THE PALACE OF THE ELDER
After being locked down for half a century, ‘Bari Kothi’, 4 hours from Kolkata, located on the banks of River Ganges was magically restored, over 5 years, into the first Grand Heritage Hotel of East India led by brother-sister duo Darshan Dudhoria & Lipika Dudhoria. They engaged Canadian restoration specialist architect Dr. Samar Chandra to restore Bari Kothi, which later turned to a zero waste project. Functioning on the principle of adaptive reuse, Bari Kothi is completely taken care of by the local community.
Know More AboutTHE FACES BEHIND THE MAGIC
Darshan Dudhoria is a lawyer turned heritage entrepreneur and philanthropist who is working towards changing the face of heritage tourism in Bengal. Lipika Dudhoria is the head of operations at Bari Kothi. The brother-sister power duo have created Bengal’s first ever restored, rustic heritage hotel that has opened doors to sustainable and conscious tourism in rural Bengal, utilizing the local community in all it’s facets of operation.
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Like a beacon of hope, Canadian restoration specialist and consultation architect Dr. Samar Chandra stepped into the premises of dilapidated Bari Kothi, and the rest was history.
Best Palace/Heritage Hotel before 1950
Sustainable Leadership Award 2023
Heritage Grand Property
Best of the Best
Top 10% of Hotels Worldwide 2021
FEATURES
"Bari kothi was the highlight of my Indian visit. The place is not only stunning, the locals employed are sweet and sincere, they were attentive and courteous. Hats of to the brother-sister owners who have laboured over the restoration and created a unique experience for the guests. A must visit surrounded by historic sites. The Ganges sunset boat ride was serene The Shehrewali cuisine is the best vegetarian tradition we were able to taste. Thanks to Lipika"
"An absolutely magical experience. The restoration is breathtaking, and the commitment to the local community is inspiring. Every detail is thoughtfully curated. Highly recommend for an authentic heritage stay."
"From the moment we arrived, we felt transported to another era. The hospitality, the food, the stories – everything was exceptional. A true gem preserving Bengal's rich history."
THE MAN WHO CREATED MAGIC
The project took the name of ‘Project Priceless’ which involved the local community in the herculean task of restoration. 1 man, 150 rural people and 5 years later, the magician had achieved what stands as Bari Kothi Heritage Hotel today. The actual groundwork of the restoration was carried out by very ordinary and unskilled labour from the local community and that became the very ethos of the project. The end result was that more than 50 unskilled labourers became skilled and are now involved in all facets of operation of the property.
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The endeavour to restore ones ancestral heritage had turned into
Bengal’s First Grand Heritage Hotel of East India.
SUSTAINABILITY ALL THE WAY
Bari Kothi aligns itself with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and works persistently to promote sustainable and responsible tourism. Every action arises from its commitment to the local community within which it operates. Rethinking and reimagining tourism has been the sole endeavour of Bari Kothi since its very inception. The vision is to expand the idea of ‘sustainable tourism’ with an awareness that is both inclusive and at the same time expansive.
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BEST PRICES
Bari Kothi takes pride in its ability to curate guest experiences that is born out of its intimate bonding with the community and nature...
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A two hour boat ride while you experience a blissful sunset. Includes organic farm visit and tea and snacks on the boat itself. It is one of a kind serene experience on the river.
Murshidabad is famous for it's folk music and dance. Enjoy a culturally immersive experience as the humble Baul community sing and perform in the picturesque Bada Angan. Dance to Bengal folk while enjoying High Tea.
Every nook and cranny of Bari Kothi is laden with stories and history. We have taken the humble art of story-telling and revived its heritage, as we have revived Bari Kothi. Enjoy story-telling experience under the tree, as we take you time traveling through the pages of history.
Murshidabad is a historically famed land with multiple palacs, mosques and temples dotting the entire landscape. Heritage Walk through the narrow alley ways of Azimganj forms a signature part of a tell-tale Bari Kothi experience.
Bari Kothi experience involves visiting organic farms and procuring your favourite fruits and vegetables fresh from the garden. Learn to cook them into delectable delicacies in a live session with our in-house chef.
High Tea at Bari Kothi is our take on the British practice of having an array of tea with five course of snacks. We have put our very own Sheherwali touch to it. Enjoy High tea while enjoying tell-tale Bengali Baul Folk music.
Murshidabad has always been world famous for its fine quality of silks and muslins. Visit & interact with locals at Tantipara (weaver’s village) & Islampore (important area for sericulture). You also get a chance to weave your initials on a silk fabric you buy from them!
The beautiful flower pots that you see all around Bari Kothi, are constructed by our very own potter. You can feel this experience not only visually, but also creatively. We have beautiful pottery sessions, where you can enjoy the fullest and make your own craft.
The local artists here share their expertise and an opportunity to our guests to learn & create something new and desi. Workshops such as pottery making, shola art, kantha stitching, and block printing are offered in-house.
The clear night sky over Azimganj, Murshidabad provides a perfect opportunity to spot the stars. The magical experience of seeing the moon through our telescopic setup at mid-night is a magnificent adventure all together.
THE FAMILY TREE
Erstwhile Zamindars of Murshidabad, the Dudhoria family migrated from Rajasthan to Azimganj on the call of the soon to be famed ‘world banker’ Jagat Seth. The ‘Sheherwalis’ as they like to call themselves were Jains setting up businesses in the erstwhile district of Maksudabad, now known as Murshidabad. Budh Singh Dudhoria did not only carry out a successful business but was devoted in philanthropic activities such as feeding the poor, furthering the cause of female education, building shelters for the homeless and many charitable funds. As his charities extended, so did his reputation, and when Sir Ashley Eden, then Lieutenant-Governor of the then Bengal, visited Jangipore, he was conferred with the title of ‘Rai Bahadur’.
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OUR SERVICES
Royal suites that exude an old world charm.
7 open courtyards adorn the property.
Even though it is a rural area, every room is well connected with wifi.
We have complimentary pick and drop service from station.
Tea with an array of delectable snacks in the evening combined with local music, makes up for the best high tea experience.
Sustainability is what we promote and hence our toiletry kit is made of bamboo and locally sourced sustainable ingredients.
HISTORY, HERITAGE, HUMANITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
BARI KOTHI
The two goals that guided the restoration of Bari Kothi - (i) Restoration to be done in a sustainable manner (ii) Restoration should help in the upliftment of the local community. These two core values are the pillars that give substance to its dreams.
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BARI KOTHI
The experiences at Bari kothi is defined primarily by the local character of the region. This means that inspite of having its unique features, Bari Kothi stands as a specimen of the traits of the local community.
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BARI KOTHI
Bari Kothi is establised on the bank of river Bhagirathi, a branch of river Ganga and is considered to be a City Palace in the town of Azimganj. Belonging to the Jain community, our family follows Ahimsa, meaning non-violence and believes ‘all life on Earth is sacred and everything has a right to live fearlessly to its maximum potential’. We at Bari Kothi try and reduce wastage of any kind and conserve as mush possible.
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BARI KOTHI
To run our ecosystem satisfactorily, we believe we have to take care for our environment sturdily. To achieve the ultimate plan for our property progress, we prioritise people( the locals) and the nature. It is a pact that we take seriously both in our own interests and those of the regions where we are present.
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