Travel

The Tree Of Life Resort & Spa – Luxury Edition

August 25, 2017

The Tree Of Life Resort & Spa defining the art of luxury in Jaipur! If you’re from Delhi or live in the North, then you must have visited Jaipur at least once in life. Just like any other 2-tiered city in India, Jaipur too can be termed as a well established city with ample tourist attractions to explore around. Although Jaipur has many accommodation facilities available for tourists and travellers alike, one can find it challenging to find a stay that’s away from the city noise pollution and offers serene views of Rajasthan as well. A few kilometres out of the city centre, is an establishment that offers luxury, privacy, beautiful views and an excellent hospitality experience round the clock! The Tree Of Life Resort & Spa, Jaipur offers personalised experiences with strong elements of luxury to each of its guests. The main attraction of this property is its expansive private villas, with a personal lawn/pool/spa zone and amenities that have been crafted just to make you feel refreshed and relaxed at all times. The Tree Of Life Resort & Spa Jaipur consists of 13 uber luxury villas set in 7 acres of land. Each villa has been designed with a minimum of 2500 sp. ft. of private area. The architecture of each villa has been designed so as to offer complete privacy to the guests, in terms of a spacious surrounding complex, no noise pollution and no vicinity contact with any other villa of the property. The interior structure of the villas are spacious and have been decorated with attention to detail. Well amalgamated colour palette, with ample space to sit, watch tv, dine and a separate bedroom with attached double bathroom is what defines the well thought complex architecture of each villa. The interior décor is a blend of …

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The Umrao – Luxury Hotel

January 5, 2017

If you happen to be from or be in Delhi travelling towards the Airport or Gurgaon on NH-8, you might have definitely come across the luxurious glimpses of a boutique hotel ‘The Umrao’ which is famous for A-list weddings in the city. With its expansive borderline and an architecture appealing to the expensive strength, The Umrao stands out as a resort hotel perfect for a private getaway or a Destination Wedding appeal; among its pears. Having won the award Luxury New Hotel title at World Luxury Hotel Awards 2016, The Umrao definitely assures a luxurious experience on their property; be it for dining, wedding function or stay services. I too got a chance to stay at this lovely property for 2 nights and 3 days, experiencing the best that their restaurants have to offer and unwinding by their pool side spa and comfortable accomodation facilities. The Umrao is situated on National Highway-8, which is nearby the Indira Gandhi International Airport and is a drive away from the Gurgaon City Hub. If we talk about its architecture, then the hotel has been designed utilising the grand 15-acre land to its full potential. With beautifully manicured lawns, green patches all throughout, calming water bodies in terms of fountains and pool; the hotel does make you feel relaxed and closer to nature while being settled in the contemporary architecture of its main concrete buildings. As you enter the property, green covered driveway leading you to the main reception dome transports you to a world away from the hustle bustle of the busy city life. Taking advantage of the space, The Umrao’s lobby has been designed in the most contemporary style, with middle-eastern decor elements, a see-through dome that leads you to the reception area, right next to the Waffle Tea Lounge/Pastry Shop. While you …

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Presidential Suite Life of Novotel Kolkata

November 18, 2016

Frequenting hotel rooms for travellers in no biggie. While most of the travellers take hotel accomodation as just their place to dump their bags at and to call it a night, others (like me) are more keen on living up the extravagant life and give attention to details. Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences by Accor Hotels Group, is one such hospitality establishment in the Salt Lake area of Kolkata that has anted up the accommodation standards of Kolkata hospitality life. This stands true to the fact that celebrities like Abhishek Bachchan and many Tollywood actors book Novotel Kolkata’s Presidential Suite during their visit in Bengal everytime. The Presidential Suite has been built up combining space of 7 Novotel Superior Rooms. The suite opens up to a beautifully done living room with hand-picked artefacts to enhance the luxurious setup of the suite. Gold Luxe colour theme, metallic pottery, chandeliers and Indo-western furniture design reflects the Indian contemporary decor of accomodation. The living room also has a personalised bar, wherein the residents can indulge in hard-drink conversations with friends and family. The bar gives way to the dining space with a private dining table alongside a fully-functional kitchen on the side. Each Presidential Suite experience comes in with a complimentary butler service. The master bedroom is designed with rara avis decor elements, a personal couch-tv experience, a study desk and a view of Kolkata that definitely is breathtaking! What actually store my heart away is the Presidential Suite’s bathroom, which has been designed to reflect ‘lavishness’ in its best possible manner. A walk-in closet section, to store all your ensembles, followed by a well-spaced powder room for he & she. But it is the bath-tub & shower space overlooking the skyline of Kolkata that puts this Presidential Suite as one of the ‘Best …

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This Place Serves The Best Mediterranean Food In Seattle!

September 19, 2016

Who says you got to survive on fish & chips or a burger trail in Seattle to be alive? When the Mediterranean sea winds gush through your hair and makes you crave for some Baba Ganoush & Pita Bread love affair, head on to Petra Bistro on the 4th Avenue. This place serves the best Mediterranean food in Seattle! And that’s exactly what our globe trotter Akanksha Saxena did, on her vacay-mode with husband; in Seattle. Petra Mediterranean Bistro at Downtown Seattle will take you on a food journey that stretches from Jordan and Lebanon, to Greece, to the Northern shores of Africa, with an extensive variety of authentic dishes and house specialities. While visiting, Akanksha was transported back to the Middle East and enjoyed the enriching personal elements that tie this vast global area together, creating one of Seattle’s loveliest dining experiences. To begin with, she ordered Baba Ganoush – The eggplant was perfectly grilled giving it a very nice smoky flavor. Garlic and lemon juice took it to another level and taste buds were definitely satisfied. Hummus was a blend of chickpeas, garlic, sesame oil, salt and lemon juice. The preparation was pretty standard, not that great, as it was tad bit more tangy for her liking. Next came the entrée which is generally served with a choice of soup or salad. She ordered the Red Lentil Soup which was the perfect marriage between pulses vegetables and spices. The soup was soothing and comforting and definitely helped in preparing the diners for an awesome main course experience. The mains consisted of a Veggie Royale – Fried Cauliflower Served with charbroiled vegetables topped with sautéed garlic, onions and tomatoes in their original house Seafood spices. It was served over a bed of rice, topped with sautéed almonds, pine nuts and garlic sauce. Akanksha relished the bold secret spices, loved crispy cauliflowers over …

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THIS IS WHY LUXURY STAY AT FAIRMONT JAIPUR HOTEL IS FAMOUS!

September 12, 2016

Fairmont Jaipur is a renowned name in the city of pink buildings and royalty. It’s not just the architecture of Fairmont Jaipur, but the very hospitality that vouches for the luxurious experience one gets to witness over a stay at this Mughal-Rajputana inspired hotel property. And when I speak about the luxurious experience, you can expect a round of glitz engulfed food trail accompanied with lodging that makes you feel no less of a king/queen; upon stay. For those who’ve read our travel diaries for a long long time must be aware of our primary rendezvous with Fairmont Jaipur 2 years back. As we mapped the extravagant world of the property in our travel video, our focus was mostly on the intricate decor of the hotel palace. And so this time, we promised to capture the very essence of intricate detailing and heritage of Rajasthan that has been adapted by Clive Gray of Bangkok-based Randolph Gray Design to create magnificent interior decor of the property. Fairmont Jaipur consists of 199 rooms overlooking Char-Bagh courtyard or the picturesque Aravalli Hills. Each room matches the extravagant accommodation style of Mughal royalties, with spacious bedrooms and vibrant bathrooms. Each room is bolted with traditional studded timber door which welcomes guests into an alley dotted with traditional silverware flower vase and a room dipped in bright colour palette of distressed gold and rich turquoise. Most of the furniture is crafted with timber and includes Portuguese colonial-inspired four poster beds to keep up with the old-school charm. The details of studded furniture, jaalidaar-air conditioning, carefully curated interior-decor accessories and excellent amenities build up the luxury factor of Fairmont Jaipur accommodation. Whereas silverware makes up for most of the accessories, dim-lit lamps, Mughal themed mirror-work and paintings add on the royal glory of the room; making the residents feel …

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Four Seasons Wines – VINTNER’S RESERVE

August 8, 2016

As a blogger, I get to attend a lot of launch events. Most of them are about attending a soiree, meeting people, the brand speakers share their insight on the launch, the launch officially takes place amidst paparazzi and we bloggers spread the word across. This norm is a general protocol that’s quite a regular experience for us. And then their are brands who believe in perfection, who believe in the power of getting their brand value right in front of the people who matter. So when FOUR SEASONS WINES LTD. invited me to travel all the way to Baramati (Roti) for their Limited Edition launch, I couldn’t anticipate anything less of an extravaganza; and boy was I right! Baramati is a small city and a district of Pune, which is approximately 2.5 hours away from the main city. Many parts of Maharashtra are blessed with the soil and climatic conditions apt for vineyard farming which is where Four Seasons Wines Limited cultivates, produces and preserves some of the finest wines of India. The richness of the wines produced by Four Seasons can very well be derived from the vast knowledge that Mr. Abhay Kewadkar, the Director and Chief Winemake of Four Seasons Wines specialises in. His expertise in everything to do with wine was something that stayed with us media personals, throughout our experiential at Four Seasons Baramati (Roti) Pune. The extravaganza was a 2 day affair with some of the bloggers, leading wine experts of India and journalists being flown down to Pune on 15th July, 2016. As I boarded my Delhi – Pune flight, all I could think of was the beautiful mansion that I’d seen in pictures overlooking the vineywards, the beautiful countryside of Pune and of course, the fragrance of freshly produced wine in the air. The moment we …

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Serenade WelcomHotel Bella Vista, Panchkula

April 27, 2016

Serenade is an all-day dining restaurant by WelcomHotel Bella Vista, an ITC Group property. While I have already covered the entire property coverage on my Youtube channel, I had to invest in an exclusive blog article featuring just the food that Bella Vista has to offer. Situated right next to the Panchkula – Chandigarh roadway, Serenade WelcomHotel Bella Vista is no less than a food paradise amidst the scenic beauty of Shivalik Mountain range and the European architecture of the property itself. The first time you sit down for a meal at Serenade, you will definitely expect the typical Punjab-Haryana flavours to tantalize your taste buds. Not to forget the expectations of having a big chunk of the menu devoted to the non-vegetarian cuisines. Flavours of the Region Well, I had a similar perspective as I sat down with Mr. Avinash Deshmukh, the General Manager of Bella Vista; while I quitely anticipated the meals to follow up. Chef Manohar welcomed by presenting the first meal to speak about the ‘Flavours of the Region’. The course commenced with tender and flavoursome servings of Amritsari Fish that was tandoored to perfection. Next up, was ‘Tamatar Aur Dhania Ka Shorba’ which in a lay-man’s world is termed as a basic tomato soup; although the smoky and tangy flavours of this soup were definitely rich and content. For main course I had Murgh Mumtaz (Butter Chicken) and I have to admit that this is one of the best Butter Chicken preparations that I’ve had in a really long time. The king curry was supplemented with Subz Panchmel (seasoned vegetables cooked with onion and tomatoes), the traditional Dal Maharani and an array of tandoori naans. The meal was concluded with a generous serving of Gulab Jamun with their homemade Vanilla Ice Cream. Now, for a standard …

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House Of Han, Jaipur

April 2, 2016

The biggest stereotype associated with Rajasthan and all of its tourist destinations is – leather, Lal Maas, folk music and rustic historical lanes. Now for most of the parts it is a true story, with absolutely no denying the belief in venturing the local lifestyle rather than feeding self to the commercial offerings; their is no harm in being experimental a little. And with cultural cities like Jaipur, the traditional norms come in mandatory with onion kachoris, lassi and Chauki Dhaani tours a must! Now if you are in the ‘Pink City’ and crave for some authentic Chinese food, where to head on to? Right on the Tonk Road, closest to the Jaipur International Airport, we have Crowne Plaza’s newest Check-in property with its star Chinese restaurant named the ‘House of Han’. Intricately designed with the authentic wisdom of Sichuan cuisine, House of Han offers an array of Chinese delicacies. From tender pork chops, fish dressings to offering quintessential sea food platters; the restaurant excels in a variety of meats and organic vegetables preprepared to excellence! The menu has been with an inclusion of various regional local cuisines of China. Chef Jinhong Luo has crafted a kitchen serving Mongolian, Sichuan, Cantonese and Hunan delicacies. Keeping in mind the heat levels that Indian taste buds can take, they have definitely altered the spices used; but that has not deterred the flavours nor has the level of sweetness gone up to disguise the authentic taste. Respecting the norms with the Oriental décor of the restaurant, Crowne Plaza’s team have put in special efforts in reflecting the regional ambience in every possible aspect. The cutlery, crockery, Mongolian griddle table and woodwork of House of Han has been specially imported from the mainland China; for keeping up with their authenticity. The restaurant has four private dining areas, with …

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Swissôtel Kolkata – Review

March 23, 2016

Travelling anywhere in the world is judged on the parameters of being a success or otherwise, based on the mode of stay. If one is able to eat well and sleep well throughout the journey, the trip definitely ends on a happy note. Swissôtel Kolkata is one such property in the newly established area of Kolkata, that promises a comfortable stay with almost every aspect of amenities one can demand for. I will call this property the perfect business traveller’s abode and a couple’s romantic escape! Business Traveller’s abode because it is situated nearby the airport and gives access to all business related protocols that a company can expect. A couple’s romantic escape because it is situated away from the hustle bustle of the city life, offers exquisite Bengali flavours, has a club to unwind at and rooms with private pools to romance at. Right from trying out flavours of Bengali cuisine to celebrating Halloween at a Rain Dance Party, I had a gala time residing at Swissôtel Kolkata throughout my stay. About the Property Swissôtel Hotel Kolkata is located in the New Town area of the city, which is approximately 10 minutes away from the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport.  The hotel comprises of 147 elegantly designed guest rooms, which includes luxurious suites with landscaped deck and open Jacuzzi. The hotel is perfect for hosting Business conferences and offers conference halls measuring 7064 sq. ft. As per the current norms of constructing hotels, Swissôtel Hotel Kolkata too has a massive shopping mall attached to it. The architecture is such that the mall’s crowd and noise doesn’t interfere with the workings of the hotel at any time. The mall turned out to be a blessing for me, since I forgot to carry my memory card while travelling. The Bars & Restaurants Swissôtel …

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Vistara Airlines – My Travel Experience

March 2, 2016

Gone are the days when travelling by flight meant shelling out a big chunk of your hard earned money. With plenty of airlines and a complex network of flight schedules operating nationally, aircraft as a mode of travel has come down to a more pocket friendly option in the current times. I have been travelling all my life and still find myself being all excited about boarding a train or an airplane, every single time! But one thing that has degraded over time is the food quality of the airlines. No matter how much you pay for your ticket, the food quality remains average with no scope of improvement whatsoever. Their have been times when I have picked up a slice of pizza or some sandwiches before boarding a flight, only to avoid the kind of tasteless food that they serve in-flight. Now Vistara is comparatively a newer airline group that many of my travel friends haven’t experienced yet. So when I got my ticket from Mumbai – Delhi booked on this airline, I tried asking around my friends about their experience with it. Being a foodie and a blogger, I tend to ‘review’ almost everything. Well, you’ll be happy to know that this airline actually turned out to be a great experience for me and I absolutely wish to return again for some more of their hospitality. First things first, they have ample leg space, which is a big concern for tall people like myself (I am 5’11) so this came in as a welcome sign indeed! Now most of us are aware of the usual service of ‘regular water’ in cups in other airlines. Vistara maintained their niche of hospitality by welcoming everyone on board with some packed water bottles. With no hopes of getting a proper dinner, …

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