Asia 2012 - (Page 8)

THE LEELA PALACES HOTELS AND RESORTS INDIA DOES LUXE SARAH MUÑOZ Luxury hotels, jungle lodges, palaces and even tented camps may be rather routine in India, but what makes them stand out is the level of extravagance and attention to service that they deliver. It’s the lavish details throughout, including those showered upon guests, that make a world of difference in travelers’ stays. The local Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces (866-WOW 1 TAJ; taj hotels.com) is one of India’s oldest leading players in the country’s luxury landscape, converting royal palaces into posh hotels that defy imagination. Among these is the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, a vision in white overlooking Lake Pichola, and Jodhpur’s Umaid Bhawan Palace, the last of India’s great palaces and still the home of the city’s royal family. Built in desert sandstone, the Umaid Bhawan is ﬂush with Art Deco touches yet retains many local details, including its towers. The Leela Palaces Hotels and Resorts have also made their mark here with seven properties that capture the “essence of India.” Among these is The Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach in Kerala, which sits atop a cliff, and The Leela Goa, which combines the region’s Indian and Portuguese heritage and offers everything from private plunge pools to exclusive butler service in The Club, dubbed “a resort within a resort.” Last April saw the unveiling of The Leela Palace New Delhi, said to have the largest guestrooms in the city plus a whiskey and wine bar, and an art collection valued at more than $5 million. Another must in the list of posh escapes in India is Oberoi (800-5623764; oberoihotels.com), known for offering unique experiences as far away as the Himalayas, where it has two hotels: Wildﬂower Hall and The Oberoi Cecil, the latter more than 100 years old. Postcard views seem to be a common theme with Oberoi’s leisure-oriented hotels—The Oberoi Amarvilas, for example, provides views of the Taj Majal for all guests. Among the most iconic of properties in India is New Delhi’s The Imperial (800-323-7500; theimperialindia.com), which comes with its own art galleries and priceless art collections, including life-size portraits of past Indian rulers. The Victorian-style building packs tasteful luxury from arrival to check-out, with peaceful manicured gardens, unpacking assistance, and even Eliza rooms for “single lady travelers” that come with cameras just outside the room for added security. continued on page A10 A8 february 2012 recommend.com http://www.oberoihotels.com http://www.tajhotels.com http://www.theimperialindia.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Asia 2012

Culinary Asia
Hong Kong & Macau
Spas of Thailand
Luxury India
Traditional Japan
River Cruising
Singapore

Asia 2012