The setting is an integral part of planning a
special occasion. Here's a look at some hotel rooms offering
the best views in
India - right from your bed, or the bathtub. (@ the
economic times)
Lakescape: The Oberoi
Udaivilas, Udaipur
Ask for Room No. 112
Why Go: Any room in a hotel that gets our vote for being the most romantic
of them all in an Indian city that ranks high on the mush list is sure to work
as a setting for a special occasion.
But the Premier Lakeview
rooms, especially the one mentioned above, take the cake because of a unique
feature: access to a semi-private swimming pool. You step out of your
fit-for-royalty bedroom right into an elongated pool - shared with only 19
other rooms.
So, if you drop by in the off-season, chances
are you might have it all to yourself - with panoramic views of the lovely Lake
Pichola as a backdrop. The added USP of this particular room is that it also
overlooks a wildlife conservatory. By the way, the hotel has been named the top
resort in the world for service, so you know you are in good hands.
Damage to the Wallet: Rs 29,500 per couple per night, with breakfast
and airport transfers (excluding taxes)
Valleyscape: Quality Resort, The Riverview,
Chiplun
Ask for Room No. 315
Why Go: Sometimes for serenity, one needs to head for
where's-that-on-the-map destinations. And Chiplun, about 248 km from Mumbai on
the Mumbai-Goa national highway is a great option because the valley town is
beautifully sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian sea.
The resort, neatly perched on a slope, promises
stunning views of the rolling hills as well as the meandering Vashishti River
in the valley below.
The view from this room located on the topmost
floor deserves particular mention because it gives you the widest-possible
panoramic view, without having to crane your neck to a side.
Damage to the Wallet: Rs 7,850 a night per couple, with breakfast (excluding
taxes)
Mountainscape: Glenburn Tea Estate,
Darjeeling
Ask for The Singalila Suite
Why Go: A chance to stay in a true-blue working tea
plantation up in the hills always makes for a unique getaway, but a fairy-tale
setting like Glenburn does one better.
The boutique hotel boasts two bungalows - the
older Burra Bungalow, which has housed generations of tea planters, and the
more modern Water Lily Bungalow -with four suites each. This particular suite
is recommended for its majestic views of the mountains, with Mount Kanchenjunga
towering above it all. Watching the sun come up and turn the peaks to gold from
your antique four-poster bed is pretty unbeatable.
There are also two balconies awaiting your
arrival from where you can look up to the town of Darjeeling and the tea fields
all around.
Damage to the Wallet: Rs 57,030 for a couple, for a three-night
package that includes transfers from Bagdogra airport, which is a three-hour
drive away, all meals, some sightseeing, a tea tour and all taxes
Mounumentscape: The
Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra
Ask for Room No. 303
Why Go: Can there be a better place to pucker up than
someplace affording a private view of the Taj Mahal? We thought not.
The best bit is that you won't have to strain
your eyes - the hotel is located just 600 meters away from the monument.
The reason Room 303 stands out in a hotel where
all rooms and public areas boast large windows promising a glimpse of Shah
Jahan's ode to love is its balcony, approximately 60 sq m in size, with a
private terrace.
Damage to the Wallet: Rs 39,000 (taxes extra) for a couple for a
two-night package with breakfast, complimentary airport/railway station
transfers and 15% spa discount.
Naturescape: Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom
Ask for Deluxe Pool Villa No.256
Why Go: While most places in Kumarakom, of the Kerala
backwaters fame, seduce visitors with breathtaking views, this CGH Earth resort
offers a luxurious way of soaking it all in.
The pool villas come with private plunge pools
and are located on their own secluded stretch of lakefront, so if its privacy
you need, you know where to go. The lake in question, incidentally, is the
Vembanad, one of Asia's largest freshwater lakes.
One can also enjoy the views of acres of endless
paddy from the recommended villa. Bird-watching treats are guaranteed.
Damage to the Wallet: Rs 12,000 per couple per night, including breakfast
& taxes
Riverscape: Ahilya Fort, Maheshwar
Ask for The Royal Tent
Why Go: The 250-year-old fort, perched on a cliff,
offers spellbinding views of the sacred Narmada river, its ghats and temples
from its various nooks, cranies and rooms. But the tent does one better.
Tucked away in a private garden with its own
heated plunge pool, it will have you feeling the like the master of all you
survey. And the views are the best - and most exclusive - to be had on the
property.
Located about 80 km away from Indore, the
closest airport, this place also makes for a neat off-the-beaten-track journey.
Damage to the Wallet: Rs 21,000 (all inclusive)
Forestscape: The Machan, Jambulne
Ask for The Heritage Machan
Why Go: Staying in a treehouse is a recurring childhood
fantasy, getting away from the madness of daily life a recurring adult
requirement. The Machan, an eco-haven about 1.5-hour drive from Pune, is where
both wishes and needs are met.
The fact that it is located in one of the 25
biological hotspots of the world is an added bonus. Here's what makes the
Heritage Machan, a three-bedroom unit, exemplary in this already fantabulous
place: It's been built around a wild fig free, 45 ft above the forest floor,
and hangs over the edge of a precipice.
Our favourite room has to be the Crow's Nest,
affording a 360° view of the forests all around. It's also a great place for
star-gazing at night.
Damage to the Wallet: Rs 25,000 a night, with breakfast and dinner
(excluding taxes)
Cityscape: Four
Seasons, Mumbai
Ask for Room No. 3201
Why Go: According to the latest Hotel Price Index report by hotels.com,
Mumbai is on the third spot on the most-preferred destination list for Indian
travellers. So chances are you will be heading there for the first time or the
nth time, some time or the other.
While hotel rooms with a view are dime a dozen
in the city, The Four Seasons stands out, literally, since it is among the
tallest buildings in the city.
The recommended room, the corner room on the
32nd floor, not only gives an enviable view of the sun dipping down into the
Arabian Sea, but also the twinkling city lights, slums included, far below.
And a bird's-eye view of Mumbai by night is
beyond breathtaking.
Damage to the Wallet: Rs 12,000 per couple per night (excluding taxes)
Seascape: Dolphin Resort, Havelock Island
Ask for The VIP Cottage
Why go: While the Andamans boast several words-fail-me
islands, Havelock is one of the most developed tourist-wise. Yet, it's located
in a suitably hard-to-reach area to ensure it does not go the Phuket, Hawaii or
Mediterranean coastline way. So you get miles of deserted white sand beaches,
azure waters, and accommodation to suit every budget.
This particular government-owned resort is the
best place to stay on a tight budget, while the VIP cottage offers very
comfortable surroundings. Imagine whiling away the hours just lying in bed,
watching the sea change colours. And if you watch out for low tide, there is a
tiny beach, just steps away.
Damage to the Wallet: Rs 2,000 (excluding taxes)
(All rates are valid for summer till
end-September)
