Centaur Lake View Hotel which once was a famous attraction for national and international tourists is undergoing major revamp to regain its old glory.

The only five-star property in the state having 252 rooms will throw open recreational facilities like health club, tennis court, badminton court on sprawling lawns and swimming pool in coming months.

The management of the hotel has already taken up the major renovation work for coffee and cake shop, multi cuisine restaurant, Dawat Khanana, a seasonal Sahakari Restaurant. Seventy rooms have already been air-conditioned besides commissioning guest lifts.

Pertinently, the hotel lost its glory with the onset of militancy and no attention was paid to maintain or upkeep the property.

Designed by Josef Stein- a world famous Architect Centaur Hotel is developed on 13 acres of land on the banks of famous Dal Lake. It is surrounded by lake on three sides and is overlooking Zabarwan Range of green forest on the other side. This International Convention Centre was established in 1984 to attract Conventional Tourism in Kashmir.

The hotel which is run by Hotel Corporation of India Ltd., (a government of India undertaking) allowed state administration and security forces to station in it which worsened its situation and led to its low image.
“No major renovation was taken place since then which made its infrastructure like central heating system and air-conditioning, swimming pool, coffee shop, health club, bar and lawn tennis court almost non-functional,” said GM Centaur Lake View Hotel S Shafat Hussain.

Civil Aviation Ministry sanctioned a budget of Rs 10 crore for the year 2013-14 for its renovation and make if fully operational with the strict compliance of surrounding fragile eco-system.

In the beginning of the year 2015, the hotel is taking up full renovation for one wing of 50 rooms and developing it into executive wing.

“We have already started renovation work in vital areas in the first phase. The seepage problem has already been arrested as tinning and water proofing of the terrace area is completed.”
Now, a multi cuisine restaurant, Dawat Khanana, a seasonal Sahakari Restaurant is serving the pure veg meal besides the coffee shop is also open.
“Seventy rooms has already been installed with Spilt A/cs,” said Hussain.

The hotel has also commissioned two 500 KV DG sets this year to ensure un-interrupted power supply. The hotel also intends to open Coffee shop in the month of July’15 besides introducing pure Kashmiri vegetarian Thali in the tourist season.
“There has been a desire from many guests for reopening the ‘Maikhana Bar’. As our Bar is quit open place. We’ve initiated to re-design the Bar for maintaining privacy.”

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