Designed by D.J. Blomfield and completed in 1936, the white stucco building that houses The Imperial New Delhi was conceived as a statement of imperial confidence along Janpath — then Queen's Way — one of Lutyens' axial arteries threading through the newly proclaimed capital. The facade carries the particular hybrid conviction of late colonial Delhi: Art Deco massing softened by Mughal detailing, the clean horizontal lines of the period interrupted by Rajasthani sandstone lion sentinels at the porte-cochère and pool terrace, carved with a craftsmanship that feels distinctly subcontintental rather than imported. That tension between European modernism and Indian decorative tradition is the building's central character, and it has never been resolved — which is precisely what makes it compelling. Inside, the 235 rooms divide between two distinct registers. The heritage wing suites, visible in the images, deploy diamond-pattern marble floors, panelled plaster walls with gilt-edged moulding, Anglo-Indian rosewood furniture, and antique prints of Mughal Delhi — an atmosphere closer to a well-kept viceregal residence than a hotel room. The 1911 Bar, anchored by its extraordinary domed mahogany counter suspended beneath a stained-glass canopy, channels the ceremonial weight of a gentlemen's club. The pool terrace, flanked by a processional row of carved sandstone lions against a backdrop of palm and neem, extends the building's capacity for theatrical grandeur into the landscape — colonial geometry held in place by tropical Delhi pressing in at every edge.

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Built on an eight-acre estate, it offers a safe haven and refuge in the heart of India’s bustling capital. Ideally located on Janpath, the erstwhile Queensway, and near the esteemed government offices, it is nestled in the most illustrious cultural, entertainment, and political district, just a 30-minute drive from the International airport. The hotel has a priceless collection of over 5000 original artworks from the 17th and 18th centuries across common areas, floors, and accommodations. Since its inception, The Imperial has hosted the city’s most important social gatherings, royalty and dignitaries from India and overseas, silver-screen celebrities from around the globe, and many discerning guests alike.