OYO Hotel Samrat Palace

About OYO Hotel Samrat Palace

OYO Hotel Samrat Palace is a practical base for travellers whose plans hinge on Howrah station. The hotel sits on the west bank of the Hooghly in Howrah, close to one of India's busiest railway stations, so an early departure or a late arrival does not mean a long cross-city run in the dark. Guests who spend most days in Kolkata cross the river by ferry, metro or cab and come back in the evening. It suits people who want a simple room and a straightforward location rather than a holiday in itself.

This is a two-star hotel with a guest score of 3.1 out of 5 from 667 reviews, which places it among the simple, functional stays rather than the polished ones. Expectations should match: air conditioning, a bathroom with shower, towels and toiletries, a television and Wi-Fi. Breakfast is listed, room service runs, and the front desk stays open around the clock. Travellers who need a bed near the station and little else tend to be the happiest here.

Location and neighbourhood

Howrah lies on the west bank of the Hooghly, opposite central Kolkata, and the district revolves around Howrah station, one of India's busiest. The hotel's address on GT Road in Shibpur puts it south of the station, near the old tram depot. This side of the river has fewer good hotels than the Kolkata bank, which is why the address appeals to people with trains to catch. Sightseeing, shopping and most restaurant choices sit across the water.

A few things are close enough to reach on foot, including Howrah Maidan metro station at 1.5 km and Prinsep Ghat at 1.7 km over the bridge. Most other trips need a ride: Esplanade is 2.8 km away, Park Street 3.4 km, Victoria Memorial 3.2 km and New Market 2.9 km, with road times of roughly 15 to 30 minutes depending on traffic on the bridge approaches.

Mornings here start early and loud, with commuters converging on the station and the roads filling before eight. Evenings are calmer on the river side, and the Strand Road stretch towards Prinsep Ghat is pleasant after sunset. During Durga Puja weeks the riverfront heaves with crowds and traffic, so allow extra time for any crossing. Christmas and New Year bring lights and crowds to Park Street on the Kolkata side rather than to Howrah.

Rooms and facilities

For business travellers the essentials are covered: Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a 24-hour front desk and room service, which matters when work runs past restaurant hours. Rooms are non-smoking, a relief in a city where winter haze can be thick. GT Road carries traffic late into the night, so mention at booking if a quieter room is needed. Check whether Wi-Fi reaches the room or only public areas, and whether a table is provided for a laptop.

Families get a straightforward set-up: breakfast on site, towels and toiletries provided, a television in the room and housekeeping through the stay. Rooms are arranged for short stays, so a family of four may prefer two rooms rather than one. Late arrivals are covered by the 24-hour desk, and room service means a meal is possible after a delayed train. Confirm how many guests a room officially sleeps, and whether breakfast comes with the room.

Kolkata's heat and monsoon shape how the room works. Air conditioning is not a luxury between April and September, and it is worth checking at booking that the unit is serviced. Monsoon downpours bring waterlogging to low-lying roads, so a hotel close to the station is an advantage. Confirm check-in and check-out times, the breakfast window, room service hours and whether the non-smoking rule covers the whole property or only some rooms.

Getting there

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Dum Dum is 15.9 km away in a straight line, and the road journey usually takes 50 to 80 minutes depending on traffic on the northern approach roads. Prepaid taxis and app cabs both run from the arrivals area, and the airport metro station on the Yellow Line is an option for light luggage, with services expanding. Allow extra time in the morning peak and in the monsoon, when surface roads slow down.

Howrah station is the reason many guests pick this address: 2.6 km away, usually 15 to 25 minutes by road, and reachable at awkward hours. Sealdah station on the east side of the centre is 4.7 km away, a 20 to 35 minute run that crosses the river. For early departures from Howrah, leave generous margin for the queue at the bridge approach, which can lengthen without warning. Ask the front desk for current journey times on the day of travel.

The Green Line puts the river tunnel to good use. Howrah Maidan station is 1.5 km from the hotel and Howrah station is 2.6 km, and from either you can ride under the Hooghly to Esplanade, Sealdah and Salt Lake Sector V. This is often quicker than a cab at peak hours and avoids the bridge entirely. Stations and hours change as lines extend, so check Metro Railway Kolkata before relying on a late-night service.

Food and sights near OYO Hotel Samrat Palace

Prinsep Ghat, 1.7 km away, is the nearest sight worth planning around: the Palladian memorial of 1843 on Strand Road, sitting under Vidyasagar Setu, best in the hour before sunset. Howrah Bridge and the Mallick Ghat flower market beneath its Kolkata end are 3 km away, and an early visit to the market is a proper introduction to the city's working riverfront. Both are close enough to combine in one outing.

BBD Bagh, 2.7 km away, holds the Writers' Building, the GPO and the High Court around Lal Dighi, and rewards a slow walk. The Indian Museum, founded in 1814 and the oldest museum in India, is 3 km off, while Victoria Memorial is 3.2 km. New Market, opened in 1874, sits 2.9 km away and combines shopping with a kathi roll; Nizam's near the market is credited with the original.

Food on the Howrah side is everyday rather than destination dining, so plan meals across the river. Park Street, 3.4 km away, has Flurys, Peter Cat, Mocambo and Trincas within a short stretch, and Esplanade and New Market cover cheap Bengali and Indian-Chinese eating. Tangra, east Kolkata's Chinese quarter, is a longer trip for a full evening. Near the hotel, Nizam's rolls or a plate of phuchka from a street stall work well.

• Prinsep Ghat at sunset (1.7 km)
• BBD Bagh heritage walk (2.7 km)
• New Market (2.9 km)
• Indian Museum (3.0 km)
• Howrah Bridge & Mallick Ghat (3.0 km)

A day from OYO Hotel Samrat Palace

Start early and cross the river for the Mallick Ghat flower market under Howrah Bridge, 3 km away, where trading begins well before sunrise and winds down through the morning. From there, walk or take a short cab to BBD Bagh, 2.7 km from the hotel, for the colonial set pieces around Lal Dighi: the Writers' Building of 1777, the GPO of 1868 and the High Court. Return to the hotel to eat, or have breakfast near the market before the heat builds.

Keep the afternoon indoors or in air conditioning. The Indian Museum, 3 km away, is the obvious choice and holds sculpture, painting and antiquities; it closes on Mondays and some national holidays. Victoria Memorial, 3.2 km away, offers 64 acres of grounds and a museum, also closed on Mondays. In April and May, or during the monsoon, pick one rather than both, and take a cab between them instead of walking in the heat.

End the day at Prinsep Ghat, 1.7 km away, arriving an hour before sunset for the light on the river and the memorial. From there a cab across the bridge reaches Park Street, 3.4 km from the hotel, in roughly 15 to 30 minutes, which leaves time for dinner at one of its long-standing restaurants. Getting back is easiest by app cab; ferries from Babughat and the metro at Esplanade are alternatives while they are running.

Booking tips and when to go

Book ahead for Durga Puja, usually late September or October, when the city fills and road times stretch; the same applies to the Christmas to New Year period, when Park Street draws crowds. Availability on the Howrah side can be easier than in central Kolkata, but early trains still mean booking in advance. Confirm check-in and check-out times with the property, since these are set by the hotel, and ask about cancellation terms before paying.

November to February is the best window for this area: dry, comfortable weather for the flower market, Prinsep Ghat and long walks around BBD Bagh. March warms up quickly, April and May bring afternoons above 35 °C and evening kalbaishakhi storms, and the monsoon runs roughly June to September, with the heaviest rain in July and waterlogging after downpours. Winter mornings can be hazy with poor air quality, which matters for anyone planning long walks.

Carry cash for taxis, markets and street food, even though cards and UPI are widely accepted in hotels and restaurants. Yellow Ambassador taxis are metered, so insist on the meter, or use an app cab instead. Drink bottled or filtered water, particularly in the monsoon. Dress modestly at temples such as Kalighat, and remove shoes where required. Ferry crossings are a pleasant alternative to the bridge, but check the last service of the day before planning an evening across the river.

OYO Hotel Samrat Palace: questions

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