotel Group, owns the Grand Hotel.
The Grand Hotel was originally a boarding house on the Chowringhee Street that was owned by Mrs. Monte. Arrathoon Stephen, a real-estate baron of Armenian origin, acquired it and transformed it into a three storey hotel having 500 rooms. In 1938, Mohan Singh Oberoi acquired this property and it was named the Oberoi Grand.
The Grand Hotel got a major facelift during the Second World War when it was the venue of events such as the U.S. Marines' Ball and other parties. Almost 4000 soldiers stayed at this hotel during the war and organized parties on a regular basis. |
