NEWS
Tree of Life reaches Odisha with Chilika Lake resort signing
Indian Hotels Company Limited has signed a new Tree of Life resort at Chilika Lake, Odisha, marking the brand’s entry into the state. The greenfield project will introduce a 30-key resort on the banks of the lagoon, offering unobstructed views of one of India’s most distinctive natural landscapes. Developed in partnership with Mr. Sanjay Gadodia, Director of Scania Steels and Powers Ltd., the resort will combine intimate accommodation, dining, wellness and meeting facilities in a nature-led setting. The signing reflects IHCL’s strategy of expanding into lesser-explored destinations with strong experiential appeal.
The future Tree of Life Chilika Lake, Odisha will be located on the banks of Chilika Lake, giving the resort a direct relationship with the lagoon and its surrounding ecosystem. This setting is central to the project’s identity. Rather than entering a conventional urban or mass-market leisure destination, Tree of Life is moving into a landscape defined by water, birdlife, biodiversity and tranquillity.
The signing is significant because it marks the first Tree of Life property in Odisha. For IHCL, this expands the brand’s reach into eastern India and strengthens its presence in destinations where nature and local character shape the guest experience. The move also supports the growing demand for smaller, immersive stays that offer a stronger connection to place.
Tree of Life is positioned within IHCL’s portfolio as a collection of private escapes in tranquil settings. The brand is designed for travellers who seek quiet, local experiences rather than large-scale resort environments. A 30-key resort at Chilika Lake fits this positioning by offering a more intimate scale and a landscape-led hospitality experience.
The resort will feature an all-day dining restaurant and bar, creating a central food and beverage space for guests staying at the property. In a destination shaped by nature and slow travel, dining can become an important part of the overall experience, giving travellers a place to pause, gather and take in the surroundings.
A spacious meeting room will also be part of the resort’s facilities. This gives the property potential to serve small retreats, private gatherings, corporate offsites and intimate events. The combination of meeting space and lagoon views could make the resort attractive for groups seeking a quieter alternative to city hotels.
Leisure and wellness facilities will include a swimming pool and spa. These amenities support the resort’s tranquil positioning and give guests ways to relax between excursions, nature experiences and time spent by the lagoon. The spa, in particular, adds a restorative dimension that aligns naturally with the Tree of Life brand.
The choice of Chilika Lake gives the project strong destination appeal. The lagoon is described in the announcement as the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia and the second-largest coastal lagoon in the world. This makes it not only a scenic location, but also a destination with ecological importance and international recognition.
The area is home to more than 160 species of birds, the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin, and a rich diversity of marine and freshwater life. These natural assets give the resort a strong experiential foundation. Guests visiting the future property will be able to connect with a landscape known for biodiversity, birdwatching and aquatic life.
The announcement also notes that Chilika Lake is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site candidate. This reinforces the significance of the location and highlights why a carefully positioned nature-led resort can add value to the destination. For hospitality development in such settings, sensitivity to the environment and local culture will be especially important.
Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President - Real Estate & Development at IHCL, links the signing to the rising preference for nature-led and lesser-explored destinations. Her comments frame the project as part of a wider shift in traveller behaviour, with guests increasingly choosing places that offer immersion, calm and a stronger sense of authenticity.
The partnership with Mr. Sanjay Gadodia adds local ownership context to the development. He is Director of Scania Steels and Powers Ltd., part of a diversified business group with a presence across Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The group has an established regional footprint and a combined turnover of approximately INR 1,500 crore.
For the owning company, the project is intended to reflect the natural beauty and cultural richness of the region. This is important because Chilika Lake is not only an ecological destination, but also part of Odisha’s broader cultural and regional identity. A hospitality project in this setting has the opportunity to interpret both nature and local heritage for guests.
The signing also strengthens IHCL’s wider brand architecture. The company’s portfolio includes Taj, Claridges Collection, Brij, Atmantan, SeleQtions, Gateway, Vivanta, Tree of Life and Ginger. Within this structure, Tree of Life serves a specific role by addressing demand for smaller, experience-led stays in tranquil locations.
IHCL’s scale gives additional context to the signing. The company has a portfolio of 640 hotels, including 263 in the pipeline, across four continents, 15 countries and more than 300 locations. The Tree of Life Chilika Lake project is therefore part of a much larger expansion platform, while still remaining highly destination-specific.
The company’s heritage also remains central to its identity. Founded by Jamsetji Tata, IHCL opened The Taj Mahal Palace in Bombay in 1903 and has grown into India’s largest hospitality company by market capitalization. The signing in Odisha shows how the group is using both established and newer brands to reach different types of destinations and travellers.
With Tree of Life Chilika Lake, Odisha, IHCL is preparing to introduce a 30-key nature-led resort on the banks of one of Asia’s most important lagoons. The project will include an all-day dining restaurant and bar, meeting room, swimming pool and spa, with unobstructed views of Chilika Lake. As travellers show increasing interest in quieter, lesser-explored and experience-rich destinations, the resort signing gives Tree of Life a distinctive new address in eastern India.
TAGS
By using the website, you agree to the use of cookies in accordance with your browser settings.
Privacy Policy