The moment you drive down the royal palm lined drive you know you have reached somewhere special. Built in 1934 as a jewel in the crown by the British Raj, this landmark hotel located in the heart of New Delhi exudes style and colonial elegance. Designed by Lutyens assistant, Bromfield, the inlaid marble floors, three-story atriums, fountains and lithographs complement well appointed rooms, grand suites, wonderful restaurants and bars. The hotel's city centre location does mean it can be fairly noisy and that good views are in short supply but these shortfalls are more than made up for by the hotel's colourful history and its unmistakable sense of location.