The ITC Grand Chola is a luxury hotel located in Guindy, Chennai, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Operated by ITC Hotels, the hospitality division of ITC Limited, it is one of the largest single-block luxury hotels in India and a flagship property of the ITC Hotels portfolio. The architecture and interiors of the hotel draw inspiration from the Chola dynasty, reflecting Dravidian temple motifs, sculpture, and craft traditions of southern India.
| Name | ITC Grand Chola |
|---|---|
| Type | Luxury hotel |
| Location | Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Operator | ITC Hotels (a division of ITC Limited) |
| Brand | ITC Hotels — Luxury Collection |
| Architectural theme | Chola-era Dravidian style |
ITC Limited, headquartered in Kolkata, entered the hospitality business in the 1970s and has since developed several large luxury properties across Indian metropolitan cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, New Delhi, and Chennai. The Grand Chola was conceived as the group's flagship property in southern India and as an addition to its line of large convention-style luxury hotels positioned alongside earlier ITC properties such as ITC Maurya in New Delhi and ITC Maratha in Mumbai.
The hotel is designed in a style evoking the temple architecture of the Chola period, with extensive use of stone, carved pillars, sculpted motifs, and grand ceremonial spaces. The interiors incorporate references to South Indian art, textiles, and craftsmanship, and the property's public areas are designed at an exceptionally large scale, with multiple banquet halls, ballrooms, and conference facilities. The hotel houses several restaurants featuring different cuisines, including ITC's signature South Indian, North Indian, and international dining concepts.
The ITC Grand Chola has been recognised for its green building practices. ITC Hotels has positioned its luxury properties under a sustainability framework that includes energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste management measures, and the Grand Chola is among the properties in the chain certified under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system at the Platinum level.
The Grand Chola has become a notable landmark in Chennai, used for large weddings, corporate events, government functions, and international conferences. As one of the largest luxury hotels in India by built-up area and room count, it has played a role in expanding Chennai's MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) capacity and in promoting the city as a destination for luxury hospitality.