How Hotel Sunderban continues to preserve a royal legacy in Pune's Koregaon Park

Indian Express

11-05-2025

Written by Aarushi Prakash
Hotel Sunderban in Koregaon Park has an important neighbour to whom its destiny has been tied for decades – the Osho International Meditation Resort. Yet, unlike the boundless energies and free expressions of the spiritual landmark, Hotel Sunderban exults in a quiet, old-world tranquility.
Suresh Talera, who manages the hotel on behalf of the Talera family, says, 'During the British rule, when Gujarat and Maharashtra were a single state, the Gaekwad royal family of Baroda owned around seven to eight bungalows in Koregaon Park. The most beautiful of these is now Hotel Sunderban. Preserving this building meant a lot to us. Looking after it is like caring for an 80-90-year-old person. It takes time, effort, and patience. Honestly, it can be a bit of a headache, but it is a headache I love.'
The bungalow was built between 1924 and 1926 in the Art Deco style, with sleek lines and subtle curves and was popular in Mumbai and other cities during the colonial period. It was transformed into a boutique hotel by the Talera family in 1979. They retained the grandeur that emanates through simple, large windows, textured walls, and abundant woodwork. The hotel's design blends seamlessly with the surrounding garden.
The building materials are wood, stone, terrazzo, and lime plaster that lend texture and impact the way the building responds to light. 'The property has an old charm, with plenty of woodwork, which is rare these days because it is so expensive. We have made sure to preserve the woodwork. Over the years, we have never painted the wood; we only polished it, which costs more but keeps it looking natural. We have kept and maintained the furniture of the royal family along with the tiles and window frames, among others,' says Talera.
The Osho influence
The hotel began out of a growing need for accommodation near the Osho ashram. The spiritual teachings of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh had attracted people from across the world, especially youth from the West, and soon, accommodation options ran out.
'There was a big traffic of foreigners, but people were not renting out their premises as they were worried the foreigners wouldn't vacate,' says Talera. The collector called a meeting with the ashram members and local property owners, but no clear solution was reached.
'At this point, we were already in the hotel business, so we proposed converting the bungalow into a hotel if we were given a licence. The proposal was approved quickly, with the licence issued soon after,' says Talera. At the time, Koregaon Park was considered far from Pune city, and not many people went there, so the hotel mainly served the Osho community.
Talera has lived in Koregaon Park since the 1970s. For him, the area is a way of life. When modern developments started changing the neighbourhood, he went to the Bombay High Court and won the case to help protect the large bungalows from being replaced by high-rises. Hotel Sunderban exists because of that effort. 'I've always loved old houses with wooden work and classic designs, as I have always lived in such houses,' he says.
Talera says that, nowadays, many old properties in Koregaon Park are being demolished. This troubles him. He often approaches architects or owners, urging them to preserve the old charm, but they argue that the architecture does not fit modern lifestyles. Since Osho's death, the hotel's capacity has been reduced from 50 rooms to 22, says Talera. The area of these 28 rooms is now being repurposed for other functions due to the decreased influx of visitors. Despite these changes, Hotel Sunderban still offers a taste of genteel ambience, providing a peaceful escape in the city's heart.
(Aarushi Prakash is an intern with The Indian Express)