Taj Connemara

Description:

• Book a heritage room at Chennai's oldest five-star hotel (it's been around since 1891) for a sense of colonial splendor and old-world charm right in the heart of modern Chennai (Spencer Plaza, the city's biggest shopping complex, is directly opposite). Although the exterior is very unprepossessing, enter and you are transported into another era, with gracious public spaces, wide corridors, and high-ceilinged rooms, all tastefully decorated with wooden engravings, temple sculptures, and luxury fabrics. Add an attentive staff and the best restaurant in town, and you have a recipe for total comfort. All categories of rooms are super spacious and elegant, with top amenities (but no views to speak of). However if you're here to celebrate something special, your choice without a doubt should be one of the striking heritage rooms: largest in the city, with antique furniture, rich drapes, and soft furnishings; the luxurious setting is fit for a king -- even the room's ceiling fan rotates both ways, letting you decide which way the breeze should blow.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010