| Bristol Hotel | |
|---|---|
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 | |
| General information | |
| Location | Karachi, Sindh |
| Address | Sunnyside Road, Civil Lines Road, Karachi |
| Coordinates | 24°50′30″N67°02′06″E / 24.841590°N 67.034992°E |
| Owner | Tariq Rizvi |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
The Bristol Hotel is a defunct hotel located in Karachi, Pakistan. [1] [2]
The Bristol Hotel, originally built between 1907 and 1910, was constructed as a mansion for Dossabhai Byramji Minwalla, a Parsi businessman. [1] [3] Notably, it was the first three-story building in the area. [1] [3] The hotel was part of a group of four railway hotels, which included the North Western, Carlton, and Killarney hotels, built to provide accommodation to passengers arriving in Karachi by train. [3] [4]
Bristol Hotel was known for hosting events such as the May Queen Ball and attracting a predominantly expatriate guest list. [5] The hotel remained a major establishment in the city during the post-partition period, serving as a venue for social gatherings in Karachi. [5] Notably, it hosted regular Saturday night discos and New Year parties until the prohibition era under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. [5] [6]
In the early 1950s, the Bristol Hotel's ownership was transferred to the Rizvi family when Ale Niaz Rizvi acquired it from another Parsi businessman for Rs 60,000. [5] [7] Currently, it is under the management of Ale Niaz Rizvi's son, Tariq Rizvi. [5]
Bristol Hotel has been noted for hosting foreign dignitaries and guests, including Portuguese officials displaced from Goa. [5] Its guest list also included public figures such as Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Khan of Kalat, as well as high-ranking military officials. [5] [7]
The Bristol Hotel was one of Karachi's first three-story buildings. [5] The hotel featured distinct architectural elements, including stained-glass windows in each room and doors that opened onto spacious hallways. [5]