The mere thought of Jaipur conjures up visions of shimmering sand, magnificent forts of Rajasthan, Rajput valour and of royal stays. Into this myriad world comes a new entrant, Zone by The Park, that seamlessly blends luxury with the local flavours.
Thus, while all the contemporary luxurious amenities are on hand there is a strong sense of tradition, be it the wall paintings that depict the rich culture and heritage of the state or the Bazaar restaurant that has on display an array of commodities used in daily life.
Located in the Bani Park area of central Jaipur, the hotel, which opened last month, is an initiative of the Apeejay Group and has been designed by the US-based Project Orange company.
Not surprisingly, orange is the dominant colour in almost every nook and corner of the hotel - but without distracting from the traditional flavour".
"Zone is not just a hotel but a social hub as well. Zone aims at connecting with the guests. It is a young and vibrant concept by Apeejay Group. We believe in providing quick service and taking full care of our
visitors," Harish Kumar, the hotel's director of operations, told IANS.
As one enters, one is greeted with a welcome drink - cranberry juice - a much-needed refresher.
In terms of accommodation, on offer are four types -
Zone Room, Zone Trio, Zone Quad and the Zone suite - all of them quite cozy and with the usual accompaniments - a mini bar, writing desk,"a large 42" HD TV, a sofa, an ironing table and iron, a safe and, of course, a large double bed.
Here again, there was a profusion of orange - from the curtains, to the sofa to the pillow covers and blankets. The white sheets provided quite a contrast.
Bazaar - the hotel's theme restaurant - is a paradise for food lovers. Enhancing the ambiance is a real-life autorickshaw done up colourfully to reflect the myriad aspects of Rajasthani life and traditions.
A highlight of the restaurant is the interactive open kitchen that enables guests conduct conversations with the chefs and request their choice of food - even though it may not be mentioned on the menu.
The extensive menu will leave you drooling - be it over a traditional Rajasthani thali, an array of Oriental and continental or Italian pizzas - not to forget laal maas dish. This traditional Rajasthani mutton curry, loaded with a lot of spices and red chillies is a must try at Bazaar.
If you have a sweet tooth, the menu will leave you spoilt for choice. Dig into a chocolate yoghurt dessert or a pineapple and mango pasty or a rasmalai- to mention just a few.
The hotel also has a gym and a swimming pool on the rooftop, where one can enjoy a favourite cocktail. The hotel authorities are readying a completely different concept - Playa by Zone - a food joint-cum-bar on the rooftop to be open by May-end.
And, while most hotels of this time provide you thumbnail sketches of prominent landmarks, Zone goes a step further and offers you an eclectic "10 things to do in Jaipur" wish list for the footloose.
For instance, there's the Pink City Walk, a three-km walk which covers the essence of Jaipur by showcasing 17 must see places including local markets, historical monuments and local flavours. The circuit takes two-to-three hours to complete.
Also worth taking in will be a trip to a centre making blue pottery -- an art the locals are desperately trying to keep alive. Also, don't forget to try out your hand in pottery making.
A visit to Amer Fort at night will be an amazing experience. Apart from the Light and Sound show, the fort is now open during summer for evening visits as well. The fort is truly magnificent, appearing to be a golden ornament against the night sky.
The overwhelming hospitality of Zone will win your heart making you promise to soon come back again.
FAQs
Getting there: Jaipur is connected to most Indian cities by air, rail and road.
Time from airport to hotel: 30 mins
Time from railway station to hotel: 30 mins
Time from bus stand to hotel: 15 mins
Hotel tariff (breakfast, meals not included)
Zone Room: Rs.3,500 per night
Zone Trio: Rs.4,500
Zone Quad: Rs.5,300
Zone Suite: Rs.8,000
Breakfast for two: Rs.1,000
Meal for two: Rs.1,500
(The writer's visit was at the invitation of Zone by The Park. Somrita Ghosh can be contacted at somrita.g@ians.in)
