IHCL Anchors a New Island Story with amã Stays & Trails in Port Blair
A thoughtful expansion into the Andaman & Nicobar Islands signals IHCL’s deeper bet on experience-led travel, where intimacy, culture, and place take center stage.
By Rachna Virdi
There’s a quiet shift happening in hospitality—one that’s less about grand lobbies and more about meaningful stays. With its latest move, the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is leaning into that shift, planting its flag in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands with a cluster of amã Stays & Trails bungalows in partnership with Terra Rex Realty and Terra Rex Energy in Port Blair.
It’s not just an expansion. It’s a statement about where travel is headed.
Port Blair, often seen as a transit point to the archipelago’s more famous islands, is finally stepping into its own narrative. Framed by turquoise waters, layered history, and a slower rhythm of life, the city offers more than a stopover—it offers a story waiting to be experienced.
Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and CEO, IHCL, and Abhishek Singh, Founder & Chairman of Terra Rex Realty and Terra Rex Energy.
The Strategy Behind the Serenity
IHCL’s expansion into Port Blair is part of a larger pivot. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and CEO, IHCL explains, “As travel preferences continue to evolve towards experience-led stays, the homestay segment has emerged as a strong driver of growth.”
He adds, “With over 370 bungalows already under the amã Stays & Trails portfolio, this island foray marks a significant milestone—both geographically and strategically. It reflects IHCL’s focus on building a diversified leisure footprint while tapping into destinations that are still finding their place on the luxury map.”
And Port Blair fits that vision perfectly: emerging, evocative, and full of untapped potential.
Port Blair is seen as a transit point to the archipelago’s more famous islands.
amã Stays & Trails, Port Blair is set within the city's lush greenery.
A Different Kind of Luxury
Set within lush greenery and just a short walk from Manjery Beach, the upcoming amã Stays & Trails, Port Blair will feature ten thoughtfully designed bungalows. The offering blends privacy with community—an increasingly sought-after balance in modern travel.
Guests can expect a full suite of amenities: a restaurant, gym, spa, swimming pool, and dedicated spaces for yoga and meditation. Beyond the property, the destination unfolds—snorkelling in clear waters, walks through colonial history, and encounters with the region’s unique cultural fabric.
But the real luxury here is less tangible. It’s the ability to wake up to birdsong instead of traffic, to move between sea and forest in a matter of minutes, and to experience a destination without feeling like a visitor.
Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and CEO, IHCL.
As travel preferences continue to evolve towards experience-led stays, the homestay segment has emerged as a strong driver of growth.
Puneet Chhatwal
Managing Director and CEO, IHCL
A Partnership Rooted in Possibility
At the heart of this project lies a collaboration with Abhishek Singh, Founder & Chairman of Terra Rex Realty and Terra Rex Energy—a figure whose journey spans governance, entrepreneurship, and storytelling.
For Singh, the partnership with IHCL was both strategic and symbolic. “When you enter an emerging location, building investor confidence requires a trusted national brand. IHCL brings that credibility and scale,” he explains.
Beyond credibility, he sees something more transformative in the amã model. “It’s democratising both tourism and entrepreneurship. Where luxury hospitality was once confined to large cities and high investments, amã allows smaller investors to participate while bringing high standards to new destinations.”
That shift—from exclusivity to accessibility without compromising quality—may well define the next chapter of Indian hospitality.
Framed by waters, layered history, and a slower rhythm of life, the city offers more than a stopover.
Designing for the Future, Rooted in Place
Emerging destinations always carry a dual narrative—promise and uncertainty. But in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, that balance is tilting toward opportunity. With infrastructure development on the rise and land availability increasingly constrained due to environmental and regulatory protections, early investments are poised to yield long-term value.
The Port Blair project is envisioned with a long-term lens. “True luxury lies in balancing proximity to nature with access to essential comforts. The design draws inspiration from Bali-style architecture—open, fluid, and deeply connected to nature—while maintaining the comforts modern travellers expect. Its location adds another layer of thoughtfulness: just 20 minutes from the airport, close to the sea, and near the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. It also complements IHCL’s existing presence in Havelock, offering a natural stopover and a standalone destination in its own right,” Singh sums it up.
The Port Blair project is envisioned with a long-term lens.
Why Port Blair, Why Now
IHCL’s entry, therefore, isn’t just about hospitality—it’s about timing. What began as an experiment for IHCL has now evolved into a scalable, distinctive brand. amã Stays & Trails is no longer just a collection of homes; it’s a philosophy of travel—one that celebrates local culture, personal space, and immersive experiences.
From the hills of Himachal to the backwaters of Kerala, and now to the islands of Andaman, the brand is stitching together a new map of India—one bungalow at a time. And in Port Blair, that map gains a new, compelling chapter.
