On top of the world, down under! Yes it was a long ride to India but rewarding in ways more than one. After a couple of movies, a gulp of liqueur and three meals I started making a plan as to how to cover the wide spectrum that we call India. A quick glance through a brochure of www.india-hotels-resorts.com gave me an inkling that I won’t be able to cover the country in 14 days. But being a trekking buff I wanted to visit the mystery that they named The Himalayas. Yes I was determined to spend atleast 7 days in the mountains of the North after which I decided to climb downhill to Varanasi before going on to Delhi, Rajasthan and Kerala. One thing that struck me most about all the India Hotels in general irrespective of category and place is the geniality and heart felt cordiality of the staff. Interestingly the stories that I grew up on as India as a magical and mystical land of the Fakirs seemed as distant as ever. A myth so to say! These people at the hotels were educated and could teach the Yankees a thing or two about English.
It is important to mention here that except in Rajasthan and Kerala I did not put up in a star category of Indian Hotels. Most of the hotels uphill were simple accommodation options but the redeeming point was the scenery. Wordsworth would have given the Lake District a miss if he would have been here. Having said that I would also like to clarify that personally I do not need luxury to sustain me while I am traveling in the Himalayas. Nature sustains me. In Rajasthan I put up in a heritage hotel and felt being a part of the Rajput era. I was conforming to a way of life that is totally unknown in the West- from silver cups to four poster beds everything was so fascinating. That such a heritage existed is a revelation of a kind. Kerala was a different ball game altogether. It features some of the best India Hotels. I heard from a common friend about the miraculous effects of Ayurveda Massage. So here I am all eager to go in for my first Ayurveda session. I came out refreshed and de stressed. Worth every penny! Try it!
One significant thing that I learnt while I was here is that tipping is virtually an option here except in up market luxurious hotels. A 10% service tax is added and that’s all about it. In smaller or budget class hotels you need only tip a few rupees and not a percentage on your bill.
1 comment:
The Leela is the among the best hotel in India. Condo Nast(Travel magazine in UK) has awarded it as one of the best Business hotel in the world. This days Leela is present in Four States Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Kovalam(kerala) and it has its planning to expand itself in other cities of India such as Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Pune, and many more.
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