ITC Grand CholaCholaRelating to the Tamil dynasty that ruled much of southern India, and territories beyond it, between roughly the ninth and thirteenth centuries.Read in the glossary opened in 2012 on eight acres at Guindy as a deliberate tribute to Chola-dynasty architecture: four temple-style entrances, a colonnaded grand staircase, and four hundred and sixty-two pillars hand-carved on the model of the Brihadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur.
It is enormous — around six hundred keys — and it carries the scale, largely because of its kitchens. Avartana, the hotel's progressive South Indian tasting-menu room, has placed repeatedly among Asia's 50 Best Restaurants.
Why We Place Guests Here
- Avartana alone justifies a Chennai night; there is nothing else like it in south India.
- Chennai is usually a transit city on our southern journeys, and this is the one hotel that makes the stop worth having.
- LEED Platinum, and documented as the largest hotel to take LEED Zero Carbon certification — rare seriousness at this scale.
The Table
- Avartana — progressive South Indian tasting menus
- Peshawri — north-west frontier
- Royal Vega — vegetarian fine dining
- Ottimo — Italian
- Madras Pavilion — all-day
The Elevated India Signature
A table at Avartana held before anything else on the southern itinerary is confirmed.
Questions, Answered
What is Avartana at ITC Grand Chola?
The hotel's progressive South Indian restaurant, serving tasting menus that rework the region's cooking. It has appeared repeatedly on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list and books out well ahead.
Is ITC Grand Chola near the sea in Chennai?
No — it sits on Mount Road at Guindy, in the south-central business corridor. Marina Beach is a drive, and Mamallapuram is about 55 km south.
Journeys That Take You There
Explore the destination guide: Chennai, Tamil Nadu ↗
Photography: Photograph courtesy ITC Hotels