Condé Nast Traveller India - Trident Hotel Bandra Kurla

THE LaLIT RESORT & Spa BEkaL, Kerala
Northern Kerala is the hot new destination for visitors to the
South, and planting a flag squarely in the luxury end of the market
here is the Lalit Bekal. The sprawling 26-acre, five-star property
at Kasaragode is surrounded on three sides by the shores of the
Nombili river. All this water lends the resort a feeling of unrivalled
serenity, so it feels natural that the Rejuve spa is a focal point.
A purpose-built yoga and meditation pavilion, eight Ayurveda
spa rooms and four Western spa rooms offer a signature menu of
both home-grown and international therapies. The Lalit is one of the
few high-end spa resorts that allows parents to bring children along
to pick from a selection of treatments. Bespoke dining experiences
are also a Lalit specialityÐgue sts can request a menu specially
adapted to any dietary requirement. There are also numerous
places to dine, from a gazebo overlooking the lagoon to under
the stars on the deck of the hotel' s Kattuvalam houseboat.
On arrival, each guest is also assigned their own holiday host,
who is the main point of contact at the hotel. This host makes
arrangements for everything from sightseeing tours to in-room
dining, and allows for an unprecedented degree of privacy.
The über-luxe end of the market isn' t overlooked eitherÐt he Lalit
boasts a private butler service and the region' s first helipad. For
those wanting to explore the area, Bekal Fort and Chandragiri Fort
are both within easy day-trip distance, while the unspoilt Bekal
beach is a must-see.
WHEN TO gO Late September, when the backwaters are at their
most lush, but the high-season crowds won' t yet have arrived.
ROOm TO BOOk For the ultimate chill-out, check out the pictureperfect
views of the lagoon from the Lalit' s 915sq ft spa rooms.
0467 223-7777; www.thelalit.com. Doubles from 20,000
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Right: Awaken your senses at the Rejuve spa, The Lalit Resort &
Spa Bekal. Below: A dining area at ITC Royal Gardenia
ITC ROyaL gaRdENIa, Bengaluru
`R esponsible luxury' are the
buzz-words at the ITC' s latest
property in Bengaluru, where
the environmental impact is
as carefully considered as the
ply-count of the bed linen. With
a name inspired by Bengaluru' s
reputation as the `g arden city'
of India, the 292-room ITC
Gardenia' s lobby is overlooked
by a vertical hanging garden,
while the atrium is illuminated by
natural daylight and ventilated
by the city' s famously cool
air. All waste water here is
conscientiously recycled, while
solid waste has been almost
entirely eradicated. The ITC is
also one of the first hotels in
India to make a selling point of
the locally-sourced ingredients
at its Cubbon Pavilion restaurant.
Accommodation is divided into
two zonesÐt he Towers and ITC
One, where rooms are all themed
around the natural world. As
guests move up from ground
level, floors progress from stone
and fossil to earth, flowers, birds
and butterflies, and, finally, sky.
It' s earthy, but not oppressively
soÐt he designs are pleasantly
decorative and a feeling of space
and light prevails throughout.
The hotel offers 292 rooms, out
of which 13 are suites. The highend
business traveller is also
well catered forÐt he ITC boasts
Bengaluru' s first hotel helipad,
while its 5,050sq ft Presidential
Suite is the largest in India. There
are five gourmet restaurants
in the hotelÐL otus Pavilion,
Highland Nectar, Kebabs and
Kurries and West View, besides
the Cubbon Pavilion.
ROOm TO BOOk Room 1905
overlooks a vast rain tree in the
garden. Watch from the balcony
as it folds its leaves at sunset.
WHEN TO gO December,
when the Bangalore Hubba arts
festival is in full swing.
www.itcwelcomgroup.in;
080 2211-9898. Doubles
from 22,500
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