Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has opened Himalayan Woodcroft, Sirmaur, a 41-key IHCL SeleQtions property in Himachal Pradesh, the company said on November 10.
IHCL signed the hotel with Dolphin Terra Firma in October 2023, when it said the deal would give it five hotels in the state across its Taj, SeleQtions and Vivanta brands. Rival IHG signed a 92-room Holiday Inn Resort in Gujarat’s Sasan Gir on November 3, another bet on Indian nature tourism.
“As travellers increasingly seek experiences rooted in destination and local character, demand for leisure offerings in emerging markets continues to grow,” said Gaurav Pokhariyal, chief operating officer for IHCL’s full-service business. He said the hotel “strengthens our presence in Himachal Pradesh’s leisure travel circuit”.
The property sits on six acres of pine and banj oak forest with views of the snow-capped Churdhar peak. It is built in the traditional Kathkuni style from locally sourced stone and deodar wood, with independent cottages laid out as a hillside hamlet.
Facilities include Woodcroft Nest, an all-day restaurant, the Mist bar, a valley-view swimming pool and a fitness centre.
Hotel manager Bijayan Sinha said the hotel offered guests “the natural beauty and tranquility of Sirmaur in a setting inspired by the region’s architectural heritage”.
IHCL, which runs a loyalty partnership with airline alliance oneworld, opened its first hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, in 1903.
