Opulence, Tradition & Modernity

Architecture by Foundations and Interiors by Ozone Designs, Noor Mahal luxury hotel located on Delhi NH-1, Karnal, is inspired by India’s royal heritage

Fact File
Architect: Himet Singh, Foundations
Interior Design: Ozone Designs
Area covered: 8 acres
Total project cost: Rs. 200 crore

Credits
Interior paint: SSK Paints
Exterior paint: Asian Paints
Sanitaryware: Roca
Flooring: Pergo
Wall panelling: Uniply
Furnishing: Masper

Intricate design details capture the grandeur of traditional Mughal and Rajputana styles of architecture. Traditional techniques have been used to create palatial innovations throughout the property. These include white Agaria marble flooring, Mughal arches of concrete & Dholpur stone, Red Agra stone, gold leaf frescoes, high domed ceilings, decorative gilt mouldings, sculpted marble columns, and fine fretwork screens.

The hotel’s heritage concept incorporates beautifully appointed rich textures, opulent furnishings, and exquisite objects d’art. The entrance, an imposing lobby, impresses with its beautiful lotus fountain and overhead crystal chandeliers, and semi-precious stone inlay work on the flooring. Two courtyards, laid out along the east-west axis, are surrounded by rooms and balconies with low jaalis and chajjas.

Originality of design, technical precision, and the grand interaction of interiors set this property apart. The design of the Indian restaurant Frontier Mail, inspired by the first AC dining chair car train in the British era 1934, recreates the train compartments. Materials used are wood, metal framing, GI sheets, brass frames, teak wood mouldings and carvings, mirrors, original rail track and wooden sleepers. The 24-hour diner Brown Sugar is a fusion of modern and contemporary theme. The Polo Bar is in colonial style - glamorous with clubby wood-panelling, brass accents, and a profusion of equestrian-themed art. The seven banquet halls with pre-function areas that exceed 18,000 sqft. area, are of regal elegance and have air conditioned carpeted Axminister machine tufted from Egypt.

Noor Mahal boasts of 122 rooms, including a Presidential Suite, Khwabgah, 11 Suites, 78 Club Rooms and 31 Club Royal Rooms. The rooms are spacious, modern yet richly palatial, and furnished with wood and designer fabric upholstery. Bay window seating offers a spectacular view of the inner courtyard and of the fountains and lush green lawns. Bathrooms in Italian marble (imported stone block), are fitted with a glass enclosed shower, dual vanity counters, a large free-standing bathtub, walk-in wardrobe, and wooden flooring.

Khwabgah, with its two bedrooms, a living and dining area, has magnificent hand-printed false ceilings, wall jallis, white metal artifacts, thikri mirror work on walls, and tailor-made furnishings. The bar counter is made of an antique wooden balcony piece, wooden Kashmir walnut veneer, and pearl coloured Asian paint deco finish. Wooden mouldings, a designer office chamber with private terrace in multi coloured Rajasthan local stone work, an antique wooden jhoola with brass inlay, and a Dholpur stone water body, are the other design features in this hotel.