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High up in paradise land overlooking the Dal Lake

Karan Mahal

Karan Mahal

Srinagar
, Jammu & Kashmir
, India

A winding drive through a well-guarded gate takes you up to a couple of robust Chinar trees. The Residence stands away from the generous lawns and gardens that circle the bungalow all the way to the back and accessed from a side gate that brings you to the wrap around verandah that also serves as easy lounging spaces. The gardens with Chinars, flower beds and a large pool in the centre is ideal to sit out in the summer days and also under the fall’s tepid sun. The bungalow is colonial on the outside while the interiors have hints of classic art deco especially the staircases with their polished railings and hallways. The roofs sport the symmetrical handcrafted ‘katamband’, still preserved in the high ceilinged rooms and suites. The theme of Karan Mahal is to offer guests an exclusive residence all to themselves, with the luxury of personal and attentive service by well-trained staff.

Our Rating: Premium
Property Type: Boutique

Destination

Kashmir is a destination for every season and Srinagar is the perfect place to begin your explorations. Spring brings forth blooms of every colour startling bright blue skies with fluffy errant clouds. It is also the time for the Tulips which take over the foothills of the Zabarwan skirting the banks of the Dal Lake in well-ordered profusion. Summer of course is perfection in this paradise land, while Monsoons which is low to moderate in the valley spans July and August. The fall months in Kashmir begin mid-September and last till early December when the famous gardens of Srinagar are ablaze with the fall colours of Chinars and Ginkgo. In fact this is also the time for the flowering of Saffron, famous as the red gold.

Karan Mahal is set on the erstwhile estate of the royal family of Jammu and Kashmir, a charming European-style villa on Srinagar’s Shankaracharya Hill overlooking the Dal Lake and surrounded by private orchards of peach and almonds. Built in the early 20th century, Karan Mahal served as the residence of Dr Karan Singh, and has since welcomed historical figures such as Edwina Mountbatten, Pandit Nehru, Nikita Khrushchev, Rajendra Prasad, Indira Gandhi and Joseph Campbell. At a walking distance from the promenade, Karan Mahal is easily Srinagar’s select address, curated for exclusivity and luxury by Vikramditya Singh and Chitrangadha.

Accommodation

Eight guest rooms and suites lavishly appointed with the best of Kashmir’s carpets, art deco furniture, art and objet d’art, silver ware, crystals, pristine linen and rich furnishings. Most suites have a private balcony and the large warp around verandah out front and almost every section of Karan Mahal opens up to unparalleled views of the Zabarwan and Pir Panjal ranges, orchards and the Dal Lake. Ideal for long stays and buy outs, the cuisine, services, spaces and hospitality at Karan Mahal have been perfected for those who value exclusivity and understated elegance. Ensuite bathrooms are elegant and large, beautifully monogramed towels and fragrant amenities from Kama Ayurveda. The rooms and suites are spread between the ground floor and first floor, two of the suites have private entrances while a couple of the rooms open directly to the gardens.

Dining

The main dining room is on the ground floor and accessed through the verandah and a brief reception area. Beautifully furnished and serviced by personal staff in livery, the cuisine is a mix of North Indian, Kashmiri and Continental recipes passed down over generations. Serving a selection of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, service is on delicately monogramed crockery and cutlery. The dining room allows for communal seating as well as private tables for couples. Karan Mahal allows guests to experience the full range of their kitchen delicacies and are able to cater to dietary restrictions and allergies on prior information.

Experiences

classes; village visits; visit to village schools and markets

Why we love this place

Karan Mahal’s location, exclusivity with just seven rooms and is Srinagar’s first boutique hotel in the real sense as a stand-alone, owner run luxury boutique hotel. It is also the perfect design and its curation lends itself to the richness of Srinagar’s natural beauty and heritage.

About your host

Vikramaditya and Chitrangada are not new to hospitality having successfully run Taragarh Palace in Palampur in Himachal for over a decade. Their vision for Karan Mahal is to share their residence with discerning guests and to provide them an exclusive boutique heritage stay to explore Srinagar.

Responsible/Sustainable Tourism

The vintage aura of the Residence is bursting with stories at every corner. Karan Mahal was built in the 1920s and the living heritage is evident here with its handcrafted katamband wooden ceiling, the art deco furniture, exquisite and carefully preserved artefacts and the traditional familial recipes that reflect their multicultural ancestral roots. Katamband is a unique wooden ceiling that is handcrafted with pieces of walnut or deodar wood and put in to a geometrical pattern without nails.

Our Recommendation

Ideal for long stays, Karan Mahal is the perfect base to explore Srinagar from.

Can’t find a suitable itinerary that features a destination, experience or accommodation you fancy? All our group tours and holiday ideas can be personalised, or we can create a tailor made itinerary for you.

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Our Accommodation Ratings

Opulent: Exceptional, unashamedly the best of sheer luxury. (£££££)

Luxury: Outstanding levels of 5* comfort, hospitality and facilities. (££££)

Premium: Excellent levels of comfort and hospitality and a wide range of facilities. (£££)

Mid-Range: Good levels of comfort and hospitality, with a reasonable range of facilities. (££)

Simple: Clean and simple, no frills. Often in areas of natural beauty or near wildlife reserves. (£)