Brij Hotels – an emerging Indian hospitality group specialising in boutique heritage and nature retreats – is gearing up for major growth, with six new properties scheduled to open next year.
Founded in 2016 by Udit and Anant Apurv Kumar, this privately owned company has already built a striking portfolio of deeply rooted, character-rich hotels despite being a relative newcomer.
“We are a very new company but we are aggressively expanding,” Vice President Sales & Projects Rajeev Manhar told LATTE at Further East in Bali earlier this month.
Within a short timespan, the group has curated a diverse collection of hotels including Brij Lakshman Sagar, a 200‑year-old hunting lodge in Rajasthan; Brij Paraiso and Brij Casa Susegad, both Indo‑Portuguese villas in Goa; Brij Villa, a 130‑year-old colonial cottage in Dalhousie; Brij Anayra, the 161-year-old tea garden estate in Dharamshala; and Brij Rama Palace, a 214‑year-old fort palace that overlooks the Ganges in Varanasi.
Also in the portfolio is Brij Bageecha, a sustainable sanctuary near Jaipur, and Brij Nest Suites, an all-suite boutique hotel in Jaipur, among others — “very boutique and very well-preserved,” according to Manhar.
The next phase of growth will see Brij expand into fresh territories. “We are coming up in Nepal, expanding outside of India,” Manhar revealed. Alongside international expansion, the pipeline also includes new nature- and wildlife-focused retreats as well as additional heritage restorations. “All these are in the pipeline,” he said. “The owners are always thinking of more properties and different locations.”
One of Brij’s signature properties is Brij Pola, located in Jawai, Rajasthan. Described by Manhar as “a full luxury tent” experience, each tent spans 2,500 square feet. Meanwhile, Brij Rama Palace, Varanasi remains a cornerstone of the brand. “It was the first property,” Manhar pointed out. “It has 32 keys and is located right on the Ganges.”
Despite its rapid scaling, Brij Hotels remains under family ownership. And while it recently inked a strategic partnership with Indian Hotels Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Tata Group and the parent of Taj Hotels, there remains a clear emphasis on independence, according to Manhar, with Brij retaining full control over operations.
Central to its strategy is a commitment to creating immersive, culturally rich travel experiences. At its Rajasthan property, guests can expect 12 luxury cottages, each with private pool. “Within this property, we have our own manmade lake,” Manhar explained. “Your clients can do fishing, kayaking, pottery classes, spice-mixing classes, cycling tours, walk with the local people, walk with the tribes – to understand their culture.”
This philosophy extends across Brij’s hotels, he continued. “Every property has its own aura and its own soul,” he said. The company also takes its social responsibility seriously. with 70% of the staff at each property recruited from the local community. “We train them. We support them,” Manhar said.
International markets have become central to Brij’s growth, with Manhar revealing Brij’s key markets as the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the US. He also reported rising interest from South America.
