Treadmills in the washroom and panoramic views of the sea, memories of Julia Roberts, or furniture inspired by Sir Edward Lutyens. BS Weekend finds it difficult to make a choice
GOLCONDA AND KOHINOOR SUITES, THE OBEROI, MUMBAI
Michael Jackson scribbled a ‘thank you’ message on a pillow cover and hid it in these suites. The Golconda Suite and Kohinoor Suite are identical suites on the 20th and 21st floors, respectively, of The Oberoi, Mumbai.
Uninterrupted views of the Arabian Sea greet you at each 2050 sq ft suite. The living room has a workspace and dining area and the master bedroom a four-fixture bathroom with a treadmill. A powder room is located off the living room and a pantry is adjacent to the dining area. The bathroom includes a a 17-inch LCD television.
Price: Starting at Rs 3 lakh a day
Info: Visit www.oberoihotels.com for offers
THE LORD KITCHENER SUITE, at the Wildflower Hall in Shimla, is another exquisite experience from the Oberoi stable. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows offer an unforgettable view of the Himalayas, and the acres of pine and cedar forests around. If you manage to tear your eyes away from the view, then a four-poster king size bed with luxurious linen awaits you. The furniture is made of authentic Burman teak. The bathrooms are tantalisingly extravagant, with an abundance of Ayurvedic accessories. You could choose to simply luxuriate in the 1,184 sq ft space or go ahead and take leisurely walks on the trails winding through the fragrant pine forests, with gourmet picnic hampers packed by the hotel staff.
Price: Around Rs 61,500 a day
Info: www.oberoihotels.com
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PRESIDENTIAL SUITE, TAJ WEST END, BANGALORE
Mark Knopfler, Lakshmi Mittal, Julia Roberts, Amitabh Bachchan are just some of the celebrities who have stayed at the Presidential Suite at Taj West End, Bangalore. The 3,500 sq ft suite has Persian carpets, antique furniture and wooden flooring. Private plunge pools with a massage area, sitting area, workplace or library area and state-of-the-art bathrooms are some of the high points.
Price: Upwards of Rs 3 lakh a day
Info: For offers, log on to www.tajhotels.com
THE GRAND PRESIDENTIAL SUITE at the Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi offers unparalleled views of Lutyens’ Delhi, and furniture inspired by the original designs of Sir Edwin Lutyens himself. We are told that interior designer James Park Associates, who have offices in London and Singapore, researched Lutyens’ work in New Delhi, obtaining archival material from the library of the Royal Institute of British Architects. With a master bedroom, vanity room, pantry, library, drawing room, dining room, powder room and the option of attaching two more bedrooms, the 4,500 sq ft suite is made to “wow” you.
Price: About Rs 60,000 a day
Info: www.tajhotels.com
PRESIDENTIAL SUITE, THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL, MUMBAI
You’re welcomed with specially grown herbal tea and jacketed copies of Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts and Maximum City by Suketu Mehta among others. A private elevator ensures you don’t have to rub shoulders with other guests and the 3,336 sq ft suite is designed to morph into a three-bedroom apartment if needed.
A solid Mahogany writing desk and leather swivel chair would remind you how therapeutic classic furniture can be in modern times. Further, an elegant mahogany dining table for eight is serviced by a fully-equipped kitchen.
Price: Rs 3 lakh a day
Info: www.fourseasons.com
LODHI POOL SUITE, AMAN, NEW DELHI
Every room in Aman comes with its own private pool. And the three-bedroom Lodhi Pool Suite boasts of a 344 sq ft plunge pool, complete with a day bed and poolside chairs for you to stretch out on the terrace alongside. Architect Kerry Hall believes the use of traditional jaali screens adorning terraces and exteriors lends an aura of mystery.
Price: Around Rs 1 lakh a day
Info: www.amanresorts.com/amannewdelhi
SHAHI MAHAL PRESIDENTIAL SUITE, RAJ PALACE, JAIPUR
Among the most expensive hotels in the world, Shahi Mahal offers just about every luxury you can imagine. Multiple bedrooms, living rooms, a dining space, home theatre, gym, spa, pool, kitchen, staff accommodation, meeting rooms, office and library.
Price: Around Rs 17,75,000 a day
Info: www.rajpalace.com