Owned and run by an Armenian lady Mrs. Violet Smith, for whom this has always been and is home, Fairlawn hotel offers the traveller an experience most other hotels won’t. Plenty of history has taken place within these walls. The building has existed on this site since 1783, and was built by a European Mr William Ford who purchased the land from Sheikh Ramjan and Bhonay in 1781.

The construction happened shortly after the land was purchased, when the property passed into the hands of Mr George Chisholm. The word Pukka (proper) denotes that it was built of brick. The ruling Nawabs allowed Bengalis to build from coconut palm and mud, only with his specific and costly permission.

The building has been declared heritage after a few decades and during the world war was even requisitioned for the Canadian Air Force after which it was known as Canada House. The very existence of the hotel reeks of history. A place where love stories have been made, where wars have been fought and where different generations of different families have lived. And the best part is, once inside Fairlawn you can see it all.

Of course, there is some history here that will delight more ‘contemporary’ travellers. The entire cast of the critically acclaimed movie City of Joy have been hosted were. Artists, sculptors, actors and writers from all around the world have stayed here to make use of its unique atmosphere – Gunther Grass, Sting, Julie Christie and Tom Stoppard….

This hotel is a great sanctuary away from all that hectic and dirty streets of chaotic Calcutta city. It is so calm and quiet that it almost resembles some sort of a mini heritage museum. Family portraits of the owner's kin, various kinds of exotic Indian and Chinese artefacts blended with Colonial Era interior design plus a library filled with many genres ranging from historical to wildlife are exhibited throughout the upper floor of this family-owned hotel.

A 20 room hotel, Fairlawn is frequented by foreign travellers especially from Europe. Loaded with character, Fairlawn is laidback enough for young travellers, interesting enough for the older ones and spacious enough for the groups. All in all this hotel seems like the perfect combination of everything meant for everyone. With 7 national awards in the 2 star hotel category under its belt the Fairlawn is surely an experience to be remembered.