Uttar Pradesh Tourism has unveiled Uttar Pradesh Tourism, Tirwa, Kannauj, as the state’s first luxury heritage homestay. Developed in collaboration with amã Stays & Trails by Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), the opening marks the 150th bungalow in amã’s national portfolio and positions Kannauj – India’s perfume capital – as a compelling new destination for experiential tourism.
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 been reimagined as a cultural escape, emphasising Kannauj’s perfumed traditions. Kannauj welcomed over 1.3 million tourists in 2024, and this launch strengthens the city’s tourism offering.
The palace features six heritage suites named after Kannauj’s timeless perfumes – Jasmine, Patchouli, Oudh, Neroli, Gulaab and Bakhoor – alongside expansive verandas, lush gardens and heritage galleries. Experiences include farm-to-table dining with regional and Nepalese flavours, barbecue evenings under the stars, leisure by the pool, billiards in a vintage games room, birdwatching at the Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary, and guided tours of Kannauj’s attar-making heritage.
Tourism & Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “UP Tourism is making all efforts in line with the vision of Hon’ble 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, Principal Secretary, Tourism,UP, added, “Kannauj is celebrated worldwide as theperfumecapitalofIndiaand attracted over 13 lakh tourists last year. With Anand Bhawan Palace opening as aheritagehomestay, we are adding a new dimension to its tourism appeal. I encourage property owners across Uttar Pradesh to partner with us to conserveheritage, generate livelihoods and create unforgettable experiences for visitors.”
Prakhar Misra, Director, UP Tourism (Eco), commented, “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.”
Mukesh Kumar Meshram led the inauguration 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.
Homestay owners Divyaudit Singh and Shruti Shandilya expressed gratitude to UP Tourism for their support. Singh said, “We are proud to see our family’s heritage come alive as a space for visitors. With UP Tourism’s support, Anand Bhawan Palace can now share the legacy of Kannauj with the world.” Shandilya added, “This initiative is not just about a homestay, but about preserving history and offering travellers a true cultural experience.”
With this launch, UP Tourism takes a pioneering step in developing a network of heritage homestays and has invited private property owners and investors to collaborate in reviving palaces, havelis and zamindari homes across the state as experiential destinations.
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