Chennai, Tamil Nadu · luxury

ITC Grand Chola, Chennai

★★★★★

ITC Grand Chola is a vast hotel on Mount Road in Guindy, built in the style of a Chola temple, with carved granite pillars, courtyards and a gopuram-like tower. It is one of the largest hotels in India, and one of the greenest, certified LEED Platinum. Behind the scale it is a serious address for food: Peshawri for the north-west frontier grill, Royal Vega for a vegetarian tasting menu drawn from across India, and Avartana for a modern southern one. The rooms are large and quiet, with deep bathtubs and city views. There is a long outdoor pool, a spa, and a club floor. It is a fifteen-minute drive from the airport and a good first and last night in the south.