THE HINDUW EEKEND HYDERABAD LUXE F ive ways to … · A lila Fort Bishangarh O nce a warrior fort ,...
1
CM YK HY-HY CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC THE HINDU WEEKEND HYDERABAD SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2017 5 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC LUXE Five ways to go boutique From hippie hideaways to royal fortresses, here’s the best of the small, stylish hotels around the country in 2017 :: ELIZABETH MATHEW Indian Art Deco Ayana Fort Kochi Synonymous with quaint homestays and retreats, Fort Kochi is the quirk capital of God’s Own Country. But there’s always room for more – like the Ayana Fort Kochi. From a 200-year-old courthouse to a spice warehouse to a bank, the building wore many avatars until now, when it became the 16-room art deco-inspired boutique hotel. Between monochrome Athangudi tiles and a rooftop pool with views of the harbour, the only full-time gym in the locality and paintings by T Vaikuntam and Sakti Burman, Ayana Fort Kochi is definitely the place to soak up some local culture while returning to a haven of luxury in sunny Kerala. Protip: They have a yoga retreat coming up from April 28 to May 1, conducted by Natasha Mahindra of Anam Cara, priced at ₹35,000 per head onwards. Prices start at ₹8,000 plus taxes per room per night. For more details, call 98450 07353 or 99670 45098. Chill like a warrior Alila Fort Bishangarh Once a warrior fort, Alila Fort Bishangarh may have housed soldiers within its two-metre- thick walls. Today, it’s just for guests, but it’s a great place to be held in siege, if there should be war. With a terrace pool, a champagne bar, a cigar room-cum-wine cellar and rooms with bay windows , not to mention bathtubs with fabulous views – it has everything you’d need, in war and peace. If you do get out, there’s the local village of Bishangarh with havelis to explore, an hour from Jaipur by road. Opens July 2017. Prices start at ₹12,000 onwards per room per night. For more details, call +91 8411908000. Off the radar The Birdcage Mukteshwar In the little-known town of Mukteshwar in Nainital, 7,500 feet above sea level, perched at a perfect vantage point, is a little bit of luxury, called The Birdcage Mukteshwar. The property looks rustic, made of stone and wood, but houses all the modern luxuries guests would need. Situated at a point that offers unrestricted views of the Nandakot and Panchchuli range – Birdcage’s unusual name comes from the 300-odd species of birds that live in the orchard around the property. Opens on June 1, 2017. Prices start at ₹5,000 per room per night. For more details, check birdcage.in. Retreat for the flower child Anupamaa Mangar If you’re tired of breakfast buffets and perfumed surroundings, then Anupamaa Mangar might be just the place for you. The brainchild of designer Anupama Dayal, this five-room farmhouse is an extension of creativity – her designs grace the facade – combined with a love for nature at its purest. No manicured lawns here, the Mangar village where the homestay is located, is a forest grove considered sacred by the locals. Meditate on the open terrace, go bird-watching an hour from the capital. Prices start at ₹7800 per room per night. For more, mail [email protected] Your holiday is only as good as the hashtag you give it – so it had better stand out. But how do you make a run-of-the-mill ‘poolside and chilled wine shot’ seem different from the rest? You go someplace exotic, that has a little story to tell or a view that needs more than hashtags to explain – you go boutique. With a distinct aura, a definitive aesthetic and a charm that can’t be replicated, boutique hotels are the answer to bored travellers looking for the clichéd “something different”. This year, we pick five new places that should be on your radar as you make your holiday travel plans. Colonial hangover The Garden Bungalow, Shantiniketan If you were Bengali aristocracy, you would occasionally retreat to your Bagan Bari – literally “pleasure garden” – for a break from the Calcutta in the days gone by. Today, you don’t have to be a royal to live like one at The Garden Bungalow, Shantiniketan. At the colonial house that houses four suites over three acres, prepare to address the local Santhali women, learn about their culture, admire the trees and listen to birdsong. Prices start at ₹6,500 per room per night. For more details, call: 9899760538 LOVE TRAVEL GUIDES Wanderlust scripted After becoming a resident of India in 2007, Australian-born Fiona Caulfield decided to write about her love story with her chosen home, and that’s how the Love Travel Guides were born. Called ‘Handbooks for the luxury vagabond’, these guides are a careful curation of the best a city has to offer, sourced from the people who know it best. Started in 2007, Caulfield has till date covered Kolkata, Goa, Jaipur, Mumbai and Delhi. These guides are reworked over years, with some now in their fourth edition. The books are also completely handmade in India, printed on hand-made paper from Jaipur and covered in handloom khadi cotton that was woven in Andhra Pradesh. Even the silk pouches that the books come in are made from Mysore silk. The latest is Made in Kolkata, released in November last year, and more recently, 401 Reasons to Fall in Love with Delhi, a guide commissioned by Andaz Delhi. The Love Travel Guides are priced at ₹2,000 onwards and available on lovetravelguides.com. 401 Reasons to Fall in Love with Delhi is priced at ₹2,100 and available in bookstores as well as at Andaz Delhi. Splurge files Objects that should be on your radar J’ADORE IN JOY AFTERNOON TEA Good enough to eat At the Mandarin Oriental, Taipei, a special spread awaits guests of the hotel – an afternoon tea inspired by the scent of Dior’s newest perfume, the J’adore In Joy. Gregory Doyen, French Executive Pastry Chef, was inspired by the “bold and vibrant notes of fleur de sel and ylang-ylang, and its fruity sweetness of peach” to create a spread that includes Foie Gras with Peach Crepe Roll, Peach Macaroon, Sea Salt Cheese Cake and much more. J’adore In Joy is the newest addition to the 20-year-old line of J’adore perfumes created by Dior’s chief perfumer, Francois Demachy. The J’adore In Joy Afternoon Tea will be available at Café Un Deux Trois until May 14, priced at TWD 1,050 (₹2,231) plus taxes. Contact the hotel on +886 2 2715 6888 for more details. MASERATI SUITE Sports cars in bed If your love for Italian sports cars goes beyond the ordinary, you’ve found the best place to stay in Turin. The AllegroItalia Golden Palace’s Maserati Suite — one of three themed suites, including Chocolate and Pope Francis Suites, out of a total of 40 suites — features the usual period furniture and trappings of luxury. But revel in a living room filled with the history of sports cars and hunt around the sleeping area for original Maserati parts hidden within the furniture. An elegant Maserati Quattroporte GTS will also be on display, and can be rented for the duration of your stay. There’s no dearth of places to drive to: the hotel is close to the city centre and places of interest like the Egyptian Museum and Venaria Reale Royal House. At 350 euros per night (roughly ₹23,966 with breakfast, WiFi and spa access), Maserati lovers might find it worth their while. Make your reservations on goldenpalacetorino.com. T+39 011 551 2111 How to make your holiday more in- teresting? Just pick a location that lends itself to some fun activity and you can assure yourself at least one day that’s not just about lazing by the pool. From white truffle-hunting in Italy to Walnut trails in Mussoorie, there’s something everyone, if you know what you’re looking for. Cashew harvest in Goa April in Goa is when the air gets redolent with the whiff of ripe cashew apples. To string the state’s 500-year cashew history, step into Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa for a trademarked cashew event during the harvest season. The 8-day an- nual Cashew Trail rediscovers the cashew in a million ways – from cooking classes and cocktail lessons to visits to a cashew factory. You can even try dishes paired with feni/urak at a cashew-themed Sunday brunch or indulge in a Cashew Ritual at the Sereno Spa. At the Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa from April 16 to 23, 2017. Packages start at ₹7,000. On the Walnut Trail in Mussoorie Mountain escapes don’t always have to be about rest and relaxation. In Mussoorie, you can go on a walnut trail during picking season when the JW Marriott, built around a walnut grove, organises their annual wal- nut-themed celebration. Guests at the hotel can help pick walnuts, climb on the trees in a harness and even bake walnut tarts with the pastry chef. In their splendid green- house as all manners of blooms look on, they can even plant their own walnut saplings. At the JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa in September. Packages start at ₹19,000 onwards. Truffle Hunting in Piedmont There’s no better way to spend an autumn in Italy than in pursuit of the famed white truffle, in the lesser- known, and hence way less touristy, Piedmont. Stay at the Relais San Maurizio, a 17th-century monastery converted into a 31-room luxury hotel that houses the Michelin- starred ‘di Guido da Costigliole’ res- taurant. Wake up at the crack of dawn and head out under the super- vision of the ‘trifulao’ (truffle hunter) and his faithful dog. If you’re suc- cessful, the in-house chef will even show you how to whip up a dish us- ing your finds and a local recipe.At the Relais San Maurizio, Piedmont, from mid-September to mid-Novem- ber. Packages start at ₹1,40,240. Pearl diving in Bahrain The Arabian Gulf hides many treas- ures, but few know about the oysters with pearls hidden in them. If you’re staying at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, just ask the concierge and you can go diving in the Bahrain Pearling Trail, a UNESCO world her- itage site. The warm waters and your luck are the only things keeping you from finding that pearl and as a bo- nus you could end up spotting some marine life along the way. At the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, Bahrain, all year round. Packages start at ₹17, 000 onwards With inputs from Preeti Verma Lal and Payel Majumdar Dive, hunt, harvest What better holiday than one that gives you a souvenir you have to search for :: ELIZABETH MATHEW On the trail (clockwise from below) Truffle hunting, pearl diving, cashew harvesting and walnut plucking are great options for holidays
Transcript of THE HINDUW EEKEND HYDERABAD LUXE F ive ways to … · A lila Fort Bishangarh O nce a warrior fort ,...
CMYK
HY-HY
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
THE HINDU WEEKEND HYDERABAD
SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2017 5CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
LUXE
Five ways to goboutique
From hippie hideaways to royal fortresses, here’s the best of thesmall, stylish hotels around the country in 2017
:: ELIZABETH MATHEW
Indian Art DecoAyana Fort Kochi
Synonymous with quaint homestays and retreats, Fort Kochi is the quirk capital of God’s Own Country. But there’s alwaysroom for more – like the Ayana Fort Kochi. From a 200-year-old courthouse to a spice warehouse to a bank, the building woremany avatars until now, when it became the 16-room art deco-inspired boutique hotel. Between monochrome Athangudi tilesand a rooftop pool with views of the harbour, the only full-time gym in the locality and paintings by T Vaikuntam and SaktiBurman, Ayana Fort Kochi is definitely the place to soak up some local culture while returning to a haven of luxury in sunnyKerala. Protip: They have a yoga retreat coming up from April 28 to May 1, conducted by Natasha Mahindra of Anam Cara,priced at ₹35,000 per head onwards. Prices start at ₹8,000 plus taxes per room per night. For more details, call 98450 07353 or 99670 45098.
Chill like a warriorAlila Fort Bishangarh
Once a warrior fort, Alila Fort Bishangarhmay have housed soldiers within its two-metre-
thick walls. Today, it’s just for guests, but it’s agreat place to be held in siege, if there should be
war. With a terrace pool, a champagne bar, acigar room-cum-wine cellar and rooms with bay
windows , not to mention bathtubs withfabulous views – it has everything you’d need, in
war and peace. If you do get out, there’s thelocal village of Bishangarh with havelis to
explore, an hour from Jaipur by road.Opens July 2017. Prices start at ₹12,000onwards per room per night. For more
details, call +91 8411908000.
Off the radarThe Birdcage MukteshwarIn the little-known town of Mukteshwar in Nainital, 7,500 feetabove sea level, perched at a perfect vantage point, is a littlebit of luxury, called The Birdcage Mukteshwar. The propertylooks rustic, made of stone and wood, but houses all themodern luxuries guests would need. Situated at a point thatoffers unrestricted views of the Nandakot and Panchchulirange – Birdcage’s unusual name comes from the 300-oddspecies of birds that live in the orchard around the property. Opens on June 1, 2017. Prices start at ₹5,000 per roomper night. For more details, check birdcage.in.
Retreat for the flower childAnupamaa MangarIf you’re tired of breakfast buffets andperfumed surroundings, then AnupamaaMangar might be just the place for you. Thebrainchild of designer Anupama Dayal, thisfive-room farmhouse is an extension ofcreativity – her designs grace the facade –combined with a love for nature at itspurest. No manicured lawns here, theMangar village where the homestay islocated, is a forest grove considered sacredby the locals. Meditate on the open terrace,go bird-watching an hour from the capital. Prices start at ₹7800 per room per night.For more, [email protected]
Your holiday is only as good as the hashtag you give it – so it had better stand out. But how do you makea run-of-the-mill ‘poolside and chilled wine shot’ seem different from the rest? You go someplace
exotic, that has a little story to tell or a view that needs more than hashtags to explain – you goboutique. With a distinct aura, a definitive aesthetic and a charm that can’t be replicated, boutique
hotels are the answer to bored travellers looking for the clichéd “something different”. This year, wepick five new places that should be on your radar as you make your holiday travel plans.
Colonial hangoverThe Garden Bungalow, ShantiniketanIf you were Bengali aristocracy, you would occasionallyretreat to your Bagan Bari – literally “pleasure garden” – fora break from the Calcutta in the days gone by. Today, youdon’t have to be a royal to live like one at The GardenBungalow, Shantiniketan. At the colonial house that housesfour suites over three acres, prepare to address the localSanthali women, learn about their culture, admire the treesand listen to birdsong. Prices start at ₹6,500 per roomper night. For more details, call: 9899760538
LOVE TRAVEL GUIDES
Wanderlust scriptedAfter becoming a resident of India in2007, Australian-born Fiona Caul�elddecided to write about her love story withher chosen home, and that’s how the LoveTravel Guides were born. Called‘Handbooks for the luxury vagabond’,these guides are a careful curation of thebest a city has to o�er, sourced from thepeople who know it best. Started in 2007,Caul�eld has till date covered Kolkata,Goa, Jaipur, Mumbai and Delhi. Theseguides are reworked over years, withsome now in their fourth edition. Thebooks are also completely handmade inIndia, printed on hand-made paper fromJaipur and covered in handloom khadicotton that was woven in Andhra Pradesh.Even the silk pouches that the bookscome in are made from Mysore silk. Thelatest is Made in Kolkata, released inNovember last year, and more recently, 401 Reasons to Fall in Love with Delhi, a guidecommissioned by Andaz Delhi. The Love Travel Guides are priced at ₹2,000 onwards andavailable on lovetravelguides.com. 401 Reasons to Fall in Love with Delhi is priced at ₹2,100and available in bookstores as well as at Andaz Delhi.
Splurge files Objects that should be on your radar
J’ADORE IN JOY AFTERNOON TEA
Good enough to eatAt the Mandarin Oriental, Taipei, a specialspread awaits guests of the hotel – anafternoon tea inspired by the scent ofDior’s newest perfume, the J’adore In Joy.Gregory Doyen, French Executive PastryChef, was inspired by the “bold and vibrantnotes of �eur de sel and ylang-ylang, andits fruity sweetness of peach” to create aspread that includes Foie Gras with Peach
Crepe Roll, Peach Macaroon, Sea Salt Cheese Cake and much more. J’adore In Joy is thenewest addition to the 20-year-old line of J’adore perfumes created by Dior’s chief perfumer,Francois Demachy. The J’adore In Joy Afternoon Tea will be available at Café Un Deux Troisuntil May 14, priced at TWD 1,050 (₹2,231) plus taxes. Contact the hotel on +886 2 27156888 for more details.
MASERATI SUITE
Sports cars in bedIf your love for Italian sports carsgoes beyond the ordinary, you’vefound the best place to stay in Turin.The AllegroItalia Golden Palace’sMaserati Suite — one of threethemed suites, including Chocolateand Pope Francis Suites, out of atotal of 40 suites — features theusual period furniture and trappingsof luxury. But revel in a living room�lled with the history of sports carsand hunt around the sleeping areafor original Maserati parts hiddenwithin the furniture. An elegant Maserati Quattroporte GTS will also be on display, and can berented for the duration of your stay. There’s no dearth of places to drive to: the hotel is closeto the city centre and places of interest like the Egyptian Museum and Venaria Reale RoyalHouse. At 350 euros per night (roughly ₹23,966 with breakfast, WiFi and spa access),Maserati lovers might �nd it worth their while. Make your reservations ongoldenpalacetorino.com. T+39 011 551 2111
How to make your holiday more in-teresting? Just pick a location thatlends itself to some fun activity andyou can assure yourself at least oneday that’s not just about lazing bythe pool. From white truffle-huntingin Italy to Walnut trails in Mussoorie,there’s something everyone, if youknow what you’re looking for.
Cashew harvest in GoaApril in Goa is when the air getsredolent with the whiff of ripecashew apples. To string the state’s500-year cashew history, step intoPark Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa for atrademarked cashew event duringthe harvest season. The 8-day an-nual Cashew Trail rediscovers thecashew in a million ways – fromcooking classes and cocktail lessonsto visits to a cashew factory. You caneven try dishes paired with feni/urakat a cashew-themed Sunday brunchor indulge in a Cashew Ritual at theSereno Spa. At the Park Hyatt GoaResort and Spa from April 16 to 23,2017. Packages start at ₹7,000.
On the Walnut Trail inMussoorieMountain escapes don’t always haveto be about rest and relaxation. InMussoorie, you can go on a walnuttrail during picking season when theJW Marriott, built around a walnutgrove, organises their annual wal-nut-themed celebration. Guests atthe hotel can help pick walnuts,climb on the trees in a harness andeven bake walnut tarts with the
pastry chef. In their splendid green-house as all manners of blooms lookon, they can even plant their ownwalnut saplings. At the JW MarriottMussoorie Walnut Grove Resort &Spa in September. Packages start at₹19,000 onwards.
Truffle Hunting in PiedmontThere’s no better way to spend an
autumn in Italy than in pursuit of thefamed white truffle, in the lesser-known, and hence way less touristy,Piedmont. Stay at the Relais SanMaurizio, a 17th-century monasteryconverted into a 31-room luxuryhotel that houses the Michelin-starred ‘di Guido da Costigliole’ res-taurant. Wake up at the crack ofdawn and head out under the super-vision of the ‘trifulao’ (truffle hunter)and his faithful dog. If you’re suc-cessful, the in-house chef will evenshow you how to whip up a dish us-ing your finds and a local recipe.Atthe Relais San Maurizio, Piedmont,from mid-September to mid-Novem-ber. Packages start at ₹1,40,240.
Pearl diving in BahrainThe Arabian Gulf hides many treas-ures, but few know about the oysterswith pearls hidden in them. If you’restaying at the Four Seasons HotelBahrain Bay, just ask the conciergeand you can go diving in the BahrainPearling Trail, a UNESCO world her-itage site. The warm waters and yourluck are the only things keeping youfrom finding that pearl and as a bo-nus you could end up spotting somemarine life along the way. At theFour Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay,Bahrain, all year round. Packagesstart at ₹17, 000 onwards
With inputs from Preeti Verma Laland Payel Majumdar
Dive, hunt, harvestWhat better holiday than one that gives you a souvenir you have to search for
:: ELIZABETH MATHEW
On the trail (clockwise from below) Tru�e hunting, pearl diving, cashewharvesting and walnut plucking are great options for holidays
