While Conde Nast comes out with its annual Hot Lists (for the best new hotels of the year), its time for an Indian round up of new hotels of the past year.
The Insipid
Swissotel Kolkata
Way out of the city in business-centre-suburbia, typically modern rooms, and a rooftop pool 'with a view' (of what?). Sad, seeing a city like Kolkata is getting hotels like its Gurgaon.
The Claridges Surajkund, Delhi NCR
The location was promising - a wooded area near an ancient water tank. I was thinking urban retreat. Claridges though business hotel (seeing its atleast 10 kilometres away from ANY sort of business hub, it DOES make sense). Nothing remarkable about the hotel : a routine copy-paste affair. And it used Aaj Tak for a public launch. Classy. Somebody buy off the original Claridges before it turns into a Punjabi Central Delhi Farmhouse of sorts.
Fateh Garh Palace, Udaipur
Despite the arrival of unique properties (as detailed below) Fateh Garh firmly remains classical (and a bad classical at that). Despite its great views over the city, the hotel is typical Rajasthani rip-off (gold colour domes, marble jaalis, carved furnitures, vintage cars and blue pools). Moreover, it was the site for Rakhi ka Swayamvar. Not a very promising romance. What more would you expect from a place that calls itself a 'Heritage Renaissance Resort'? Whatever that is.
Suryagarh, Jaisalmer
What is it with Rajasthani hoteliers hell bent on creating theme park hotels? Suryagarh is the latest pseudo-palace with air-conditioning and sub-stations, opened in Jaisalmer.
The In Betweens
Leela Kempinski New Delhi
A Rs. 600 crore property deal is transformed into a Punjabi Baroque nightmare complete with crystal chandeliers, silver gilded armchairs, posy pattern linen and so on. Clearly Leela has lost all sense of chic after the Goa property. Thankfully, service standards are high.
Leela Kempinski Gurgaon
Here's the opposite syndrome : There is absolutely nothing inspirational about the hotel (least in its on-top-of-a-huge-mall location by the side of an expressway). But conversely, it promises to only be a luxury business hotel and delivers well. Design-wise, its an interior-magazine-lookalike, but hey, it wasn't promising anything mindboggling in the first place.
Westin Gurgaon
Further along the expressway, next to a metro line. Better (but still not innovatively) designed. But its a Westin : good standards, but it could have well been a clone of a Westin in say Chengdu or Warsaw.
ITC Royal Gardenia, Bangalore
No its not a manure-and-fertilizer setup. The country's first carbon-positive luxury hotel combines typical ITC design sensibilities (bigger, flashier) with the thankful service and great food. Like Leela, all sense of design gained at ITC Sonar Kolkata has gone down Bukhara's Tandoor.
Deviratn, Jaipur
Probably the country's most talked about hotel-launch in the offing, the sublime Devigarh ventures to Jaipur and creates a striking property indeed. The design is innovative, but somehow, overstressed. While Devigarh itself is muted chic, Deviratn jumps at your throats. I guess this place needs a proper launch and a bit of time before it goes down well with me. As of now, its just a stunt.
Rasa Resort, Amer, Jaipur
A sister setup of Devigarh and Deviratn, Rasa is slated to be a set of hyper-futuristic cubist tents spilling down along the hills of Amer. The website renderings, I warn, are a big turn off. Time will tell. As in Deviratn, there is nothing muted about the design tone. Think Cubist Lady GaGa without the notion of glitter.
To-be-classics
Westin Sohna Resort and Spa
The right architect can work wonders. Veteran Ashok Dhawan creates a beautiful country resort.
Leela Palace Kempinski, Udaipur
Thankfully, Leela's gaudy antics seem comfortably in place in Udaipur where nothing is quiet Rococo/Baroque/Gothic/Over-the-top enough. And its already the toast of international press.
The Oberoi Gurgaon
The Oberoi rarely does a wrong, and that is not expected out of the new Gurgaon property. While the design may not feel that great (being located next to the fabulous Trident), it isn't all that bad either. And the once awful 3D renders on the website have been replaced by much more promising actual photos. Another luxe-ist constant in the offing.
A gem. Great design. superb old city location and innovative in its concept. And the name is oh-so-lovely.
Samode Safari Lodge, Bandhavgarh National Park
Taking a leaf out of Taj Safaris pursuits, Samode's safari setup is promising: ethnic styled mud bungalows with a very colonial feel once inside. Quite the newcomer.
Ranvas, Nagaur
While other chains build new palaces, these maharajas turn a part of the Ahichhitragarh Fort into a great boutique hotel. There is no royal brouhaha in terms of design : its kept a very attractive simple and contemporary. This is no Devigarh, but it is a quiet charmer.
Mihirgah, Somewhere near Jodhpur
New Palace again, but the design is good (albeit classical). And the equestrian-centric idea? Thats posh.
The Park, Hyderabad
The Park remains hip as ever, with its striking Hyderabad property. Full on modern funk.
The Park on Vembanad Lake and the Motor Vessel Apsara
Soft launch indeed. The nearly unheard of Park in the Kerala Backwaters remains a subtle funk trip.
South East Asia's fabulous Alila chain arrives! Great design but a slightly disappointing countryside location as opposed to the beach. But still, its likable enough.
Tented camps near Jaisalmer are hopeless, but The Serai is otherwise. Part of the same chain that runs quietly charming Sherbagh in Ranthambhor and the equally desirable Clairmont in Mashobra, The Serai is a great effort in middle-of-the-desert-tented-luxury. And that Relais & Chateaux affiliation sounds equally great.
Pashan Garh, Panna National Park
Probably the most conventional of Taj Safari's exquisite lodges across Madhya Pradesh, Pashan Garh is a superb set of stone cottages with a funky safari chic design at work. Sadly, the park itself has lost its tigers.
Vivanta by Taj, Bangalore
Smart. Interesting design, and excellent marketing. Vivanta is here.
Vivanta by Taj Dal View, Srinagar
Smarter, if possible. If the brochure is anything to go by, I'm dying to return to Kashmir.
Nadesar Palace, Varanasi
The sacred city gets its uber-luxe palace, courtesy Taj.
Trident Bandra Kurla, Mumbai
Smart business chic. Now if Trident could turn its attention to the Nariman Point behemoth.
And the Subliminal
Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai
Opened after a lengthy, post 26/11 renovation, Taj Bombay returns, and how. Designs are varied and inviting, and the standards slated to be higher. The queen of Indian Hospitality returns.
Aman New Delhi
Soft Launch-Hard Launch riff raff aside, this is now the King of Indian Hospitality and is a concept literally unheard of among Urban Luxury Hotels. Orgasmic is the word, and Aman New Delhi delivers a multiple.
Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
Move over, wannabe palaces. Falaknuma, surfacing from a lengthy possession battle and a lengthier restoration effort has resurfaced as the epitome of megalomaniacal luxury. No contemporary chic here - its unabashedly decadent, and how. Awestruck is what it'll leave you as.
Banjaar Tola, Kanha National Park
Taj Safari scores again with this divine set of tented suites along a meanderingly lazy jungle stream. Nothing like this anywhere else.
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The Insipid
Swissotel Kolkata
Way out of the city in business-centre-suburbia, typically modern rooms, and a rooftop pool 'with a view' (of what?). Sad, seeing a city like Kolkata is getting hotels like its Gurgaon.
Swissotel Kolkata : Suburban views anyone?
The Claridges Surajkund, Delhi NCR
The location was promising - a wooded area near an ancient water tank. I was thinking urban retreat. Claridges though business hotel (seeing its atleast 10 kilometres away from ANY sort of business hub, it DOES make sense). Nothing remarkable about the hotel : a routine copy-paste affair. And it used Aaj Tak for a public launch. Classy. Somebody buy off the original Claridges before it turns into a Punjabi Central Delhi Farmhouse of sorts.
Claridges Surajkund : The Sign is probably not the worst the place has to offer.
Despite the arrival of unique properties (as detailed below) Fateh Garh firmly remains classical (and a bad classical at that). Despite its great views over the city, the hotel is typical Rajasthani rip-off (gold colour domes, marble jaalis, carved furnitures, vintage cars and blue pools). Moreover, it was the site for Rakhi ka Swayamvar. Not a very promising romance. What more would you expect from a place that calls itself a 'Heritage Renaissance Resort'? Whatever that is.
Fateh Garh : Dimunitive, in all aspects.
Suryagarh, Jaisalmer
What is it with Rajasthani hoteliers hell bent on creating theme park hotels? Suryagarh is the latest pseudo-palace with air-conditioning and sub-stations, opened in Jaisalmer.
Suryagarh : Just in case you were wondering, that is the 'coat of arms' dug into the ground and lit from underneath.
The In Betweens
Leela Kempinski New Delhi
A Rs. 600 crore property deal is transformed into a Punjabi Baroque nightmare complete with crystal chandeliers, silver gilded armchairs, posy pattern linen and so on. Clearly Leela has lost all sense of chic after the Goa property. Thankfully, service standards are high.
Leela New Delhi : Once you get over the initial shock of things, thats quite a mirror on the right edge.
Leela Kempinski Gurgaon
Here's the opposite syndrome : There is absolutely nothing inspirational about the hotel (least in its on-top-of-a-huge-mall location by the side of an expressway). But conversely, it promises to only be a luxury business hotel and delivers well. Design-wise, its an interior-magazine-lookalike, but hey, it wasn't promising anything mindboggling in the first place.
Leela Gurgaon : The Greens out of the window are morphed. Expect an expressway or a parking lot.
Westin Gurgaon
Further along the expressway, next to a metro line. Better (but still not innovatively) designed. But its a Westin : good standards, but it could have well been a clone of a Westin in say Chengdu or Warsaw.
Westin Gurgaon : But it could very well be Westin Guangzhou as well.
ITC Royal Gardenia, Bangalore
No its not a manure-and-fertilizer setup. The country's first carbon-positive luxury hotel combines typical ITC design sensibilities (bigger, flashier) with the thankful service and great food. Like Leela, all sense of design gained at ITC Sonar Kolkata has gone down Bukhara's Tandoor.
ITC Royal Gardenia : Look, I'm a flashy green hotel!
Deviratn, Jaipur
Probably the country's most talked about hotel-launch in the offing, the sublime Devigarh ventures to Jaipur and creates a striking property indeed. The design is innovative, but somehow, overstressed. While Devigarh itself is muted chic, Deviratn jumps at your throats. I guess this place needs a proper launch and a bit of time before it goes down well with me. As of now, its just a stunt.
Devi Ratn : Once the shock subsides...
Rasa Resort, Amer, Jaipur
A sister setup of Devigarh and Deviratn, Rasa is slated to be a set of hyper-futuristic cubist tents spilling down along the hills of Amer. The website renderings, I warn, are a big turn off. Time will tell. As in Deviratn, there is nothing muted about the design tone. Think Cubist Lady GaGa without the notion of glitter.
Rasa Resort : Running away with itself?
To-be-classics
Westin Sohna Resort and Spa
The right architect can work wonders. Veteran Ashok Dhawan creates a beautiful country resort.
Westin Sohna : Return of the Architect
Leela Palace Kempinski, Udaipur
Thankfully, Leela's gaudy antics seem comfortably in place in Udaipur where nothing is quiet Rococo/Baroque/Gothic/Over-the-top enough. And its already the toast of international press.
Leela Udaipur : Design-wise, nearly.
The Oberoi Gurgaon
The Oberoi rarely does a wrong, and that is not expected out of the new Gurgaon property. While the design may not feel that great (being located next to the fabulous Trident), it isn't all that bad either. And the once awful 3D renders on the website have been replaced by much more promising actual photos. Another luxe-ist constant in the offing.
Oberoi Gurgaon : Loads of Promises
Raas, JodhpurA gem. Great design. superb old city location and innovative in its concept. And the name is oh-so-lovely.
Raas : Rajasthani Renaissance?
Samode Safari Lodge, Bandhavgarh National Park
Taking a leaf out of Taj Safaris pursuits, Samode's safari setup is promising: ethnic styled mud bungalows with a very colonial feel once inside. Quite the newcomer.
Samode : Return of the Classic Rustic
Ranvas, Nagaur
While other chains build new palaces, these maharajas turn a part of the Ahichhitragarh Fort into a great boutique hotel. There is no royal brouhaha in terms of design : its kept a very attractive simple and contemporary. This is no Devigarh, but it is a quiet charmer.
Ranvas : Subtle Style
New Palace again, but the design is good (albeit classical). And the equestrian-centric idea? Thats posh.
Mihirgarh : Somewhere in the dusk
The Park, Hyderabad
The Park remains hip as ever, with its striking Hyderabad property. Full on modern funk.
The Park Hyderabad : Funk Odyssey
The Park on Vembanad Lake and the Motor Vessel Apsara
Soft launch indeed. The nearly unheard of Park in the Kerala Backwaters remains a subtle funk trip.
The Park : Kerala gets a new chic
Alila Diwa, GoaSouth East Asia's fabulous Alila chain arrives! Great design but a slightly disappointing countryside location as opposed to the beach. But still, its likable enough.
Alila Diwa : Another Goa
The Serai, JaisalmerTented camps near Jaisalmer are hopeless, but The Serai is otherwise. Part of the same chain that runs quietly charming Sherbagh in Ranthambhor and the equally desirable Clairmont in Mashobra, The Serai is a great effort in middle-of-the-desert-tented-luxury. And that Relais & Chateaux affiliation sounds equally great.
The Serai : The Tents are equally good.
Pashan Garh, Panna National Park
Probably the most conventional of Taj Safari's exquisite lodges across Madhya Pradesh, Pashan Garh is a superb set of stone cottages with a funky safari chic design at work. Sadly, the park itself has lost its tigers.
Pashan Garh : Too good for the park?
Smart. Interesting design, and excellent marketing. Vivanta is here.
Vivanta Bangalore : Smart
Vivanta by Taj Dal View, Srinagar
Smarter, if possible. If the brochure is anything to go by, I'm dying to return to Kashmir.
Vivanta Srinagar : Paradise Regained
The sacred city gets its uber-luxe palace, courtesy Taj.
Nadesar Palace : Benares in Luxury
Smart business chic. Now if Trident could turn its attention to the Nariman Point behemoth.
Trident Bandra Kurla : Business Choices galore
And the Subliminal
Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai
Opened after a lengthy, post 26/11 renovation, Taj Bombay returns, and how. Designs are varied and inviting, and the standards slated to be higher. The queen of Indian Hospitality returns.
Taj Bombay : Back, and how!
Aman New Delhi
Soft Launch-Hard Launch riff raff aside, this is now the King of Indian Hospitality and is a concept literally unheard of among Urban Luxury Hotels. Orgasmic is the word, and Aman New Delhi delivers a multiple.
Aman New Delhi : Ooh La La
Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
Move over, wannabe palaces. Falaknuma, surfacing from a lengthy possession battle and a lengthier restoration effort has resurfaced as the epitome of megalomaniacal luxury. No contemporary chic here - its unabashedly decadent, and how. Awestruck is what it'll leave you as.
Falaknuma : Now thats a Palace
Banjaar Tola, Kanha National Park
Taj Safari scores again with this divine set of tented suites along a meanderingly lazy jungle stream. Nothing like this anywhere else.
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Banjaar Tola : Like No Other
