INSTITUTE OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT CATERING

TECHNOLOGY & APPLIED NUTRITION

C. I. T. CAMPUS, THARAMANI, CHENNAI – 600113

RESEARCH PROJECT
IMPORTANCE OF INDIAN DÉCOR IN HOTEL INDUSTRY

This is a bonafide Record of work done by

ABHYUDOY CHAKRABORTY

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for

Final year

B. Sc., Hospitality & Hotel Administration

2009 – 2010

1
 INSTITUTE OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT CATERING
TECHNOLOGY & APPLIED NUTRITION

C. I. T. CAMPUS, THARAMANI, CHENNAI – 600113

RESEARCH PROJECT

IMPORTANCE OF INDIAN DÉCOR IN HOTEL INDUSTRY

This is a bonafide Record of work done by

ABHYUDOY CHAKRABORTY

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for

Final year

B. Sc., Hospitality & Hotel Administration

FACULTY GUIDE PRINCIPAL

2
 INSTITUTE OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT CATERING
TECHNOLOGY & APPLIED NUTRITION

C. I. T. CAMPUS, THARAMANI, CHENNAI – 600113

RESEARCH PROJECT

IMPORTANCE OF INDIAN DÉCOR IN HOTEL INDUSTRY

This is a bonafide Record of work done by

ABHYUDOY CHAKRABORTY

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for

Final year

B. Sc., Hospitality & Hotel Administration

For the Examination held on ……………………

STUDENT SIGNATURE FACULTY GUIDE

3
RESEARCH CO-ORDINATOR EXTERNAL
EXAMINER

4
INDEX
S. No. Contents Page No.
1) Cover Page 1–3
2) Acknowldegement 5
3) Proposal Format 6 – 10
4) Introduction 11 – 15
5) Objectives 16 – 17
6) Review of Literature 18 – 52
7) Methodology 53 – 59
8) Analysis of Interpretation 60 – 62
9) Suggestions 63 – 64
10) Conclusion 65
11) Bibliography 66
12) Questionnaire 67-- 69

5
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I take this opportunity to thanks all the people who have helped me

to complete this research successfully.

Firstly I thank our Principal MR. S. RAJMOHAN for giving me the

opportunity to do this research.

My sincere thanks are due to my Research guide MR. JITENDRA

DAS and research co-ordinator MRS. SHARMILA who has

given me the inspiration and necessary help required to do the

research. I also thank all my friends who have helped me

carrying out this work successfully. Last but not the least I

have a special thanks to all the respondents who have helped

me in my research by providing relevant information.

6
PROPOSAL FORMAT

7
IHMCT & AN - 113

PROPOSAL FORMAT

Name :ABHYUDOY CHAKRABORTY

Batch :‘A’

Date : 26.12.2009

Title : IMPORTANCE OF INDIAN DÉCOR IN HOTEL

INDUSTRY

INTRODUCTION :

With various varieties and culture in India the décor of Indian hotel

and houses differ from culture region and religion. Indian décor in

itself is very colourful and vibrant, with the ethnic outlook. Indian

décor includes more of comfortability and manageability in less

space using of many colours and soft textures makes this décor

very ethnic and comfortable. Indian décor is not only making vibes

in the Indian market but is also accepted internationally.

8
OBJECTIVES :

● Look into different sections of Indian décor.

● Check with the popular hotels the usage of Indian décor.

● As being cost effective and vibrant to see the formats of Indian

décor.

● To study the market feasibility of Indian décor.

● To study the financial viability in certain hotels in Chennai.

9
METHODOLOGY :

● Primary Sources (Questionnaire, Books)

● Secondary Sources

SCOPE OF STUDY :

● To have a study of different aspects of this décor.

● To maximize the outlook of Indian décor.

● As being cost effective bring this theme more in use.

● To help the growth of this décor and get it acknowledged

world-wide.

● To influence the hotel and hospitality industry the usage and

benefits of this décor.

10
CONCLUSION :

After doing the research I will be able to find the need and

importance of Indian décor used in the hotel industry. How the

different sections of the hotel can make use of this décor to

encourage and acknowledge it world-wide.

Signature of Student Research

Co-ordinator
With date

Guide Principal

11
INTRODUCTION

12
 INTRODUCTION

INDIA is a country of varieties and culture. Being one of the most

famous country in world in term of tourism the culture of INDIA

surely reflects on its décor with many five and seven stars

properties coming up at reaped pace in INDIA. India is a

mystic land and has so many things that traveller can discover

the best part about India is its rich history the stories of Indian

kings and queens who lived and died for their kingdom is

rather amusing. Even more amusing is to read about the

secret lives of these kings and queens their palaces, their

summer retreats, their leisure activities, their tradition and their

interest in art and architecture. But time passed none of them

can be spotted today, their palaces, forts and other remaining

works of art have become major tourist attraction even for the

people of India. Most palaces and forts are opened today for

tourism where as a few of them have been converted into

place hotels.

13
Each and every hotel wants tourist and to attracts tourist. The décor

of the hotel plays a very important role with hotels such as Taj

and Obroies etc. the competition is tough. So every hotel

gives extra importance to its ambience and décor. The décor

in INDIA is very colourful and vibrant, which does depend

upon the climate condition. Each region in INDIA when we see

the hotel in northern part of INDIA which faces the extremes of

climate, the décor in hotel is very warm and lively more of

uses of colour are in it. Mix and match of fabries are used

each state reflect its own culture, ambience and décor, for

example clarks awadh in lucknow give its room a very royal

and mughlai touch which in turn reflects on its ambience. The

interiors in this hotel reveal the mughlai culture of lucknow the

capital city of Uttar Pradesh being a five star property. The

clarks awadh give importance to each and every section of the

hotel especially the interiors which grabs the first attention of

tourist usage of bold colours and light fabric makes the room

14
lively and at the same time brings warm and conformability

Clarks Awadh which

15
portrays the Mughal era and its décor is again very cost effective

too. Which in turn easy to manage and replace does not to

much of. INDIAN culture defines more or bold colours and

comfort ability tourist come here to want to relax and so INDIA

which is very famous for its culture reflect its culture and

vibrancy in hotel industry. In today designing hotels space is

often limited and economical use of this space is

accomplished with combination area clever décor can expend

a single room into multi purpose hub of activities the key for

good décor for room is to provide many interest in one area

furnishing that serve more than one function are a giant step

towards the goal a colour scheme that bends itself today life

project or to rest full evening. Social gathering is important in

décor. The lighting should be also flexible of special

importance

16
in decorating a guest room are furnished that can also can be used

in other room and areas as well if required. Lighting plays an

important roll in decorating a room. Variable ground lighting

should be used arrangement with specialized lighting for detail

work.

17
OBJECTIVE

18
 OBJECTIVE

To have a detailed study of interior décor.

To check and study about the different kinds of décor used in

Indian.

To study about the Indian décor used in the hospitality industry.

To check for the availability of Indian décor.

To check for the advantages of Indian décor in hotels in India.

To see if Indian décor act as a tourist attraction.

To study the different kinds of Indian décor.

To do a review on the popularity of Indian décor in hotels in India.

19
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

20
 REVIEW OF LITERATURE

To successfully decorate the open spaces in contemporary guest

rooms provide separate centers of interest. One center should

dominate the room serving as the focal point from which all

other areas radiate. Use sound absorbing materials in large

rooms to deaden acoustical reverberation some example are

thick carpeting, generous draperies, fabric cover wall, plus

upholsters furniture and sound blotting building materials for

walls and ceiling avoid hard smooth surfaces that bounce

sound rather then absorb it. A monochrome background is

effective way to unite several centres.

Other decorating devises are the lamp table behind the sofa and

the hidden light fixture at the top of the floor-to-ceiling

bookcase. Both help erase shadows in hard-to-illuminate

areas. The sofa lamp provides light for reading or, when

dimmed by a special wall switch,

21
low-level illumination for conversation. The overhead beams break

the large expanse of ceiling ; they may be used throughout or

limited to only one section of the room.

Don’t try to copy the décor but consider how you might achieve the

same effects to solve some of your decorating problems.

Study the colour scheme, the furniture arrangement, the

window treatment, the use of textures and accessories.

Similar effects can be achieved at relatively low cost.

Remember that imagination is the basis of good decorating.

Durable Furniture

Furniture that is stop undergo much use should be durable and

easy to clean. Most upholstered items utilize one of the many

well-known soil and stain repellents. Hardware stores sell do-it-

yourself stain-resistant sprays that can be applied to fabric.

22
See through furnishings, highly fashionable today, combine

glass, strong synthetics and fiber glass frames with steel and

wrought metals to make almost indestructible pieces. Even

traditional can now be made with plastics that convincingly

simulate wood metal leather and ceramic.

The Versatile Role of Colour

A total colour scheme used throughout a hotel room has a

unifying effect. Total colour makes a small home seem larger

or a sprawling home seem contained.

Often, in a private area, a drastic departure from the total

colour scheme is preferred. For instance, the bedroom, a

personal room, can reflect the personality of hotel in shades of

deep purple and pale green, a colour combination too bold for

an entire house.

23
 Consider Comfort

In planning a décor for a room, comfort is the single most

important consideration. Decide on the furniture arrangement,

adjust the lighting to provide both soft light and adequate light for

reading, and choose a colour scheme that seems likely to

encourage conversation. Then look at the individual pieces of

furniture. Is each comfortable to sit on? Are cushions firm, yet

not unyielding? Are their pillows and arm rests? Is the upholstery

fabric pleasant to the touch? Are end tables placed conveniently

for ashtrays and beverage glasses ? Is the coffee table enough

to hold a tray of refreshments ?

Few of the items which are used in Indian décor.

24
  Comb – Back

A high – backed variety of Windsor chair. The Windsor chair

is typified by slender, turned spindles, splayed pr raked turned

legs, a wooden saddle seat, and H – shaped stretchers. In a

comb-backed Windsor chair, the central rear spindles extend

trough the horse-shoe shaped arm rail above the back and are

topped by a crest. The whole affair resembles the Spanish

comb it is named after. A comb-backed Windsor chair makes

an interesting variation in the design of any country room.

 Combed Yarn Goods

Materials made from fibers that have been both carded and

combed during the process of manufacture. When used to

identify a cotton material, it is a measure of high quality,

greater beauty and strength.

25
 Combination Fabrics and Yarns

A fabric using several fibers of differing origins, either natural

or man-made. The object of the combination is to achieve a

particular sheen or texture, to add strength and wear-

resistance, and to make the maintenance of the fabric easier.

Acetate and rayon or often combined to produce a silky look.

Nylon is combined with other fibers to give strength, and

polyesters are combined with cotton.

 For drip-dry, permanent – press fabrics.

Manufacturers are required by law RTO state the fiber content

of fabric. Since the fabric will take on the characteristics of the

major fiber, the important information to find on the label is the

quantity of each fiber used.

26
 A combination yarn is one that is made of two or more

different single, fibers, twisted together. These can be pf the

same origin pr composed of materials from different origins :

for example, one strand of cotton and one of polyester. One

fiber may also be more tightly twisted than the other.

 Comfit Glass

A small sweetmeat glass of eighteenth-century origin. In

particular, this term applies to a stemmed glass approximately

4 inches high. The comfits which these little glasses held were

highly seasoned and scented ; occasionally ice cream was

served as a comfit. Comfits were served after drinking or

smoking or at the end of a meal to sweeten the breath.

27
 Comforter

A bed covering made with a heavy layer of wadding that is

quilted or knotted to hold the various layer together.

Comforters are usually made of either cotton or silk and are

heavier than a standard quilt. Traditionally, comforters were

designed to keep sleepers warm in old-fashioned bedrooms ;

today, they serve in lieu of blankets or as decorative

bedspreads.

 Commerce Table

An eighteenth – century card table having a folding frame that

supports an oval top. Commerce tables were originally designed

for playing the card game ‘‘commerce’’ which was popular during

this period.

28
 Complementary Colour Scheme

One of two major categories in colour planning, using contrasting

hues rather than related hues. Contrasting schemes combine

opposite colours on the colour wheel. Colour schemes in this

category are stimulating yet balanced because both warm and

cool hues are included, such as red on green, blue and orange.

 Complementary Colours

Each of the primary colours on the cool wheel has its secondary

complement, produced by mixing the other two ; for example,

yellow and blue make green, the complement of red.

29
 Congress Canvas

A trade name for a very strong cloth used in embroidery. It is

porous, to allow the needle to penetrate easily, and is made of

cotton, linen, or wool yarn.

 Contour Chair

Any shaped, moulded, or upholstered chair designed to conform

to the shape of the human body. It is a typical product of

contemporary styles.

 Conversation Center

A furniture grouping that ensures easy communication is an

important feature of a room. The arrangement should take

advantage of the room’s structure and psychological factors such

as lighting and seating comfort.

30
 Corbel

An architectural term for a breaker or brace originally used in

Indian architecture. Corbels were usually of brick or stone, sort in

a wall to support a beam, allowing the architect to build outward

and upward. Corbels became popular in furniture making and

were used during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in

India, especially when the design included vaulted arches or ribs.

Décor used in Rajasthan

Rajasthani decors come in a fascinating range of dyed and block-

printed fabric who are further embellished by embroidery.

Stunning, unusual combinations of scarlet and shocking

pink, purple and orange, turquoise and parrot green,

saffron and crimson, shot with

31
 gold and silver steal the limelight. Rajasthan is the heartland of

hand-block printing. Sanganer in Jaipur is virtually flooded

with block makers and printers. The art of Khan or

overprinting in gold is also practised here. Today,

traditional vegetable and mineral dyes are gradually being

replaced by chemical ones.

The town of Bagru excels in delightful circular designs in dark

glowing vegetables colours printed on bedspreads, table

linen and clothes. Textiles printed here have won the

hearts of millions at home and abroad.

The red, black and live green, mosaic – like patterns of the Jajams

of Chittaurgarh are used for women’s skirts & wraps and

floor coverings.

Heart – warming textiles, dyed in the bandhani or tie & dye style

32
reign supreme in Rajasthan. The artofbano an / isa highly skilled

process. Different methods are used to tie the fabric into

small points producing different patterns like Lahariya,

Mothda, Ekdali and Shskari. The best bandhani work

comes Likar and Jodhpur, while Jaipur, Pali, Udaipur and

Nathdwara are the other centers.

33
The women of Rajasthan have embroidering fabrics. Embroidery

practised in Bikaner is done by counting threads. The

women of Skar and Jhunihunu specialise in making

patterns of animals. Chain stitch is popular in Alwar.

Dancing figures. Flowers and Peacocks are the favourite

motifs. Women or Barmer use mirrors, thus enhancino the

beauty of the embroidered piece.

In appliqué, different pieces of cloth are patched together to make a

multi-coloured mosaic. The exotic colours, shapes and

pattern combinations against contrasting backgrounds

catch the eye.

34
Floor Coverings

Rajasthan’s Floor Covering industry has been revitalised to suit the

needs of the modern buyer and Rajasthani Carpets are

making headway in markets not only in India but abroad.

Skilled artisans had been sumn. Heart (Afghanistan) by Raja Man

Singh – I of Amer to train the local workers and at present

Jaipur, Bikaner and Amer are prominent centres of carpet

weaving. The carpet designs are mostly based on Persian

and Caucasian styles. Peacocks and flowers are the

popular motifs as well as landscapes and geometric

designs.

Rajasthani Namdas are woollen druggets decorated with

embroidery and appliqué work. Namdas produced at

Tonk are in

35
great demand. Also available are traditional cotton carpets called

Durries which are hand-woven with geometric patterns and

repeating colours.

Stone Craft

Religious themes are carved in stone all over Rajasthan. The

images are life-like and are skilfully sculptured in different

varieties of stone.

Statues of gods and goddesses, animals and human figures are

carved out of while marble in Jaipur.

The soft, Pink Sandstone, Tamara stone and soft Chlorite of

Dungrapur are the other varieties of stones that are used

for making icons, utility items, figures etc.

Furniture

The furniture of Rajasthan displays grandeur and elegance.

36
The carved and decorated chests, chairs, cradles and low tables &

stooles are simply a steal. Each object is desirable whether

inlaid figures or embellished with hunting scenes.

While their carved wooden doors & chairs. Tilonia furniture stands

out for its fine embroidery work done on leather. Patra

furniture, which is plated with metal, has carved out its own

market niche.

Imparting exquisite beauty of chairs, tables-tops and lamps in the

art of taarkashi (wire inlay) and lacquer work.

Woodcraft

Sandlewood carvings come in a range of objects and themes.

37
38
The choices is so varied that it is difficult to choose, whether it’s the

desert caravan with tiny camels, or Lord Krishna playing

the flute in a divide mood, or nymphs in aesthetic dance

poses.

For the budget shoppers, also available in fragment sandalwood,

are keychains, paper knives and trinket boxes.

The minutely carved wooden blocks used for textile printing are so

exquisite that they are highly in demand and area often

converted into door knobs or book ends.

Metalware

The metalware comprises of artistic brassware, enamelled,

engraved and filigreed cut work on silver. Apart from

jewellery, the silversmiths make beautiful boxes, trays

small statues of Krishna, Ganesh and ornamental birds,

horses and elephants, enamelled as

39
well as plain. Traditional silver articles like handas, spice bottles

and baskets command sizeable export markets. Highly

ornamented hilts and scabbards of swords and daggers

are also crafted.

Brass enamelling is an art – form in itself with three different styles

– chikan, maron and bictil each with its own repertoire of

traditional motifs and designs.

Jaipur also has a tradition of brass sculptures, well finished and

polished to a shine. Vivid enamel is also used to highlight

the engraving on beaten brassware,

Koftagari or damascene work is mostly practised in Alwar and

Jaipur. In this, one metal is encrusted into another in the

form of inlaid wiring. Popular articles include swords,

daggers, paper knives and shields.

40
Type of décor used in the hotels of Rajasthan

41
Hotel Lake Palace Udaipur

The Lake Palace is one of the most beautiful palaces in the world,

arising out of the Turquoise Waters of the Pichola like an

elegant fantasy in white marble. The Lake Palace was built

in the 17th Century on a natural foundation of 4 acres of

rock.

The Maharana, ruler of Jaipur from 1628 to 1654, was very friendly

with Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and encouraged his

craftsman to copy some of the glories of his incomparable

buildings at Agra. The successive rulers used this cool

haven as their supper resort, holding their regal durbars in

its courtyards.

42
These courtyards lined with columns, pillared terraces, fountains

and gardens all add to its impressive image. The rooms

are decorated with cusped arches, inland stones of pink

and green lotus leaves and painted mirrors.

Apartments like the Bada Mahal, Kush Mahal, Ajjan Niwas, Phool

Mahal and Dhola Mahal. All enhance the romance of the

elegant setting. Among the facilities available are

swimming pool, conference hall and a bar. Other events of

recreation organised here are excursions in and around

and a bar other events of recreation organised here are

excursions in and around and a bar other events of

recreation organised here are excursions in and around

Udaipur.

The Saloons

43
The names’ of the saloons are based on the princely states of

Rajasthan – Jaipur, Jodhpur, Alwar, Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar,

Dungarpur, Dholpur, Bharatpur, Jaisalmer, Sirohi, Bikaner,

Udaipur and Kishangarh. The décor of each saloon has

highlighted the cultural ethos of the state, represented

through the use of furniture, handicrafts, paintings and

furnishings. The ceiling in the lounge is of particular

interest.

44
Each coupe is different but the over all ambience of the décor of the

saloons has been taken care of to provide continuity. Each

saloon has cream yellow colour on its exterior walls and

bears the Coat of Arms (logo) of the erstwhile princely

states.

Each saloon has 4 coupes (sleeping rooms) with attached bath and

toilet. In every saloon, there is one saloon captain and 2

attendants to look after the personal needs of its guests.

Each saloon has a mini pantry properly equipped to

provide ready tea / coffee and snacks.

DECORATION

45
Rajasthani decors come in a fascinating range of dyed and block-

printed fabric which are further embellished by embroidery.

Stunning, unusual combinations of scarlet and shocking

pink, purple and orange, turquoise and parrot green,

saffron and crimson, shot with gold and silver steal the

limelight. Rajasthan is

46
the heartland of hand-block printing. Sanganer in Jaipur is virtually

flooded with block makers and printers. The art of Khan or

overprinting in gold is also practised here. Today,

traditional vegetable and mineral dyes are gradually being

replaced by chemical ones.

The town of Bagru excels in delightful circular designs in dark

glowing vegetable colours printed on bed spreads, table

linen and clothes. Textiles printed here have won the

hearts of million at home and abroad.

The red, black and olive green, mosaic – like patterns of the

Jajmans of Chittaurgarh are used for women’s skirts &

wraps and floor coverings.

47
Heart – warming textiles, dyed in the bandhani or tie & dye style

reign supreme in Rajasthan. The artofbano an / isa highly

skilled process. Different methods are used to tie the

fabric info small

48
 points producing different patterns like Lahariya, Mothda, Ekdali

and Shskari. The best bandhani work comes likar and

Jodhpur, while Jaipur, Pali, Udaipur and Nathdwara are the

other centres.

The women of Rajasthan have embroidering fabrics. Embroidery

practised in Bikaner is done by counting threads. The

women of Skar and Jhunihunu specialise in making

patterns of animals. Chain stitch is popular in Alwar.

Dancing figures, Flowers and Peacocks are the favourite

motifs. Women of Barmer use mirrors, thus enhancino the

beauty of the embroidered piece.

In appliqué, different pieces of cloth are patched together to make a

multi-colour edmosiac. The exotic colours, shapes and

pattern combinations against contrasting backgrounds

catch the eye.

49
Floor Coverings

Rajasthan’s Floor Covering industry has been revitalised to suit the

needs of the modern buyer and Rajasthani Carpets are

making headway in markets not only in India but abroad.

Skilled artisans had been sumn. Heart (Afghanistan) by Raja Man

Singh – I of Amer to train the local workers and at present

Jaipur, Bikaner and Amer are prominent centres of carpet

weaving. The carpet designs are mostly based on Persian

and Caucasian styles. Peacocks and flowers are the

popular motifs as well as landscapes and geometric

designs.

Rajasthani Namdas are woollen druggets decorated with

embroidery and appliqué work. Namdas produced at Tonk

are in great demand. Also available are traditional cotton

carpets called Durries which are handwoven with

geometric patterns and repeating colours.

50
Stone Craft

Religious themes are carved in stone all over Rajasthan. The

images are life – like and are skilfully sculptured in different

varieties of stone.

51
Statues of gods & goddesses, animals and human figures are

carved out of while marble in Jaipur.

The soft, Pink sandstone, Tamara stone and the soft Chlorite of

Dungraur are the other varieties of stones that are used for

making icons, utility items, figures etc.

Furniture

The furniture of Rajasthan displays grandeur and elegance. The

carved and decorated chests, chairs, cradles and low

tables & stooles are simply a steal. Each object is

desirable whether inlaid figures or embellished with hunting

scenes.

While their carved wooden doors & chairs. Tilonia furniture stands

out for its fine embroidery work done on leather.

52
Patra furniture, which is plated with white metal, has carved out its

own market niche.

Imparting exquisite beauty to chairs, table-tops and lamps in the art

of taarkashi (wire inlay) and lacquer work.

Wood Craft

Sandalwood carvings come in a range of objects and themes.

The choices is so varied that it is difficult to choose, whether it’s the

desert carvan with tiny camels, or Lord Krishna playing the

flute in a divine mood, or nymphs in aesthetic dance poses.

For the budget shoppers, also available in fragment sandalwood,

are keychains, paper knives and trinket boxes.

53
The minutely carved wooden blocks used for textile printing are so

exquisite that they are highly in demand and are often

converted into door knobs or book ends.

Exotic Indian Palaces that are converted to hotels

Most of the Indian palaces are converted into hotels. And all the

palace converted hotels reflect its own type of interiors.

Below are a few examples of such properties.

The Lalitha Mahal Palace in Mysore

Mysore was to reflect on travel itinerary that needed that places that

had a rich heritage and culture. Mysore was just one of

them. When in Mysore the ‘Lalitha Mahal Palace’ which is

by far one of the most exotic palaces. This palace was built

way back in 1921 by

54
 a king named ‘Wodeyar Krishna’ and was designed by ‘E W

Fritchley’ who was a famous English architect. Today this

palace is maintained by the India Tourism Development

Corporation and they have done a good job with it. The

exterior of the palace looks show white where as the

interiors are almost as good as new. All rooms of this

palace over – look the beautiful Chamundi hills and give

the visitor a breathtaking view of Mysore city. The palace

offers all facilities that one can expect from a five star hotel

that include swimming pools, golf grounds, health club,

lounges and a shopping arcade to get all your souvenirs.

The palace give me a glimpse of the lavish life that kings

would have lived back then.

Fern Hill Palace in Ooty

Ooty located in southern India is India’s well known tourist

destination. When in Ooty, the Fern Hill palace hotel

that has a

55
history dating back to 1840. Back then it was used by the British as

their summer resort. This palace hotel has more than 50

rooms that also include hotel rooms and cottages.

Although the palace is quite old, it is well maintained and

has everything that can make anyone feel like a maharaja.

This exotic palace coupled with the pleasant atmosphere of

the hill-station gave me something that I could cherish for

life.

Bolghatty Palace in Cochin

56
Cochin in southern India is considered the pearl of the Indian

Ocean and lives very much to its reputation. In Cochin in

Bolghatty Palace which was used as a British Governor’s

residence when India was colonized by the British. The

Kerala Tourism Development Corporation has renovated

this magnificent piece of architecture bringing it back to all

its glory. The palace has five spacious rooms and six

cottages. The rooms have been renovated beautifully, not

to destroy their essence. The art work is as good as

57
new and the portraits seem to talk back to you. It almost looks as

if time stood still in the palace since it was built way back in

1744.

Lake Palace in Udaipur

58
Udaipur in Rajasthan situated in the western part of India. The Lake

Palace in Udaipur is one of the most exotic hotels that I

ever stayed. The hotel is located in the middle of the blue

waters of lake Pichola and practically looks floating in

water from a near by fort. Built way back in 1754 by

Maharana Jagat Singh, the palace is today maintained by

the Taj Group of Hotels and offers the prefect ambience for

a romantic stay. The palace has 85 beautiful rooms along

with special suites and fascinates everyone with its

lustrous marble pillars, ancient paintings and unbelievable

works of arts including glasswork. I almost felt like staying

in a fantasy island with my room overlooking a refreshing

lily pond.

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Udaipur also has many other palace hotels but none can be

compared to the Lake Palace. I was also fascinated by the

‘Laxmi Vilas Palace’ which was once a guest house to

serve British guests.

Bikaner House (Bharatpur House) in Mount Abu

Mount Abu in Rajasthan is another hill station that fascinated me.

Mount Abu has a host of palace as this was a favourite hill

station for the Maharajas. I decided to stay in the Bikaner

House Palace which is located in one of the most scenic

locations in Mount Abu. This palace built in 1893 was used

as a summer residence for the ancient kings. The palace

as well maintained and has spacious rooms that have

ancient paintings and art work. The rooms overlook mystic

hills that look so much in peace with themselves. It almost

gave me a heaven on earth kind of an experience. One

more palace hotel which fascinated me in Mount Abu

was the

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Sunrise Palace which is situated in one its highest points. This

palace hotel was built somewhere in the year 1920 and is

quite popular with couples looking for a romantic gateway.

Nilambagh Palace in Bhavnagar

Bhavnagar, a relatively lesser known tourist destination in western

India was to stay in the famous Nilambagh Palace. Built by

Maharaja Bhavsinghji in the year 1723 this palace look like

a piece of architecture in itself. The palace is surrounded

by lush gardens and has 18 AC rooms and 5 cottages.

The rooms are spacious and offer an extremely luxurious

stay. The room in which I was put up overlooked beautiful

lawns down below and I could hear the birds chirping and

the wind blowing mildly over me. The whole atmosphere

was so tranquil ; it really took me to a different world. The

best part about the palace was the way it has been

designed and maintained. All rooms had antique

furniture, beautiful

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 chandeliers and Belgian mirrors. Then there was this striking

swimming pool that has been designed like a roman bath

with marble steps and white walkways. Taking a dip in that

exotic pool which was specifically meant for the maharajas

was I thought a true privilege.

The Palace on Wheels

The ‘Palace on Wheels’ is not a hotel or a palace, but a maharaja

style train that is run by the Government of India for

tourism purposes. I was recommended to make this train

journey by a fellow traveller and believe me ; I was glad I

took his advice. This train is designed for the purpose of

giving its voyagers a taste of ancient India and covers all

major destinations and heritage spots in Rajasthan.

Starting from Delhi (the Indian Capital), the train takes

you to all major destinations in Rajasthan that include

Jaipur,

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Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Agra and back to Delhi in a seven

day journey. I really got a good insight about the tales of

Indian kings and queens and their lifestyles at the end of

these seven unforgettable days. The interiors of the train

look no less than a five star palace hotel and that goes for

the rooms too. The rooms are comfy, contain artistic

furniture and include a private bath ; now what more could

you ask for ? When boarding my plane back home, there

was a strange nostalgic feeling that had crept over me. But

I was glad of one thing ; I had lived out my dream of living

like an Indian Maharaja.

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METHODOLOGY

64
 METHODOLOGY

DESIGN OF THE RESEARCH

The word research design provides information on how the

investigator intends to go about his research, how is target

population would be, what sort of information he is looking for, how

he elicits the information, and in what form (questionnaires,

discussions etc.)

For this research, the investigator decided that the target

population has to be just common public as the topic is directly

concerned with them.

To start with, it was decided that first hand information would

be collected directly from subject related books and through the

World Wide Web based on which a hypothesis would be made.

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 Then, the next step was to have discussions with the

instructors to find about all the possible study that’s involved in this

field.

The third and final step was in going to the common public

asking them the reasons which kind of decoration they are using,

how much deep they know about the Indian decoration which they

use and why they prefer them, and other questions in the form of a

questionnaire.

The data collected through books, World Wide Web and

through the discussions done with the instructors would provide the

back ground information for research, and the data thus obtained

from questionnaires would be analyzed to find about the reasons for

the trend.

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PILOT STUDY :

While preparing a research project, it is always important that

the viability of the research is found out before hand. There have

been instance of students taking up a topic for research, getting to

the questionnaire (Data collection) stage, and then realizing that the

research cannot be done for some particular reason. The main

purpose of a PILOT STUDY is to find out whether a particular

project in feasible and whether information can be easily obtained.

For this particular topic too, a pilot study was conducted to find

out whether it was a viable proposition or not. The pilot study

consisted of going and discussing the topic with the instructors and

the students to find out whether they were forthcoming with

information. A sample questionnaire consisting of 10 questions

were asked two staffs and five common public people to test the

viability. The result was highly satisfactory.

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 SOURCES OF DATA COLLECTION

SECONDARY DATA.

PRIMARY DATA

SECONDARY DATA

Usually, books are the most worthwhile source of

collecting secondary data (Data that has already been

recorded). But in the case of this study IMPORTANCE

OF INDIAN DÉCOR IN HOTEL the title itself was an

offbeat.

The secondary data thus collected didn’t add up to

much, and they were just used to bring the

IMPORTANCE OF INDIAN DÉCOR in India.

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 Books like ‘’INDIAN DÉCOR’’ and Magazines like

‘‘HOTELIER & CATERER etc. were used to collect

information on IMORTANCE OF INDIAN DÉCOR. Thus,

the investigator with no relevant literature on promotion

of DÉCOR in our daily life had to bank heavily on

primary data.

PRIMARY DATA

(Direct contact with respondents through questionnaires)

Discussions with HOTELIERS, HOUSEKEEPING staff

and with some IHM Chennai staffs, was one of the main

source of information for study.

The initial discussions formed the basis for the

questionnaire that was prepared for proper data collection in

later stages.

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 Thus, in this study collection of primary data was not just

reached to one kind of technique. Actually, two techniques

were used :

Direct contact with respondents through discussions.

Questionnaire.

PRIMARY DATA – SAMPLE SELECTION

Concerned IHM staffs.

Hotel staff.

PRIMARY DATA – SAMPLE SIZE

Questionnaire 2 to the hoteliers

PRIMARY DATA – TOOLS OF RESEARCH

1. Questionnaire 2) Discusisons

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ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION

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ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION

Though I have got mixed response from the customer whom all I

have collected data feed back are given by them which are as

follows :

1. A computer professional says that according to him Indian

décor play’s a very important role in bringing the hotel in to

lime light.

2. A college student says that Indian décor reflects the cultural

heritage of India and should be implied in every hotel.

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3. An elderly woman says that Indian décor and faced many

changes from the past, which now reflects in the hospitality

industries for their betterment.

4. One of the house keeping executives of a five star property

states that Indian décor is pone of the most important features

on any Indian hotel whether in India or abroad.

5. From my survey I have come to the importance of Indian décor

and the way it helps in the growth of any hotel.

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CONCLUSION

By the end of my research I would like to conclude that because of

Indian décor being used in the hotels, its gives any hotel a different,

ethnic and vibrant look. Indian décor helps in revenue generation

for any hotel. Doing a detailed study on this décor showed me the

extensive usage of Indian décor both in India and internationally.

Doing this research showed me the different sections of a hotel

where the décor can be used differently, like for example in the

different types of rooms, different Indian décor i.e. from a different

region is used to bring in the difference, in the front office we again

try and use different décor so that it is easy to differentiate, in the

bars and restaurants again we use the décor which not only

compliments the hotel but also reflects the cuisine being served.

Indian décor is very different and so it can be extensively used

differently.

In the end of the conclusion would be that Indian décor is very

extensive and its usage is nor limited, when used properly.

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SUGGESTIONS

By doing this research I found that there are so much popularity of

Indian décor in the hotel industry.

Indian décor plays a very vital role in any hotel industry. The hotel’s

ambience and décor always helps in attracting the tourists.

There are certain peoples always supporting & suggesting the

others to use Indian décor, which in turn will help in the

popularity of the hotel.

With more of westernization happening people are starting multi

cuisine restaurants and hotel with different popular décor,

which brings in lots of initial investment.

2. Most of them suggest using on Indian décor in bars and

lounges too.

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3. House keeping professionals suggest not to infuse Indian décor

with any other décor as it spoils the entire image and look.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS

1. IMPORTANCE OF DÉCOR IN THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR

BY KAREN DAVIS

2. THE WORLD ENCYCLOPEDIA OF DÉCOR

BY MELIENE AUSTIN

WEBSITES

1. WWW. INDIANHOTELS.COM

2. WWW.GOOGLE .COM

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 QUESTIONNAIRE

NAME :

DESIGNATION :

AGE : SEX : M / F

ADDRESS :

 Is Indian décor accepted world wide

YES NO

 Is Indian décor easily available and manageable

YES NO

 Do you think Indian décor plays an important role in attracting

Tourists?
YES NO

 What was your main purpose of choosing this décor?

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 How importance do you think is Indian décor in the hospitality
industry ?
● Not very important
● Important
● Very important
● Should be a part of every Indian hotel.

 How many sections of your hotel apply the Indian theme or

décor?
YES NO

 Are you satisfied with the Indian décor being used in the hotel?

 Which are the most popular different types of Indian décor mainly
used in hotels?
●

 What are the other décor that you are aware of ?

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 Any suggestion to make the Indian décor more popular.

Or
 Would you like to modify the use of Indian décor in the hospitality
and hotel industry?

80