KOLKATA: Bengal is slowly opening to the idea of turning decadent palaces into luxurious hotels . The state tourism department as well as several private investors in Bengal are focusing on these projects to turn them into weekenders' paradise.The heritage project at the Jhargram Palace that threw open its gates in November last year has been a huge hit. According to AR Bardhan, the state's principal tourism secretary, the Rs 8 crore project has been 80% occupied ever since. The tourism department has also designed a special one night two day package for people who might want to see places around Jhargram. Mahishadal Rajbari in the east of Midnapore district too is being revamped into a luxury resort. "The tourism department is developing Mahishadal Rajbari Tourism Complex on 60 acres of land with investments to the tune of Rs20 crore. Work shall commence at the site soon after the state Assembly election this April. The project will be ready in the next two years," said Bardhan.There's more in the pipeline for the tourism department. Negotiation with the Chilkigarh Rajbari is on for a similar project there. Chilkigarh, located 15 km away from Jhargram, will soon have a palace resort with 10 rooms for guests.As the stressed city folks keep looking for newer places to serve as weekend getaways, those with a desire to visit a film set will also be satisfied as many of these properties are favourite locations for film and television directors.The 250-year old palace in Hooghly where Vikramaditya Motwane's `Lootera' was shot has become a popular destination. The Itachuna Rajbari that was converted in to a resort two years back by the 13th generation of the zamindars is now adding more rooms to its 5-block property. Having invested close to Rs30 lakh on putting up five new rooms in the palace campus last year, Dhruba Narayan Kundu, the co-owner of the palace is looking at converting the entire facility into a homestay concept complete with a hookah parlour in the zamindari style of Bengal.With tariff ranging between Rs1500 and Rs6000, weekends record 100 per cent occupancy at Itachuna. The property at present has 15 rooms for guests. "The food here is authentic Bengali cuisine and when we start homestay options we will allow guests to cook as well," said Kundu."After adding a couple of modern amenities to the property like a kid's pool, we are also thinking of putting up tree houses and tent options in the rajbari campus," he added.