Across the diverse tapestry of Asian countries and cultures, magnificent heritage hotels stand as living testaments to bygone eras, whispering tales of empires and cultural crossroads. These “grand dames”, meticulously maintained and overflowing with character, offer a unique blend of history, luxury, and cultural immersion.
From the Bosphorus Strait to the Subcontinent to the Far East, most existing Asian heritage hotels were created by wealthy merchants, heads of state, and Maharajas between the 18th and 20th centuries, while some date as far back as the 8th century.
While some structures were built as hotels, others occupy former palaces, forts, and mansions. Built along ancient trade routes, or nestled in bustling cities, they reflect a captivating fusion of local and colonial architecture. Opulent, spacious, and adorned with intricate carvings, high ceilings, selected marble floors, and crystal chandeliers, they are remnants of a time when luxury knew no bounds.
Woven into the very fabric of their surroundings, these historic hotels (some listed under UNESCO Heritage) have transcended mere lodging to become tourist attractions in their own right and continue to welcome a wreath of affluent travelers from across the globe seeking to experience the old charm and culture.
Listed below are just some of the iconic heritage properties still operating today. (In case I have missed your favorite one, please let me know in the comments).
Heritage Hotels opened before the Second World War in Asia
| Opening Year | Names/Brands & Location |
| 705 | Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, Hayakawa, Japan (oldest operating in the world) |
| 718 | Hōshi Ryokan, Komatsu, Ishikawa, Japan |
| 1191 | Arima Onsen, Kita-ku, Kobe, Japan |
| 1684 | Amangalla Hotel, Galle, Sri-Lanka (former Dutch & British Offices) |
| 1700 | Abbasi Hotel (Shah Abbas), Isfahan, Iran |
| 1727 | The Raj Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India |
| 1729 | Sujan Rajmahal Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India |
| 1746 | Lake Palace Hotel, Udaipur, India (now Taj) |
| 1756 | Jing’s Residence, Pingyao, China |
| 1783 | Elgin Fairlawn Heritage Hotel, Kolkata, India |
| 1806 | Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 1832 | Royale Chulan Hotel, Penang, Malaysia |
| 1835 | Rambach Palace Hotel, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India |
| 1841 | LaLiT Great Eastern Hotel, Kolkata, India |
| 1856 | Bellevue-Dibbets/Salak Heritage Hotel, Bogor, Indonesia |
| 1861 | Fort Canning Hotel, Singapore (former British Military Administration) |
| 1863 | Adelphi Hotel, Singapore (now Adelphi complex) (Sarkies Brothers) * |
| 1864 | Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri-Lanka |
| 1867 | Cigaran Palace, Istanbul, Turkey (former Ottoman Palace) |
| 1874 | Palmira Hotel, Baalbek, Lebanon |
| 1875 | Grand Oriental Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 1876 | Oriental Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand (now Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok) |
| 1880 | Hotel Continental, Saigon, Vietnam |
| 1880 | Falletti’s Hotel, Lahore, Pakistan |
| 1880 | Capella Hotel, Sentosa, Singapore (former British Garrisons) |
| 1885 | Lal Durbar Palace/Yak & Yeti Hotel, Kathmandu, Nepal |
| 1885 | Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang, Malaysia (Sarkies Brothers) * |
| 1887 | Raffles Hotel, Singapore (Sarkies Brothers) * |
| 1887 | Elgin Heritage Resort & SPA, Darjeeling, Himalaya, India |
| 1888 | Grand Kolkata Hotel, Kolkata, India (now the Oberoi Grand) |
| 1888 | Okura Hotel, Kyoto, Japan |
| 1890 | Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, Japan |
| 1891 | e’L Kartika Wijaya Hotel, Batu, East Java, Indonesia (Sarkies Brothers) * |
| 1891 | Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka (former Governor Residence) |
| 1892 | West End Hotel, Bangalore, India |
| 1892 | Pera Palace Hotel, Tepebasi – Istanbul, Turkey |
| 1895 | 137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
| 1900 | Miyako Hotel, Kyoto, Japan (now Westin) |
| 1900 | Goodwood Park Hotel, Singapore (former Teutonia Club) |
| 1901 | Strand Hotel, Yangon, Burma (Sarkies Brothers) * |
| 1901 | Metropole Hotel, Hanoi, Vietnam (now Sofitel) |
| 1902 | Tai O Heritage Hotel, Lantau Island, Hong Kong (former Police Station) |
| 1902 | Maidens Hotel, Delhi, India |
| 1902 | American Colony Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel |
| 1903 | Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, India |
| 1904 | Satri House Hotel, Luang Prabang, Laos |
| 1908 | Chakrabongse Villa, Bangkok, Thailand |
| 1909 | Nara Hotel, Nara, Japan |
| 1909 | Shanghai Club/Hotel, Shanghai, China (now Waldorf Astoria) |
| 1910 | Majapahit Hotel, Surabaya, Indonesia (Sarkies Brothers) * |
| 1910 | Phoenix Hotel, Yogyakarta, Indonesia |
| 1910 | Hotel Ibrahim Pasha, Istanbul, Turkey (former residence) |
| 1912 | Manila Hotel, Manila, Philippines |
| 1914 | Chosen Hotel, Seoul, Korea (now Westin Chosun, new building) |
| 1914 | Shanghai Ruijin/Morris Garden Hotel, Shanghai, China (now InterContinental) |
| 1914 | Jacir Palace Hotel, Bethlehem, Palestine (former residence) |
| 1915 | Tokyo Station Hotel, Tokyo, Japan |
| 1915 | Grand Hotel de Pekin, Beijing, China |
| 1919 | Four Seasons at Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey (former resid & prison) |
| 1920 | Belmond Governor’s Residence, Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) |
| 1920 | Rex Hotel, Saigon, Vietnam |
| 1920 | Majestic Hotel, Malacca, Malaysia (former Mansion) |
| 1923 | Cafe Batavia & Hermitage Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia |
| 1923 | Railway Hotel, Hua Hin, Thailand (now Centara Grand) |
| 1926 | Rachamankha Hotel, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
| 1926 | French Club/Hotel, Shanghai, China (now Okura) |
| 1927 | Centre Hotel, Nanjing, China (now Zhongyang Hotel) |
| 1928 | Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong SAR |
| 1928 | Tjampuhan Hotel, Ubud-Bali, Indonesia |
| 1928 | Fullerton Hotel, Singapore (hotel since 2001, former General Post Office) |
| 1929 | Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, India (now Taj) |
| 1929 | Cathay Hotel, Shanghai, China (now Peace Hotel, Fairmont) |
| 1929 | Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh, Cambodia (now Raffles) |
| 1930 | La Residence Hue Hotel & Spa, Hue, Vietnam |
| 1930 | Cameron Highlands Resort, Pahang, Malaysia |
| 1930 | Jian Ye Li Mansion, Shanghai, China (now Capella Shanghai) |
| 1930 | Oranje Hotel, Singapore (now the Capitol Kempinski Hotel) |
| 1931 | King David Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel |
| 1932 | Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| 1932 | Settha Palace Hotel, Vientiane, Laos |
| 1932 | Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia (now Raffles) |
| 1934 | Metropolo Classiq Hotel, Shanghai, China (now Jianjiang Hotel) |
| 1936 | Imperial Hotel, Kyoto, Japan |
| 1936 | Imperial Hotel, New Delhi, India |
| 1938 | Yabshi Phunkhang Heritage Hotel, Lhasa, China |
*FYI: The first hotel group in Asia (a portfolio of 9 Hotels) was founded and managed by the Sarkies Brothers & Family;
Hotels included: 1863 – The Adelphi Hotel, Singapore. 1884 – The Eastern Hotel Penang and in 1885 – The Oriental Hotel Penang that in 1889 were combined into the Eastern & Oriental Hotel. 1887 – The Raffles Hotel, Singapore. 1891 – The Kartika Wijaya, Batu-East Java, Indonesia. 1901 – The Strand Hotel in Rangoon. 1905 – The Crag Hotel in Penang. 1910 – The Majapahit Hotel, Surabaya. 1923 – The Seaview Hotel, Singapore.