NoorMahal Autograph Collection Debuts In India

KARNAL, May 20, 2026: NoorMahal Delhi NCR Karnal has entered the global hospitality network of Marriott International as India's first Autograph Collection hotel, marking a milestone for domestic heritage hospitality and validating more than two decades of work by a family that built a palace-style landmark out of a small roadside property in Haryana.

The partnership brings Colonel Manbeer Sandhu's vision, shaped during 25 years of Army service and refined through 18 months of architectural research, into Marriott's curated portfolio of independent, character-driven hotels distributed across more than 100 countries.

From army barracks to palace gates

Colonel Sandhu, Founder and Chairman and Managing Director of NoorMahal, served in the Indian Army for nearly three decades before identifying a gap in Karnal's hospitality offering in the mid-1990s. He and his wife Binny Choudhary, now Managing Director of the property, converted family-owned land into Hotel Jewels, a modest property that quickly drew strong local support.

That early community response gave the family the confidence to think larger. After 18 months of research into Mughal, Rajasthani, Sikh and colonial architectural traditions, and detailed consultations with noted architect Nimish Patel, NoorMahal took shape as a full-scale palace-style hotel with expansive open grounds, immersive water features and a layered spatial design rooted in historical precedent.

Heritage runs deeper than architecture

The Sandhu family traces its lineage to the Sukerchakia Misl, the same clan from which Maharaja Ranjit Singh emerged. Colonel Sandhu drew on oral histories passed through the family, narrated in the Punjabi tradition by mirasis, or hereditary storytellers, as well as published British-era accounts, including research by historian Syed Muhammad Latif, to inform NoorMahal's identity.

"Heritage, in many ways, flows through one's being," Colonel Sandhu said. The property's design, storytelling and guest programming all reflect that lineage, an approach that distinguishes NoorMahal from properties that borrow palace aesthetics without the underlying cultural grounding.

Why Marriott came to Karnal

Marriott International was actively looking for a heritage property in India to launch its Autograph Collection brand when discussions with the NoorMahal family began. The property's architectural individuality, narrative depth and location within the Delhi NCR catchment, roughly 100 kilometres from the capital, met the brand's criteria for properties that offer what Marriott describes as character-driven, experience-led stays.

For the Sandhu family, the partnership offered access to Marriott Bonvoy's global loyalty network and distribution infrastructure while preserving NoorMahal's independent identity. Executive Director Roop Partap Choudhary, who also runs Colonel Saab, a well-regarded Indian restaurant in London, described the deal as the opening of a larger journey rather than simply an affiliation.

Individuality protected under the Autograph framework

A condition set by the founding family before the partnership was finalised was that NoorMahal's architectural identity and storytelling would remain unchanged. The Autograph Collection's model, which does not standardise properties but instead enhances them with operational systems and global reach, accommodated that requirement.

Binny Choudhary, who oversaw much of the property's interior curation, said every design choice at NoorMahal was made to convey emotion rather than simply achieve visual effect. "Every detail, from the architecture to the interiors, was approached almost like curating an artwork," she said. "That artistic soul remains at its core."

Karnal as a destination, not a transit stop

NoorMahal draws guests from Delhi NCR, as well as from industrial cities such as Panipat and Yamunanagar and the historically significant town of Kurukshetra. The family positioned the property from the outset as a destination that people would travel to, rather than one serving only passing traffic on National Highway 44.

Colonel Sandhu, a former President of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India, said that shift from location-driven to destination-driven hospitality has worked in the property's favour as domestic leisure travel across India has grown in volume and frequency in recent years.

Next chapter: technology, wellness and global reach

Roop Partap Choudhary, based in London, said the next phase of NoorMahal's development will involve personalised digital guest journeys, expanded wellness experiences and deeper cultural programming. Technology investment will aim to free staff for human-led service rather than administrative tasks.

Colonel Sandhu said the younger generation, with global exposure and domestic grounding, is best placed to shape the brand's future direction, whether through international expansion, additional properties in India or further growth of the Colonel Saab restaurant concept. "Their vision, combined with our legacy, will help shape the next chapter," he said.

Source: Hotelier India, interview with Colonel Manbeer Sandhu, Binny Choudhary and Roop Partap Choudhary, published May 19, 2026.