Wednesday , October 28, 2015 Conde Nast Traveller, … Jaipur Polo Grounds ... guest room at JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aeroc. Wednesday , October 28, ... Wednesday , October 28,

Wednesday , October 28, 2015

SLEEP

Publication:Conde Nast Traveller, Edition:National, Page No:38, Location:Fullpage Size(sq.cms): 1890

SLEEP

From opulentand dramaticto elegantand minimalist—accommodation in

Delhi comes in a variety of styles, sizes and budgets. These luxury and

boutique properties prove to be quite the cushy cocoon

THE LEELA PALACE

NEW DELHI Nestled within the Diplomatic

Enclave of Chanakyapuri, this

Leela property echoes the

classic architectural style of

Lutyens1 Delhi, with a touch of gold everywhere. The star

among its stylish rooms—some

of the largest in Delhi at over

600 sq ft —is the opulent

Presidentia Suite. Spanning

4,800 sq ft, it features gold leaf

work on ceilings, intricate wood

work, art pieces made of pure

silver and semi-precious stones,

and rich tapestry. The eight-bay

suite comes with amenities such

as round-the-clock butler

service, and private study,

gymnasium, spa suite and dining

options, if that's not enough, the

note is home to globally

acclaimed restaurants Megu and

Le Cirque as well as the award-

winning The Spa by ESPA.

(www.theleela.com; doubles

from Rs19.500)

THE OBEROL GURGAON Located 15 minutes from the

airport and half an hour's

drive from central Delhi, The

Oberoi,

Gurgaon is an urban sanctuary

spread across nine acres of

lush greenery. Shop at the in-

house shopping arcade and eat

at the all-day dining restaurant,

Threesixtyone" to enjoy its fire-

lit, al fresco floating deck. At

dusk, retire to your Luxury

Room and enjoy a glass of

bubbly along with a view of the

hotel's maze garden.

(www.oberoihotels.com;

doubles from Rs18,000)

DUSIT DEVARANA With a focus on leisure, Dusit

Devarana offers an oasis of

calm amidst the chaos. The

property features expansive

landscaped grounds, crisply

decorated interiors and a

temperature-controlled 102

metre-long swimming pool.

During your stay, emerge from

the calming meditation sessions

organised daily at the peacefu

yoga pavilion, rejuvenate your

senses at the spa and shop at

the in-house boutique. End the

day at Kiyan, the organic and

free-range restaurant, or at Ch

Ni, the newly imported Chinese

restaurant from London by the

people behind Michelm-

starred Kai Mayfair. Providing

a resort-like experience within

the city, this is the ultimate

place for a staycation.

(www.devarana.in; doubles

from Rs19,700)

SUNBEAM Furniture and jewellery

designer—and often the best-

dressed gentleman wherever he

goes—Jivi Sethi offers guests a

unique, captivating experience.

Located in a quiet, leafy south

Delhi neighbourhood, this

"homestay" comprises a living

and dining space, bedroom,

kitchen and green terrace,

marked by Sethi's characteristic

eclectic style: a love for art

deco, quirky modern furniture

and objets d'art. Well-trained

staff cater to your dining needs

and ensure that your stay is

more than just comfortable,

(www. justjlvi.com; doubles from

Rs7.500)

ITC MAURYA Standing resplendent in the

heart of the capital, ITC Maurya

has frequently hosted heads of

state and royalty. The luxury

hotel

38


SLEEP

Publication:Conde Nast Traveller, Edition:, Page No:38, Location:Fullpage Size(sq.cms): 1890


SLEEP


weaves Indian history and art

into its decor. Take, for instance,

the conic Krishen Khanna

painting Procession of Life,

which adorns the ceiling of the

grand lobby. The accommodation

options are fittingly varied, with

special weekend packages; the

food choices are equally lavish.

Follow in the footsteps of former

US President Bill Clinton and

actor Arnold Schwarzenegger—

dine at the famed North West

Frontier fare at Bukhara, whose

signature Dal Bukhara definitely

deserves a fan club,

(www.itchotels.in; doubles from

Rs11,500)

TRIDENT, GURGAON Spread across seven acres of

immaculately manicured

andscape, dotted with

shimmering water features and

courtyards, the architecture of

Trident, Gurgaon is deeply

influenced by Moroccan, Mughal

and Rajasthani styles. Its

interiors, however, follow a

minimalist design, outfitted in

wood and earthy tones. Here, in

the middle of bustling Gurgaon,

you're likely to wake up to the

sound of chirping birds and the

scent of dewy grass. Stay at

the hotel's luxurious pool view

rooms to begin your day with

calming views of the vast

reflection pools.

(www.tndenthotels.com;


HYATT REGENCY DELHI Located on the busy Ring

Road that connects the

city.

Hyatt Regency Delhi is popular

among sports aficionados for its

proximity to the Siri Fort Sports

Complex, Qutab Golf Course

and Jaipur Polo Grounds (within

the Delhi Race Course), The

main draw—aside from the

spacious interiors and the plush

507 rooms—is the newly

designed Regency Club Lounge,

which is divided into four private

sections comprising the library,

communal dining area, terrace

and living room. Unwind at

sundown here, amidst

spectacular

views of original Leena

Kejnwal photographs within

and of the city outside,

(www.delhi.regency. hyatt.com;

doubles from Rs9.750)

JW MARRIOTT HOTEL

NEW DELHI AEROCITY This decidedly modern glass-

walled hotel is located close

to the airport and at a

convenient distance from

Vasant Kunj and Gurgaon's

luxury malls. Inside, the

decorfocuses on

contemporary elements—a

swanky industrial-inspired

40


SLEEP


An archway leads to the Trident, Gurgaon Opposite: a swanky guest room at JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aeroc


SLEEP



SLEEP


restaurant, the wood panelled

Oval bar, and installation art

lounge. With clean lines and

minimalist appeal, this no-

nonsense property with its 523

rooms is popular with business

travellers. Don't miss having a

meal at Akira Back, which

serves inventive Japanese fare

with a Korean twist, and the

hot chocolate from Delhi Baking

Company, the in-house bakery-

cum-coffee shop,

(www.marriott. com; doubles

from Rs11.250)

THE MANOR The Manor has gone from being

a small country hotel in the

1950s (then, considered to be

located on the outskirts of the

city) to becoming a much-

beloved urban oasis. Spread

over two storeys with 14

elegant rooms, this boutique

property arranges a series of

"Old World experiences"

including walking tours of Old

Delhi. It houses the award-

winning restaurant, Indian

Accent, which offers delectable

Indian dishes served with a

contemporary, global twist. Just

make sure to ask for a room

away from the train line end of

the building, if you're a light

sleeper.

(www.themanordelhi.com;

doubles from Rs8.630)

AHUJA RESIDENCY

SUNDER NAGAR Located in the quiet, leafy

neighbourhood of Sunder

Nagar, a short distance from

Delhi Golf Club and the green

expanses

of National Zoological Park,

Ahuja Residency is demurely

understated and features

pristine rooms and a private

terrace. This luxury boutique

guest house is fitted with

modern artworks, solar water

heaters and rain showers. While

you can explore the nearby

Sunder Nagar Market for art,

jewellery or dining options, we

recommend you spend sunny

winter afternoons in the guest

house's garden, with a book in

one hand and hot beverage in

another, (www.

ahujaresidency.com; doubles

from Rs4,000)

RADISSON BLU Its location near the airport and

the hotel's "Corporate Transit

Package" makes Radisson Blu

popular among business

travellers. Find cushy comfort

in rooms that feature the

richness of wood and cream.

Head out to nearby Gurgaon or

the city centre. If you're in the

mood for some solitude, linger

by the pool or immerse yourself

in a hydrotherapy session at

the spa.

(www.radissonblu.com;

doubles from ^13,000)

THE IMPERIAL Step back in time at one of

Delhi's most iconic Raj-era

buildings. The Imperial lies

hidden behind towering palms

just off Janpath, and is

especially popular with foreign

tourists. The interiors ooze

colonial elegance—shining

marble floors, high ceilings,

elegant French windows,

Victorian atrium—and the

service is immaculate (make the

most of the daily discounts at La

Baguette, the in-house bakery).

For a history lesson, head to the

in-house bar Patiala Peg, where

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru,

Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Lord

Mountbatten allegedly met and

discussed the Partition. History

buffs should sign up for a tour

of The Imperial premises, (www.

theimperialindia.com; doubles

from Rs20,500)

THE TAJ MAHAL HOTEL With its Mughal-influenced decor

and Dholpur sandstone

construction, The Taj Mahal

Hotel is an architectural

landmark. The characteristically

efficient and friendly staff can

arrange a wide variety of

experiences for you (on

request)—from personalised

dinner experiences and spa

sessions to sightseeing tickets

and tours. For great views of

Lutyens' Delhi, book a Luxury

Room, and make a note to visit

Rick's, one of the city's most

popular bars, (www.tajhotels.

com; doubles from Rs15,000)

VIVANTA BY TAJ,

SURAJKUND Inspired by the design of a baoli

(stepwell), Vivanta by Taj at

Surajkund boasts contemporary

and comfortable guest rooms.

What stands out is the

property's attention to detail—

who doesn't love finding

complimentary cake

43


SLEEP


in the room? We recommend

sitting tight at TADO, the

hotel's excellent organic

bakery and digging into a

delicious Mille-Feuille.

(www.vivantabytaj.com;


SCARLETTE This French-style boutique,

located in south Delhi, is an

ntimate haven for a quiet,

informal hideaway. Scarlette's

airy living room is a great place

to unwind, and leads to four

rooms that are tastefully

decorated with quirky

contemporary furniture, catchy

vintage pieces and en suite

facilities; and all but one feature

attached balconies. During your

stay here, pick up some pretty

knick-knacks from the in-house

shop or request a massage

therapy, (www.

scarlettenewdelhi.com; doubles

from Rs7,000)

KEMPINSKI AMBIENCE

HOTEL DELHI This hotel, Kempinski group's

first flagship property in India,

is popular for large-scale

events. Its rooms are

contemporary in design with

elegant touches-complete with

wooden floors, textured

wallpapers and modern

artworks. Enjoy a drink at the

Cherry Bar, which specialises

in cherry-based liquor

cocktails, among others. In

case you're planning a

celebration, their ballroom is

one of the largest in a luxury

hotel in India, accommodating

an astounding

6,000 guests,

(www.kempinski. com;


THE LODHI With its traditional filigree jaali

screens and stony modernist

lines, The Lodhi is an

architectural delight that offers

exclusive accommodation and

personalised experiences in

the capital. Dine at the

restaurant, On The Waterfront,

inside a glassed jetty, or linger

at The Library, which stocks

rare tomes on Delhi and

photograph-based coffee table

books on the Indian

subcontinent. You can also go

for a jog in the nearby Lodh

Gardens, stroll to India Gate or

visit the National Gallery of

Modern Art.

(www.thelodhi.com; doubles

from Rs25,500)

THE CLARIDGES,

NEW DELHI Among the many reasons why

The Claridges, New Delhi is

iconic are: it embodies a

charming blend of old-world

elegance and contemporary

chic, and is located in Lutyens'

Delhi. A stay in one of its Premier

Deluxe Rooms allows you to

enjoy verdant views from its

balcony, which opens out to the

swimming pool (temperature

controlled, so you can even take

a dip in winter). Dine outdoors at

the charming Sevilla and choose

your poison at Aura bar. Head to

nearby landmarks—Khan

Market, Connaught Place and

end the day with an order of the

iconic butter chicken at Gulati

on Pandara Road,

(www.claridges. com; doubles

from Rs10,000)

MAIDENS HOTEL Established in 1903, this stately

heritage hotel is a treasure trove

of historic landmarks, best

known for having hosted

several dignitaries during the

coronation of King Edward VII

and Queen Alexandra as pre-

Independence India's reigning

royals. Here, time seems to have

frozen—a sweeping driveway,

classic arches and rustling

peacocks. The century-old

rooms are startlingly spacious

with high ceilings and Raj-era

sumptuousness. We love how

convenient it is to get from

Maidens Hotel to the city's many

monuments, (www.maidenshotel.

com; doubles from Rs9.500)

B NINETEEN

NIZAMUDDIN EAST Set on a tree-lined street in

Nizamuddin East, B Nineteen is a

luxury boutique guest house run

by Janis McClmch and Rajive

Chaudhry. The couple, who

moved here from Boston, have

tastefully furnished the spacious

rooms. If you like, you may prep

your own meal in the kitchen or

watch the sunset from the

rooftop terrace for splendid

views of Humayun's Tomb.

Better still, request a breakfast

on the terrace for a peaceful

start to your day.

(www.bnineteen.com; doubles

from Rs9.000)

44

Documents

Wednesday , October 28, 2015 Conde Nast Traveller, … Jaipur Polo Grounds ... guest room at JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aeroc. Wednesday , October 28, ... Wednesday , October 28,