India’s Perfume capital opens chapter of Uttar Pradesh’s first luxury heritage homestay

Adding a new dimension to the tourism appeal, Uttar Pradesh Tourism has unveiled Anand Bhawan Palace, Tirwa, Kannauj, as the state’s first luxury heritage homestay.

Developed in collaboration with amã Stays & Trails of Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), the opening marks not just the 150th bungalow in amã’s national portfolio, but also the beginning of a new era for Kannauj — India’s perfume capital — as it opens a fresh chapter in experiential tourism.

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Built in 1929 and spread across five acres, Anand Bhawan Palace is a stately zamindari-era property owned by Digvijay Narain Singh. Located just 4 km from Kannauj Railway Station and 136 km from Lucknow International Airport, the palace has now been reimagined as an immersive cultural stay that highlights Kannauj’s heritage and perfumed traditions.

With Kannauj welcoming 13,04,754 tourists in 2024, the launch of this property provides a powerful new anchor for tourism in the perfume capital of India.

The palace features six heritage suites named after timeless perfumes of Kannauj — Jasmine, Patchouli, Oudh, Neroli, Gulaab, and Bakhoor. Expansive verandas, sweeping gardens, and heritage galleries are paired with curated experiences: farm-to-table dining with regional delicacies and Nepalese flavours, barbecue nights under the stars, leisure by the swimming pool, billiards in a vintage games room, birdwatching at the Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary, and guided tours of Kannauj’s attar-making traditions.

Commenting on the launch, UP Tourism & Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “UP Tourism is making all efforts in line with the vision of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to promote heritage-led tourism and position Uttar Pradesh as a pioneer. Anand Bhawan Palace is a symbol of how our heritage homes can be preserved and brought alive as spaces of culture, hospitality, and economic growth.”

Mukesh Kumar Meshram, state Principal Secretary, Tourism, UP, said, “Kannauj is celebrated worldwide as the perfume capital of India and attracted over 13 lakh tourists last year. With Anand Bhawan Palace opening as a heritage homestay, we are adding a new dimension to the tourism appeal. I encourage property owners across Uttar Pradesh to walk hand in hand with us, so that together we can conserve heritage, generate livelihoods, and create unforgettable experiences for visitors.”

Prakhar Misra, Director, UP Tourism (Eco), said, “Uttar Pradesh has numerous zamindari homes, havelis, and palaces that cannot be developed as commercial hotels but hold immense value as heritage spaces. Anand Bhawan Palace is a model of how such properties can be converted into luxury homestays, keeping their soul intact while giving travellers an authentic experience of history and culture.”

The inauguration was marked by a ribbon-cutting by Mukesh Kumar Meshram, in the presence of Ashutosh Agnihotri, District Magistrate Kannauj; Prakhar Misra, Director, UP Tourism (Eco); Sumit Bazaz, Vice President, amã Homestays; and Vinod Pandey, Cluster General Manager, IHCL.

With this launch, Uttar Pradesh has taken a first-of-its-kind step in creating a network of heritage homestays. UP Tourism has also invited private heritage property owners and potential investors to partner in this effort, ensuring that palaces, havelis, and zamindari homes across the state can be revived as experiential spaces for tourism.