About Shila International
Shila International is a three-star hotel on AJC Bose Road, on the southern edge of the Park Street area and within walking distance of the Maidan. It suits first-time visitors who want to reach the city's best-known sights and restaurants on foot rather than by cab. Guests score it 3.9 out of 5 across 192 reviews, which points to a dependable, unshowy city hotel. The address puts the Indian Museum, the Victoria Memorial and Park Street itself within a short walk or a brief ride.
The stay is a straightforward city hotel rather than a destination in itself. Rooms come with air conditioning and Wi-Fi, there is an on-site restaurant, a bar and a spa, and a business centre for anyone mixing work with a short break. A 24-hour front desk helps with late arrivals and early departures. Book it for the position and the practical facilities, and plan to spend most of each day out in the city.
Location and neighbourhood
Park Street, officially Mother Teresa Sarani, is the city's traditional dining and evening street. Flurys has traded there since 1927, and Peter Cat, Mocambo and Trincas are all on the same stretch. The Asiatic Society, founded in 1784, and the South Park Street Cemetery, opened in 1767, sit in the same few blocks. Side streets such as Camac Street, Middleton Row and Russell Street hold smaller addresses, while Sudder Street and Free School Street to the north are the old budget lanes.
Several sights are genuinely walkable from the door. Park Street is 1.3 km away by road, the Victoria Memorial 1.1 km, and St Paul's Cathedral 0.7 km. Rabindra Sadan metro is 0.7 km and Maidan metro 0.8 km. Esplanade, at 2.6 km, is a 15 to 25 minute road ride, while the Indian Museum at 1.8 km is a walk or a short cab. Howrah station, at 4.8 km, needs a vehicle.
Mornings are calm before the traffic builds on AJC Bose Road, and the Maidan is at its best for an early walk. Evenings belong to Park Street, when the restaurants fill and the pavements stay busy. Around Christmas, Park Street and Allen Park are lit from mid-December to New Year. Durga Puja, usually late September or October, brings crowds and road closures, so check the current year's dates with West Bengal Tourism.
Rooms and facilities
For business travellers the hotel covers the basics without fuss. Wi-Fi runs through the building, there is a business centre and a desk in the room, and copying is available. The 24-hour front desk handles late check-in, luggage storage and taxi arrangements, and room service means a meal after a long journey. Laundry and dry cleaning are offered, and car rental can be arranged through the property. Currency exchange on site saves a trip into the centre.
Families can ask for the family rooms, and non-smoking rooms are listed. Air conditioning matters here: April and May often pass 35°C and the monsoon runs roughly June to September, with waterlogging after heavy downpours. The spa and massage service is a sensible way to end a hot afternoon, and the restaurant and bar mean you do not have to go out for every meal. A lounge and entertainment activities round out the indoor options.
Confirm the details that matter to your stay when you book. Ask about check-in and check-out times, whether breakfast comes as a buffet or in the room, and which room category you are getting. If you want a spa appointment, a smoking or non-smoking room, or an airport pickup, arrange it in advance. Ask about accepted payment methods and whether a safe is provided. Reception can settle all of this before arrival.
All 44 listed facilities
- 24 Hour Front Desk
- 24H. Security
- ATM
- Air conditioning
- Banquet
- Barber/Beauty Salon
- Bars
- Breakfast in room
- Buffet
- Business Center
- Car rental service
- Cleaning
- Coffee
- Currency exchange
- Desk
- Dry cleaning service
- Entertainment activities
- Family rooms
- Fan
- First aid
- Free Wifi
- Housekeeping
- Internet access
- Iron and board
- Laundry Service
- Lounge
- Luggage storage
- Lunch
- Market
- Massage
- Night club
- Non smoking rooms
- Restaurant(s)
- Room Service
- Safe
- Security Features
- Smoke detector
- Sofa bed
- Spa
- Special diets
- TV
- Telephone
- Toiletries
- Wifi
Getting there
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) is about 15.9 km away in straight-line distance, near Dum Dum to the north-east. Allow 50 to 80 minutes by road depending on traffic, which can be heavy in the middle of the day. The Yellow Line reaches Jai Hind Bimanbandar station at the airport, though services are still expanding, so check Metro Railway Kolkata for current stations and hours before relying on it.
Howrah station, on the west bank, is 4.8 km away and takes 20 to 35 minutes by road once you are across the river. Sealdah, on the east side of the centre, is 3.4 km and 15 to 30 minutes. Both are mainline terminals with taxi ranks outside. Some long-distance trains and services to Bangladesh use Kolkata station at Chitpur. Keep the road time in mind when timing a departure.
The Blue Line is the simplest way in. Rabindra Sadan is 0.7 km from the hotel and Maidan 0.8 km, both on the north-south line through Esplanade, Park Street, Central and Kalighat. The Green Line connects Esplanade with Howrah Maidan under the river, and with Sealdah and Salt Lake Sector V. Lines are still being extended, so check Metro Railway Kolkata for current stations. With luggage, a cab from the station is easier than the walk.
| To | Distance | By road |
|---|---|---|
| Park Street | 1.3 km | walkable |
| Esplanade | 2.6 km | 15–25 minutes |
| Victoria Memorial | 1.1 km | walkable |
| Howrah station | 4.8 km | 20–35 minutes |
| Sealdah station | 3.4 km | 15–30 minutes |
| Kolkata airport (CCU) | 15.9 km | 50–80 minutes |
| Rabindra Sadan metro | 650 m | walkable |
| Maidan metro | 750 m | walkable |
Food and sights near Shila International
The Victoria Memorial is 1.1 km away, a white Makrana marble building completed between 1906 and 1921, with 64 acres of grounds. The museum closes on Mondays and some national holidays. St Paul's Cathedral, consecrated in 1847, is 0.7 km from the door. Both sit on the edge of the Maidan, so the pair makes an easy half day on foot, with the lawns between them for a rest.
The Indian Museum, 1.8 km away, was founded in 1814 and is the oldest museum in India. The South Park Street Cemetery, opened in 1767, is 1.3 km off and rewards an unhurried hour among its tombs and obelisks. Park Street's restaurants and music venues are 1.3 km away: Flurys for breakfast or tea, Peter Cat and Mocambo for dinner, and Trincas for live music later on.
For shopping and the evening, the side streets off Park Street do the work. Camac Street, Middleton Row and Russell Street hold smaller shops and cafés, and Sudder Street and Free School Street to the north are worth a wander in daylight. At Christmas the lights on Park Street and in Allen Park are the reason to walk its full length after dark. The hotel's own bar and lounge are the fallback for a nightcap.
- St Paul’s Cathedral (700 m)
- Victoria Memorial (1.1 km)
- South Park Street Cemetery (1.3 km)
- Park Street food & music (1.3 km)
- Indian Museum (1.8 km)
A day from Shila International
Start early and on foot. Walk to the Victoria Memorial, 1.1 km away, for the grounds and the building before the day heats up, checking first that it is not a Monday. From there, St Paul's Cathedral is 0.7 km back towards the hotel, consecrated in 1847 and a cool place to sit for a while. Return across the Maidan. In April and May, aim to be finished by late morning.
After lunch and a rest, take the Indian Museum, 1.8 km away, or the South Park Street Cemetery at 1.3 km if the weather is kind. The cemetery is open to the sky, so a monsoon afternoon is better spent indoors at the museum. Rabindra Sadan metro, 0.7 km away, makes a short hop towards Esplanade or Kalighat if you want to extend the afternoon further.
In the evening, walk to Park Street, 1.3 km by road, and eat there. Flurys suits an early tea, Peter Cat and Mocambo a full dinner, and Trincas a later night with music. In December the Christmas lights along Park Street and in Allen Park make the walk itself the point. Return on foot or take a short cab back to AJC Bose Road.
Booking tips and when to go
Book well ahead for Durga Puja, usually late September or October, and for the Christmas period, when Park Street is at its busiest from mid-December to New Year. Festival dates move with the lunar calendar, so check the current year's dates. Ask the hotel directly about check-in and check-out times and about holding luggage before or after your stay. Avoid arriving by road during office rush hours where you can.
November to February is the best season for this area. December and January have highs in the mid-20s °C and are the coolest months, and February is pleasant for walking to the Maidan and the Victoria Memorial. March warms into the low 30s, April and May are hot and humid, and the monsoon runs roughly June to September. October rains taper off before the comfortable weather sets in.
Carry some cash for taxis, markets and street food, though cards and UPI are widely accepted in hotels, malls and restaurants. Insist on the meter in yellow Ambassador taxis or book an app cab instead. Drink bottled water, particularly during the monsoon. Dress modestly at temples and check entry rules with the temple authorities before setting out. The Kalighat Kali temple is a short Blue Line ride south of Rabindra Sadan.
Shila International: questions
Where is Shila International in Kolkata?
Shila International stands at 233 AJC Bose Road in the Park Street area, close to the Maidan. Victoria Memorial is about 1.1 km away, St Paul's Cathedral about 0.7 km and the Indian Museum about 1.8 km. Park Street itself, with its restaurants and cafés, is roughly 1.3 km on foot. Sudder Street and Free School Street lie to the north.
How far is Shila International from Kolkata airport?
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is about 15.9 km from Shila International in a straight line. The road journey to Dum Dum usually takes 50 to 80 minutes, depending on traffic, so allow extra time at peak hours. Jai Hind Bimanbandar metro station on the Yellow Line also serves the airport; check Metro Railway Kolkata for current services and hours.
How far are Howrah and Sealdah stations from Shila International?
Howrah station is about 4.8 km from Shila International in a straight line, and Sealdah about 3.4 km. By road, allow roughly 20 to 35 minutes from Howrah and 15 to 30 minutes from Sealdah, depending on traffic. Metered yellow taxis and app cabs are available at both stations; ask for the meter to be used.
Which metro station is closest to Shila International?
Rabindra Sadan on the Blue Line is about 0.7 km from Shila International, and Maidan is about 0.8 km, both short walks. The Blue Line runs north to south through Esplanade, Central, M.G. Road and Shyambazar, and south towards Kalighat and Kavi Subhash. Check Metro Railway Kolkata for current stations and timings before travelling.
What facilities does Shila International have?
Shila International provides air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk, room service, an on-site restaurant and a bar. There is also a spa, a business centre, a banquet hall, family rooms, laundry and dry cleaning, luggage storage and a hair and beauty salon. Currency exchange and car rental service can be arranged through the front desk.
Does Shila International suit families?
Yes. Shila International has family rooms and non-smoking rooms, and the 24-hour front desk is staffed at all hours. The Maidan, St Paul's Cathedral and the Victoria Memorial grounds are close by, which keeps days out with children short and simple. The on-site restaurant and room service cover meals without leaving the hotel.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Shila International?
Times at Shila International are set by the hotel and can change with room type and season, so confirm them directly with the front desk before booking and ask about early arrival or a late departure. The 24-hour front desk means someone is on hand whenever a train or flight lands. Photo identification is normally required at check-in.
What sights are near Shila International?
St Paul's Cathedral is about 0.7 km from Shila International and the Victoria Memorial about 1.1 km, both walkable. South Park Street Cemetery is about 1.3 km, and the Indian Museum about 1.8 km. Park Street's restaurants and music venues are roughly 1.3 km away. Winter mornings are the easiest time to walk across the Maidan.
When is the best time to stay at Shila International?
November to February is the most comfortable window for a stay at Shila International, with cool, dry weather for walking to the Maidan and the Victoria Memorial. Durga Puja, usually in late September or October, fills the city; check the current year's dates. March warms up, and the monsoon from June to September brings heavy rain and waterlogging.
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