A Blend Of Old And New
With an interesting play of traditional and contemporary designs, attention to detail, and newly added facilities, the recently relaunched ibis Jaipur Civil Lines stands out from the crowd in the Pink City.
ibis Jaiour Civil Lines stands tall in the heart of the city.
JAIPUR ISN’T new on the tourism circuit. The city’s labyrinthine lanes, crimson buildings, and its majestic forts and palaces find place on almost every Indian holiday itinerary. And even though I have had my fair share of visits to the Pink City, the relaunch of one of its uber modern properties—ibis Jaipur Civil Lines— beckoned me once again.
Amid an ocean of heritage hotels that were once homes to erstwhile royals, ibis Jaipur Civil Lines is a breath of fresh air. The blesiure hotel has been reinvented with unique design concepts, dynamic interiors, and interesting dining options for the newage traveller.
Contrary to my expectation of arriving at a typical brick and mortar façade, I found myself standing at a porte cochère with a quirkily painted auto-rickshaw and vintage bike parked on one side, and a playful lobby waiting on the other. The traditional Pichwai motif runs through the lobby, one of the walls is decked with a visual abstract of the city’s map, another one dons graffiti of all things synonymous with Rajasthan. There’s a book corner, a gaming section, and a vibrant sitting area with an upbeat vibe that complements the decor.
My stay for the weekend, one of the 22 newly-added Premium Rooms at the hotel, came with a queen-sized bed, super-soft duvets, body-aligning mattresses, soundproof walls, coffeemaking facilities, an LED television, and high-speed internet.
The hotel has added many new facilities to the list, including a stunning rooftop pool, meeting halls, guest lounge, a dedicated kids’ zone, a fully-equipped gym, a cricket corner with a bowling machine, and a badminton court. SpiceIt, their
multi-cuisine restaurant, has a variety of menus to choose from (think everything from gluten-free to halal), and starts serving delectable buffets as early as 4 am! To unwind over evening cocktails or classic spirits, step into The Hub, the bar located next to the lobby. Offering an entirely different experience that brings together work and play, the hotel is redefining itself as an ideal destination for both business and leisure travellers.
This time, my weekend in Jaipur was different for many other reasons too. My day was spent pedalling around the neighbourhood on the hotel’s ecofriendly Green Bike, visiting the Channi Carpets & Textiles for a first-hand experience of carpet-making, taking a tour of the Turban Museum at the famous Surabhi Restaurant, visiting the Samanvi Art Gallery, witnessing a surreal sunset from a rooftop cafe with the Hawa Mahal in the background, and ending my excursions with the Light and Sound Show at the Amer Palace.
Back at the hotel, I relished a scrumptious dinner at the multicuisine restaurant, SpiceIt, which had everything from local recipes to global delicacies. A fun puppet show was awaiting me in the al fresco area post dinner. As I tried my hand at making the puppets dance over Rajasthani folk songs, I couldn’t help but think about this trip and the many firsts it gave me—the stay at ibis Jaipur Civil Lines topping the list.