 "For moguls and mavens")
A five-star hotel in India recently launched a whopping Rs 10 lakh-package for a night's stay in its presidential suite. From gold-leaf ceilings, Versace and Bulgari toiletries, private studies and 24/7 butler services, India's über-luxe suites have plenty to offer. Here's our pick of the finest
THE LEELA PALACE, NEW DELHI
Your brush with the luxurious suite will begin at the airport as you get picked up in a Rolls Royce Phantom. Spread across 4,800 square feet, this presidential suite comes with opulent gold-leaf ceilings, intricate wood work, handpicked pure-silver objet d'art, and overlooks a Devi sculpture in the lush greens of the inner courtyard. The lavish bathroom comes with Bulgari toiletries, an anti-frost Ad Nortam mirror television and Jacuzzi. The suite features two living rooms and a personal gym. Also thrown in is a private study stocked with rare leather-bound tomes, a private dining room for 12, a butler pantry and a couple's spa.
Tariff: Rs 5.5 lakh plus taxes for a night
Famous guests: Tom Cruise, Akon, King Juan Carlos I of Spain
TAJ PALACE HOTEL, NEW DELHI
A favourite among Heads of State and Bollywood glitterati, the Tata Suite, spread across 6,500 square feet, combines contemporary design with Mughal decor - the carpets used in the living room are from the rare 'Mughal Jail Collection', possibly the most expensive in the world. A must-see is the rare collection of photographs in the "House of Tata" - picked from Tata Archives, Pune, the collection traces the history of the Tata family. All crystal items are imported from Waterford, Germany. The bathroom is laden with Bulgari amenities. The foyer opens to a formal lounge with an adjoining dining room for 12. At the entrance of the living room is an antique piano, over 100 years old and fully restored, by Rachels of Germany. Lithographs depicting India of the late 19th century are diplayed across the corridor as are paintings by M F Husain and Anjolie Ela Menon. The suite also comes with a personalised butler service, a gym and spa and a walk-in closet.
Tariff: Rs 8 lakh plus taxes for a night
Famous guests: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and wife Carla Sarkozy Bruni, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Hillary Clinton
THE TAJ FALAKNUMA PALACE, HYDERABAD
The grand presidential suite, also known as Nizam suite, houses a private swimming pool, jacuzzi, garden and exclusive access to a spa. Dining areas offer custom-designed Versace crockery and Robbie and Berkin cutlery. The duplex suite has a private area to entertain guests and a private butler pantry. Contemporary conveniences like telephone with voice mail facility, inroom safe, wireless internet, private bar and interactive televisions are provided. Stroll in the themed gardens on a 32-acre hillock with a sweeping view of Hyderabad. Put on the handcrafted ikat silk robe with matching slippers and lean back into the "passion pillow" - it is infused with a blend of Himalayan aphrodisiac herbs.
Tariff: Rs 5 lakh plus taxes for a night
Famous guests: So far, only 25 guests, mostly Bollywood celebrities, sportspersons and businessmen, have stayed in the grand presidential suite since the hotel was opened on November 1, 2010
ITC SONAR, KOLKATA
The presidential suite overlooks the hotel's water gardens and comes with a separate bedroom, drawing and dining areas with exclusive sit-outs amidst natural light. While a round-the-clock butler service (separate access for the butler, naturally) will cater to each of your whims, you can also enjoy exclusive access to the Darjeeling Lounge with boardroom facilities. Lounge in your personal veranda overlooking the Lily pond; prep up for the evening's cocktail dinner using the well-stocked powder room and walk-in closet. Don't let travel get in the way of your exercise routine - use the suite's personal stepper and massage chair. And if you're after some rejuvenation, enjoy the complimentary access to Kaya Kalp (the hotel's spa) and gym.
Tariff: Rs 1.25 lakh plus taxes for a night
Famous guests: Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, Mukesh Ambani, Vijay Mallya, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Diego Maradona
THE TAJ MAHAL PALACE, MUMBAI
Be it the splendid handpainted peacock at the living room entrance, the ornate Suryavanshi mirror adorning the wall or the tray inlaid with mother of pearl on the centre table - everything about this Tata suite soaks in opulence. For those wanting some quiet time, the Sheesh Mahal study with a shamiana-shaped roof, studded with pieces of mirror glass and a traditional jhula, might just be the perfect sanctuary. The hotel's prime location offers a majestic view of the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India. The suite, with two spacious bedrooms, living room, dining area, study and two large bathrooms, comes with a butler and a high-tech home-theatre system. Guests are picked up from the airport in a swanky limousine.
Tariff: Rs 3.5 lakh plus taxes for a night
Famous guests: John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Anjelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Kanye West, former Chinese premier Hu Jintao
TAJ LAKE PALACE, UDAIPUR
While the opulent palace sits majestically in the middle of lake Pichola, its grand presidential Shambu Prakash suite - named after the 18th Maharana Shambhu Singh who ruled Mewar from 1861to 1874 - is one of the most expensive in the country. If you're willing to dole out Rs 10 lakh for its recently launched package, you will be picked up from the airport in a sleek Jaguar or a vintage car from the Maharaja's private fleet, greeted by a procession of traditional folk dancers and fire-eaters, get access to a private butler, feast on a bespoke menu designed by personal chefs, and gulp down drinks on the hotel's 150-year old Gangaur boat, followed by a romantic shikara ride on the moonlit lake Pichola. Also thrown in is Taj's signature Jiva Spa treatment - 'Mewar-E-Khas' - on the Palace's spa boat.
Tariff: Rs 10 lakh plus taxes for a night for the above package
Famous guests: Abhishek Bachchan, Dia Mirza
THE LEELA PALACE, NEW DELHI
Your brush with the luxurious suite will begin at the airport as you get picked up in a Rolls Royce Phantom. Spread across 4,800 square feet, this presidential suite comes with opulent gold-leaf ceilings, intricate wood work, handpicked pure-silver objet d'art, and overlooks a Devi sculpture in the lush greens of the inner courtyard. The lavish bathroom comes with Bulgari toiletries, an anti-frost Ad Nortam mirror television and Jacuzzi. The suite features two living rooms and a personal gym. Also thrown in is a private study stocked with rare leather-bound tomes, a private dining room for 12, a butler pantry and a couple's spa.
Tariff: Rs 5.5 lakh plus taxes for a night
Famous guests: Tom Cruise, Akon, King Juan Carlos I of Spain
More From This Section
TAJ PALACE HOTEL, NEW DELHI
A favourite among Heads of State and Bollywood glitterati, the Tata Suite, spread across 6,500 square feet, combines contemporary design with Mughal decor - the carpets used in the living room are from the rare 'Mughal Jail Collection', possibly the most expensive in the world. A must-see is the rare collection of photographs in the "House of Tata" - picked from Tata Archives, Pune, the collection traces the history of the Tata family. All crystal items are imported from Waterford, Germany. The bathroom is laden with Bulgari amenities. The foyer opens to a formal lounge with an adjoining dining room for 12. At the entrance of the living room is an antique piano, over 100 years old and fully restored, by Rachels of Germany. Lithographs depicting India of the late 19th century are diplayed across the corridor as are paintings by M F Husain and Anjolie Ela Menon. The suite also comes with a personalised butler service, a gym and spa and a walk-in closet.
Tariff: Rs 8 lakh plus taxes for a night
Famous guests: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and wife Carla Sarkozy Bruni, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Hillary Clinton
THE TAJ FALAKNUMA PALACE, HYDERABAD
The grand presidential suite, also known as Nizam suite, houses a private swimming pool, jacuzzi, garden and exclusive access to a spa. Dining areas offer custom-designed Versace crockery and Robbie and Berkin cutlery. The duplex suite has a private area to entertain guests and a private butler pantry. Contemporary conveniences like telephone with voice mail facility, inroom safe, wireless internet, private bar and interactive televisions are provided. Stroll in the themed gardens on a 32-acre hillock with a sweeping view of Hyderabad. Put on the handcrafted ikat silk robe with matching slippers and lean back into the "passion pillow" - it is infused with a blend of Himalayan aphrodisiac herbs.
Tariff: Rs 5 lakh plus taxes for a night
Famous guests: So far, only 25 guests, mostly Bollywood celebrities, sportspersons and businessmen, have stayed in the grand presidential suite since the hotel was opened on November 1, 2010
ITC SONAR, KOLKATA
The presidential suite overlooks the hotel's water gardens and comes with a separate bedroom, drawing and dining areas with exclusive sit-outs amidst natural light. While a round-the-clock butler service (separate access for the butler, naturally) will cater to each of your whims, you can also enjoy exclusive access to the Darjeeling Lounge with boardroom facilities. Lounge in your personal veranda overlooking the Lily pond; prep up for the evening's cocktail dinner using the well-stocked powder room and walk-in closet. Don't let travel get in the way of your exercise routine - use the suite's personal stepper and massage chair. And if you're after some rejuvenation, enjoy the complimentary access to Kaya Kalp (the hotel's spa) and gym.
Tariff: Rs 1.25 lakh plus taxes for a night
Famous guests: Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, Mukesh Ambani, Vijay Mallya, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Diego Maradona
THE TAJ MAHAL PALACE, MUMBAI
Be it the splendid handpainted peacock at the living room entrance, the ornate Suryavanshi mirror adorning the wall or the tray inlaid with mother of pearl on the centre table - everything about this Tata suite soaks in opulence. For those wanting some quiet time, the Sheesh Mahal study with a shamiana-shaped roof, studded with pieces of mirror glass and a traditional jhula, might just be the perfect sanctuary. The hotel's prime location offers a majestic view of the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India. The suite, with two spacious bedrooms, living room, dining area, study and two large bathrooms, comes with a butler and a high-tech home-theatre system. Guests are picked up from the airport in a swanky limousine.
Tariff: Rs 3.5 lakh plus taxes for a night
Famous guests: John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Anjelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Kanye West, former Chinese premier Hu Jintao
TAJ LAKE PALACE, UDAIPUR
While the opulent palace sits majestically in the middle of lake Pichola, its grand presidential Shambu Prakash suite - named after the 18th Maharana Shambhu Singh who ruled Mewar from 1861to 1874 - is one of the most expensive in the country. If you're willing to dole out Rs 10 lakh for its recently launched package, you will be picked up from the airport in a sleek Jaguar or a vintage car from the Maharaja's private fleet, greeted by a procession of traditional folk dancers and fire-eaters, get access to a private butler, feast on a bespoke menu designed by personal chefs, and gulp down drinks on the hotel's 150-year old Gangaur boat, followed by a romantic shikara ride on the moonlit lake Pichola. Also thrown in is Taj's signature Jiva Spa treatment - 'Mewar-E-Khas' - on the Palace's spa boat.
Tariff: Rs 10 lakh plus taxes for a night for the above package
Famous guests: Abhishek Bachchan, Dia Mirza