Brief history of Promoters and Creators of Kishan Lal Enterprises/ Hotel Rajdoot

Lala Ishwar Dass Kalra came to Delhi from Sialkot (now in West Pakistan) in the year 1939 and opened the Esplanade Bar and Restaurant in Chandni Chowk. In the year 1945, Ishwar Dass’s son Lala Kishan Lal Kalra joined his father in running the family business. With their hard work and devotion, they soon had one of the highest selling restaurants in Delhi, patronised by the city’s elite. After Ishwar Dass’s death, Kishan Lal took over the restaurant, while also managing the family’s Defense Canteen supply business.

Within six years, Kishan Lal and his hard working and efficient team fulfilled Ishwar Dass’s dream of expanding the business into New Delhi’s Connaught Place area, by opening “United Coffee House”. Today, the restaurant is still reputed as one of Delhi’s most favoured restaurants, run by the nephews of Lala Kishan Lal.

Kishan Lal’s most significant joint venture was the Four-Star Hotel known as Hotel Rajdoot. The construction of this hotel began in the year 1962 and it was opened to the public on 10th October 1965. Rajdoot has 55 centrally air-conditioned rooms with one multi-cuisine restaurant and Bar. A cultural and literary man, Kishan Lal also had the privilege of entertaining the renowned poet (shayar) Josh Malhyabadi, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru (India’s first Prime Minister) and Lord Mountbatten (Supreme Commander of British Armed Forces).

Today, Rajdoot is known for some of the best food in Delhi, never compromising on quality and always delivering on taste. It has enjoyed the privilege of catering to discerning customers such as Cabinet Ministers, Judges of the Supreme Court and Ambassadors and High Commissioners of foreign Embassies. Some of the parties held at the hotel have been attended by the Prime Minister of India.

Ishwar Dass and Kishan Lal devoted their lives to wholeheartedly serving food lovers, from both within and outside the city. Today, their legacy is being carried forward by the 3rd and 4th generation of the family. At Rajdoot, the team draws inspiration from its founding fathers and strives to maintain the same standards of food and service that have always allowed guests to enjoy a “ Home away from Home “ while staying at Rajdoot.