Top 5 Bangalore Hotels – My Pick

When you travel as much as I do, you sort of become a travel and hotel expert. Or an amateurish reviewer, so to speak. Work has taken me to the Garden City of India plenty of times and I can now segregate the best of Bangalore hotels from the worst. Here are my picks for the best that Bengaluru has to offer, in no particular order:

1. THE WINDSOR BENGALURU - There's something about this Bangalore hotel that commands respect. It is by far one of the best business hotels in India according to me. The imperial appeal and the old world charm mix beautifully. I enjoyed my short stay very much here during August 2006.



2. ANGASANA OASIS SPA & RESORT - Somehow it makes work seem un-worklike. Well of course, it's a spa and resort after all. Not to mention the business facilities are also up to the mark. This hotel in Bangalore is the way to go for an actual and authentic "working holiday" experience.



3. THE LEELA PALACE - This one is a much preferred hotel for our company. In fact, I have stayed here 6 times. Even so, I am yet to get bored of this place. The opulence is always nice to see and the touch of heritage is fantastic. It's the ambience of this hotel that always excites me. I especially look forward to visiting the Library Bar at the hotel to unwind after a day with tough clients.



4. THE PARK BANGALORE - I must say, I am unabashedly biased when it comes to the Park Hotels and Bangalore is no exception. If choosing an accommodation in this city is up to me, I mostly end up choosing this Bangalore hotel over the others.



5. TAJ RESIDENCY HOTEL BANGALORE - This one is a great business hotel in the true sense of the word. Very close to the airport, efficient business facilities and a superb staff, it offers much more than a high flying executive would ask for. They even have a bookshop, museum arts shop and a spa.

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Rajasthan Tourism – Yes! Shopping is a Must!

The wildlife is great, the cuisine is interesting and the architecture is simply brilliant. But what about shopping? Shopping can be an activity in itself as far as Rajasthan tourism is concerned. But the activity is not for the faint hearted. In order to bag the best deals and choicest of things, you have be in the know. Having a b and sturdy pair of walking shoes will also help in slowing down the fatigue.

For all those who believe in retail therapy and thrive on it (like me), Rajasthan is a treat. But what can one buy in royal Rajasthan? Ranging from art and antiques to exquisite jewelry and quilts, there is no dearth of delights in this land of the Rajputs. I especially like the snuggly quilts you get in the capital city Jaipur known as the Jaipuri Razai. Close to Jaipur in Sanganer (recommended by many Rajasthan tourism guides for a quick excursion), one can find great handicraft items, which is where I bought this miniature marble chess set for my cousin Erin. Being the clotheshorse that I am, I also bought a great deal of hand printed textiles in a range of hues. I also got some sober colors for mom.

Other things that are worth buying are lac bangles (which are quite delicate by the way), tie & dye fabrics, oxidized silver jewelry (must buy), mirror work apparel, and kundan jewelry (if you have the cash and somewhere to wear the stuff).

Every day and every nook and cranny in Rajasthan gives you a glorious opportunity to shop. Make the most of it. After all, tourism in Rajasthan flourishes on shopping too!

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Hotels in India experience

My first trip to India was way back in the 80s when I was just out of the university. Since then lots have changed. Then I had gone with my boyfriend; now I am married with two kids, have a teaching job in a college and have a husband who is the strictest follower of his daily time table. So this time when I planned a trip to India I had to ensure that it is devoid of the ‘wildness’ and the uncertainties of my post university days. Since I wanted to play it safe this time, I promptly looked up the internet for some of the best hotels in India. On my earlier trip I had visited Goa and I remember spending a night in a beachside shack. But this time round I knew my room had to have a bathroom with a tub and television.

Our trip was centered around Rajasthan this time and since Rajasthan has some of the best heritage hotels in India, and I wanted to get a feel of the much talked about royal tradition, I booked a room at the Umaid Bhawan in Jodhpur. And trust me the regalia was simply mind blowing. The hotel was the erstwhile palace of the king of Jodhpur and is now a five star heritage hotel owned by a renowned Indian hotel group. The hotel is housed in a huge pink sandstone palace and the rooms are all very elegant. I particularly liked the spa. For all those who are afraid the Indian cuisine is too spice needn’t bother since you get all types of food at the restaurants of the good hotels in India. However, though my husband preferred to stick to his cheese and bread and pork and chicken I tried quite a few Indian dishes. One of them was a local kebab- roasted meat nuggets which I remember the most of all.

In fact all the other hotels that we put up at during our eighteen day long trip was very much worth the money they charged and I must say that the hotels in India have come a long way in the past twenty years. With the assurance of such good hotels in India, even my husband is willing to go back.

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Wildlife in India

As an amateur wildlife photographer, I have been covering wildlife in India for the past ten years. During this period, I have visited some of the best known protected forests in the country, thanks to the several India wildlife tour packages. It is well known that India has one of the most diverse wildlife in the world. Personally, I would always prefer wildlife in India as my subjects than go to any other country. Corbett, Sariska, Ranthambore, Bandhavgah and Periyar are my personal favorites, and my flash cards are full of images I am yet to edit from my last visit to Periyar in February. During my last few India wildlife tours, I have learnt to look beyond the obvious in the jungles of India. I have found out that the most intriguing moments that go beyond the simple snapshots of the wildlife make far better subjects. For example, while covering Gir, the last refuge of the Asiatic Lion, I came to know of tribal people called Siddis. They speak the local language, but are of African origin, their Negroid features giving away their origin. The pictures of these people have received more positive comments from most of my friends and colleagues. Similarly, during my last visit to Bhandhavgarh in Central India, one of my Indian friends advised me to do a feature on the tribes of a place called Bastar. Some of those pictures found their way to a photography salon in Kolkata that year. These and a few other experiences have made me realize that there is more to wildlife in India than the animals, plants and birds. These tribes have coexisted with the animals since the prehistoric ages, and it is sad to see some of these tribes being relocated to unknown territory to make way for wildlife sanctuaries. By looking beyond the forests, I have also learnt to understand the intricate relations between the various factors that make up a region’s eco-system. Hopefully, in the up-coming visits to some of the forests in South India, I can capture some more subjects that go beyond the obvious attractions of the wild. I also aspire to use these images as tools of awareness about these lesser known aspects of wildlife in India.

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An Unforgettable Goa Trip!

Confession time! I have always been a bit skeptical of adventure sports in general and water sports in particular. I have been to Goa a few times and seen almost all the churches, the Dudhsagar Waterfalls, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and major beaches like Calangute, Baga, Anjuna and Aquada. This time my trip was a little different. All of us friends had decided to take a chill pill and go to Goa to take a break from the dirt, grime and stress of city life. This was the first time I went to Goa sans family or cousins.

We had booked a Goa tour packages that included our hotel stay and three square meals a day in addition to boat cruises, freebies and water sports (I was not too happy about this initially, but it was okay since it wasn’t mandatory). The best thing about the Goa package was that the hotel was just 2 minutes away from the beach. That’s my favourite kind. I really don’t understand why people go to a coastal destination and choose to stay anywhere other than a beach hotel or a resort!

Anyhow, my friends had vowed to make me try some water sports coz’ they didn’t want me to get bored while they were being adventurous. They literally dragged me to sit on the water scooter at the Baga Beach and I was a bundle of nerves! It took me quite a while to get the hang of the crazy machine even though the instructor was very patient (that’s his job I guess). But I must say, after a while it felt great and LIBERATING! I felt like a bird set free! I knew when I would go home I would miss having the beach a stone’s throw away. And no water scooter! I had grown so fond of the “crazy machine” I abhorred earlier that I spent quite a lot of money on water scooters for the rest of my trip.

By the end of the trip my pals had coaxed me into trying some other stuff too. All these were part of the Goa packages we had booked. I had tried my hands at parasailing, water skiing, and catamaran sailing (which I found very relaxing). But the water scooter was still my favorite. And will always be!

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A Whirlwind Trip to India

India never fails to amaze me. Every visit is new and makes me feel alive. This time we decided to give a shot to South India tours. Since South India is so huge, it was rather difficult to soak in all of it in the few days we had at hand. So I approached my regular india travel agent who organizes excellent India tours. He advised us to go for a South India Odyssey tour and we took the advice gladly. In 9 days we covered 4 cities and enjoyed every bit of it. And Randy fell in love with the cuisine. So did I, but not as much as Randy.

We first went to Bangalore, the garden city of India. Despite the traffic, I’d have to say, I loved Bangalore, or Bengaluru as it is now called. The Lalbagh Botanical Gardens were the best and the glass house inside was… what can I say, it was fabulously romantic and serene. Mysore was no eye sore. Hehehe. On the contrary, Mysore was quite a treat. The Mysore Palace is something no tourist enjoying an India tour should miss and I would really recommend that you visit it by day and by night. It’s spectacular during both!

Ooty was our next destination. Studded with rolling tea plantations, it was a haven. It is rightfully known as the “Queen of Hills”. Randy went mad clicking pictures. Ooty was very claming and so was Kodaikanal, which was our next destination. It is also called Kodai btw. There’s quite a bit of student crowd here. By far this was one of the best India tours I have ever embarked on. As usual, my travel agent was right. It had a bit of everything – nature, excitement, architecture, great food, and good shopping. Did I forget to mention I shopped like crazy in Bangalore and Mysore? Well I did!

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Golden Triangle India- A culinary journey en route the Golden Triangle of India

For most international tourists a Golden Triangle, India tour is the safest and best option to explore India on their first visit to the country and I was no exception either. And since a few of my friends at the Columbia University were of Indian origin, I kind of blindly followed what they suggested. And I nearly felt like one of the luckiest souls on earth when I learned that one of my classmates- Shalini was visiting her parents’ family back in India around the same time. I booked one of those golden triangle tour packages with a travel agent that seemed to be having a good network, and boarded the flight.

Normally the golden triangle tours, as I learned, cover Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. However, Shalini was about to reach India two days after me and she joined me. Though she was staying at her relative’s place and not at the hotel the agent had booked for me. However, with a cousin of hers at hand, the tour turned out to be more fun. With the payment of some more money, we got a vehicle completely to ourselves and ensured the total freedom of movement. Apart from the stunning Mughal architecture, the one thing that had me wanting for more was the food. By God the food was awesome. And trust me it was as good in the roadside joints as it was in the posh restaurants. We had Kebabs and Tandoori chicken at a place called Gol Market in Delhi. The reshmi kebabs are chicken nuggets wrapped up in spice and roasted served with a pinch of lemon and chat masala- would melt in your mouth.

The drives to Agra and Jaipur spanned for a few hours and came with a host of food joints commonly known as Dhaba on the sides of the road. There are a few Dhaba staples- Dal Makhani, Tarka, Lassi, Parantha, Tandoori chicken again, Dal fry, chicken butter masala, butter chicken, tandoori roti and complementary onions and green chillies and lemon slices. Heavily larded with spices, butter and ghee, these items are mouthwatering alright, but needs to be had in oblivion of your waistline. I surely came back home two and half kilos heavier. But that would for no part deter me from going back to the country, and doing a Golden Triangle once again. In fact I am already planning a trip of the South Indian temples and beaches along with a trip to the Maldives this winter. Let’s see how things work out.

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Hotels in Mysore at Prime Locations

The few days I stayed in Mysore last October during the Dasara Festival were some of the most memorable moments of my life, perhaps. My short but sweet stay at Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel in the Chammundi Hills area barely outside the royal city of Mysore was awesome. I almost tread the lanes of royalty via time machine. One of the excellent hotels in Mysore at the city’s one of the prime locations, the hotel near the railway station breathes regal charm to the core.

The grand flight of steps that led me to my room actually allows you to look really down the grand palace from the top. However you can take the old fashioned lift as well that has a cushioned seat in it and works rather slowly. Once in my room I watched through the window the Indo-Saracenic styled Mysore Palace which was once considered as the bench of power for several monarchs of the same royal family of the Wodeyers for centuries since from 1399. However, my visit to this palace revealed more - Durbar Hall, “Diwan-e-Khas”, and the paintings of Raja Ravivarma, Siddalinga Swamy and K. Venkatappa were all too grand.

At one of the grandest hotels in Mysore I really cherished the showers in the quaint Heath Robinson style bathtubs, the opulent spreads in the equally opulent dining room, the billiards sessions, and last but not the least for sure, the beautifully laced four-poster bed with reading chairs and a chaise longue around. Hey, for once I felt like a queen!

However, I equally treasure the trip to the city five years back when I put up at Hotel Sandesh the Prince. Conveniently situated in heart of historic city of Mysore, this hotel offered decent services along with tour desk facilities that took me for trips to places like Jayachamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Chamundeshwari Temple, and Jaganmohana Palace thus making my stay at one of the finest hotels in Mysore utterly lovable. The silk scarf that picked up for my boyfriend and the Rosewood inlayed table for my mom from the Mysore Silk Emporium and Handicrafts Emporium near the hotel.

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