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    How luxurious hotels in India provides global figures a peaceful sleep without a worry

    Synopsis

    Important as the obvious indulgences are, the real joys of living in a space like this are softer, under-the radar, luxuries such as rare photos of the Tata family from the late 19th century in the intimate study.

    Master bedroom
    Master bedroom
    By Kalyani Prasher

    Tata Suite, Taj Palace: In 2010, Taj Palace opened the doors to the Tata Suite in Delhi, a 7,500 sq ft space with lounging rooms, office space, meeting room, 12-seater dining room, en suite master and guest bedrooms, walk-in wardrobe, private spa and gym. To get an idea of how big the suite is, think of 16 regular rooms combined into one space — yes, that’s what the hotel did to construct the grand presidential suite.

    The first occupants of this modern India-meet-Mughal heritage suite were former French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni, during their India visit in December 2010. Since then, a spate of famous guests have stayed at the Tata Suite, such as singer Chris Martin, Facebook founder Mark Zukerberg, former supermodel Naomi Campbell, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip and, most recently, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.

    Important as the obvious indulgences are, the real joys of living in a space like this are softer, under-theradar, luxuries such as rare photos of the Tata family from the late 19th century in the intimate study; art by MF Husain and Anjolie Ela Menon; or the 19thcentury lithographs. The centrepiece of the suite is the antique MF Rachals piano from Germany, dated 1883. Carla Bruni, daughter of a concert pianist and a pianist herself, played this piece of history for 12 guests at a dinner she hosted one evening, making unforgettable memories for them, herself, as well as the staff that night. That’s what living in such a space is about, after all.

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    Living room with Mughal Jali Collection carpets.

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    Pictures from the Tata family’s private collection in the study.

    Hotel
    Study with mouth-blown glass chandelier.

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    Master bathroom.

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    Gym and spa.
    Noteworthy features

    Mughal Jali Collection carpets, among the most expensive in the world Swarovski chandelier and mouth-blown glass lamps Crema Marfil marble flooring Bernardaud crockery Robbe & Berking cutlery Zwiesel 1872 glassware Waterford crystalware Bang & Olufsen sound system William Yeoward lighting.



    Untitled-15Agencies
    Virat and Anushka stayed here on their reception night. They returned to the suite, families and friends in tow, ordered a full Punjabi dinner spread and left at 5 am!
    Chanakya Suite, ITC Maurya: Distinguished among peers for being the first such luxury accommodation to open in the city, the Chanakya Suite opened in 2007 and set a new standard in Delhi’s hospitality landscape. This is where Barack Obama preferred to stay each time he visited as POTUS. Named after the crafty wizard from the Mauryan empire who helped Chandragupta rise to power and establish his reign, the Chanakya Suite takes the ITC Maurya theme forward in its décor and design. Its guest profile primarily includes heads of states and people in high positions in global companies.

    The striking feature of this 4,600 sq ft suite is the entrance — a passage evoking a ‘royal corridor’ with silk-covered walls filled with art and ending at a magnificent sculpture of Chanakya. Doors lead from this corridor into private and work spaces — including the master bedroom, walk-in wardrobe, private steam, sauna and gym, a 12-seater dining room, guest room, study and office space, and anything under the sun you could want from a living space in another city. Other distinguished guests include the Dalai Lama (who apparently said he slept soundly here because the suite has positive energy), Bill Clinton, George Bush, Tony Blair, Vladimir Putin, and King Abdullah among other heads of state and royal families from across the world.

    A stay at the Chanakya Suite comes with many privileges, namely, you can order any dish you want — made with any specific ingredients from any region in the world and it will be flown in and cooked especially for you. Well, if you are president of a country, you’ve earned your perks!

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    Work space cum living room

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    Lighting that doubles as artworks.
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    Dining room with antique rose water sprinklers on display.

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    One of the many beautiful pieces of art

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    Lounge

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    Master bathroom

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    Antique sculptures take the Mauryan empire theme forward.

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    Noteworthy featuresRare artworks from eminent artists such as Aziz and Tyeb Mehta Illustrations from the Arthashastra Silver rose water sprinklers that connect with the theme 600-thread count linen Steam and sauna rooms from Knullwald Mother-of-pearl inlay work in the master bathroom Villeroy and Boch crockery Cristal De Paris glassware

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    You might think these facilities are more than one can ask for but not for some guests, such as the Sultan of Brunei, who asked to change the lighting from yellow (warm) to white (cool). One can only imagine the number of bulbs that the staff needed to change overnight.


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    Not every guest is high maintenance though. Just before checking out, Obama called out to the butler who looked after him, Rahul Gupta, to get a photo with him. Constricted by protocol, Gupta had not asked the POTUS for a photo but thanks to his gesture he got something to show off on Facebook forever

    (The writer is a Delhi-based journalist)


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    ( Originally published on Jun 23, 2018 )
    (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)
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