India's Maddest Hotels
There was a time when any hotel with glass exteriors and a marble lobby qualified. Not any more: eight of India's maddest hotels, from a cricket home stay and an art hotel to a cinema-themed resort in Munnar.
There was a time when any hotel with glass exteriors, a marble lobby and two cane sofas qualified as a hotel. Well, that time has passed.
1 Aloft, Bangalore
If you’re the kind that gets high on colour and can’t get enough of contemporary interiors and spaces, you are destined to love this place. Aloft Hotel is a modern, fresh and fun destination.
Featuring loft-like guest rooms, a buzzing bar scene in the open lobby, an urban-inspired grab-and go café and industrial design elements throughout, it is a far cry from the conventional cookie cutter hotel brands that populate the select service space.
The bar is a quiet space by day that transforms to an eclectic, electric lounge at night, with special programming and theme nights.
For more details visit http://www.starwoodhotels.com
2 King’s Cliff, Ooty
Every Romeo is advised to take his Juliet back to where they really belong… in the time of the Bard. Fans of Literature would be endeared to this once imposing ancestral mansion. King’s Cliff is a charming hotel that reminds you of civilization at its laziest, offering a panoramic view of the hills around the town while remaining withdrawn from the hustle and bustle of the city life. It’s where time stands still, where tradition meets luxury, where one can take an early morning trek across undiscovered Ooty, or emerge from the calm void of sleep to a breakfast in bed, served with white gloves and the aroma of the faraway isles.
For more details visit http://www.kingscliff-ooty.com/
3 The Silver Tips, Munnar
Have you ever imagined what it would be like on the sets of your favourite movie or what it must feel like to be in a Mughal-e-Azam suite where the only picture in your head is of Madhubala in an entrancing “Pyar kiya to darna kya” pirouette? Then you just have to head to one of India’s most gorgeous hill stations, Munnar.
It is an uber chic hotel with cinema (quite obviously) as its theme. For more details visit http://www.silvertipsmunnar.com/
4 The Lemon Tree Hotel, City Center, Bangalore
As the name suggests, this hotel is unique and has everything to do with freshness, rejuvenation, youthfulness and fun! The hotel’s visual appeal is centered on ‘bringing the outdoors in’ which creates an environment of spaciousness and natural light. A stylish aesthetic and the extensive use of green, yellow and other vibrant colors, creates its signature look. With the focus on natural light, stain glass has been used largely. The jokes on the walls along the corridors, near the elevator, in the toilets and on the placemats in the restaurant, live up to the spirit of Lemon Tree.
For more details visit http://www.lemontreehotels.com
5 Le Sutra, Mumbai
India’s first Art hotel in southwestern Mumbai is a haven of self discovery.
Le Sutra weaves thousands of years of Indian ethos and narrates it through contemporary Indian art in hotel context where every inlay and artifact has been crafted to tell a part of the story.
The 14 rooms are virtual art installations, are each based on ‘Characters’ (Ravana, Ashoka, Buddha) or ‘Characteristic’ (Sensuality, Love, Purification) from Indian culture.
For more details visit http://www.lesutra.in/
6 The Bat and Ball Inn, Bangalore
Given the World Cup fever and that the average Indian male is a natural sucker for Cricket, The Bat and Ball Inn is the perfect place to unwind.
It is India’s only cricket Home Stay Passionately put together by former Ranji cricketer JK Mahendra. The Bat and Ball Inn houses his collection of cricket memorabilia from the world over. Apart from the Hall of Fame, the inn is also home to Silly Point - the cafe, Tons of Memories - a memento shop, and Dressing Room - a boutique.
For more details visit http://www.thebatandballinn.com
7 Vivanta by Taj, Kumarakom
Kerala isn’t called God’s own country for nothing. The place is a paradisiacal wonder of sorts for the soul that finds solace amid swaying palms or on the deck of Kerala’s legendary houseboats and the best place to soak in this experience would be at this hotel.
Enjoy the azure backwaters, swaying palms, and floating houseboats. Around a mesmeric lagoon you’ll see stylish cottages and villas set like charming gems. Sit under parasols. Stretch on deck chairs. Explore open spaces like paddy fields, pineapple patches and herb gardens which are refreshingly breezy. Here you can fish, cycle, row your boat or sink in the luxury of your temporary living space.
The interiors of the hotel reflect the perfect blend of Edwardian and Kerala décor. You can perch yourself on the traditional Kerala coir swing and take in a superb view of the Vembanad Lake. If you book a heritage room, the essence of Kumarakom is stronger thanks to the old world charm in the form of wooden floors and high wooden ceilings.
For more details visit http://www.vivantabytaj.com
8 Casa Colvale, Goa
Hidden away on the unspoilt backwaters of the River Chapora in North Goa, it is a mere twenty minutes ride by car or speedboat from the palm fringed beaches that have made Goa famous.
Casa Colvale’s twelve luxurious bedrooms are all individually styled in a subtle fusion of contemporary and antique south-east Asian design. Reflecting this theme are the natural materials and handmade fabrics and linens complimented by art works from leading Goan artists.
FYI, this is one of the most romantic hotels to take your woman to. Special candlelight dinners are arranged in the open, under the stars for lovers!
For more details visit http://www.casacolvale.com
From the March 2011 issue of FHM India.
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