Travel Notes
The opulent interiors of The Leela Palace Bengaluru and The Leela Palace New Delhi recall India’s glorious architectural legacy while celebrating the country’s rich cultural heritage. Hong Xinying takes a closer look at the details that went into the maki
The Leela Palace hotels celebrate India’s architectural legacy and craftsmanship
Astunning 400 roses— that’s the exact number of fresh flowers that fit into the gold vase displayed in the lobby of The Leela Palace Bengaluru in India. The florist is instructed to arrange no more or less than this number of blooms each time, the front office manager explains; he’s even counted them to check. It’s one of the many lively anecdotes shared during my tour of the hotel’s palatial compound that also epitomises the meticulous attention to detail. With its pink sandstone exterior, The Leela Palace Bengaluru is a rosy vision that rises above Bangalore’s busy Old Airport Road. Situated within a city that’s better known as the Silicon Valley of India, the hotel is an alluring sight set against a populous urban landscape. Large, vaulted gateways and delicate ornamentation define the grand design of this hotel, which draws architectural cues from the Palace of Mysore in Karnataka and the palaces of the Vijayanagar empire. Like its sources of inspiration, the hotel celebrates a hybrid confluence of architectural and decorative styles. This is conveyed through details such as graceful arches and domes, as well as its strikingly symmetrical layout—indo-islamic features used in Mughal architectural monuments such as the Taj Mahal and Humayun’s Tomb. Lobbies, hallways and other public spaces within feature Art Deco-style flourishes and Venetian-made Murano chandeliers, while artisan-made furniture pieces and decorative objects give these spaces a localised flavour.
REGAL AMBITIONS
Built and run by The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, it seems apropos that the hospitality group’s origins are as romantic as its majestic hotels. Like all properties owned by the group, The Leela Palace Bengaluru bears the name of the beloved wife of its founder, the late CP Krishnan Nair. At the golden age of 64, the self-made entrepreneur had a bold and ambitious vision of creating a luxury hotel empire that would also embrace the warmth and grace of Indian hospitality. This philosophy is best embodied by its palacestyle hotels in Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Udaipur, and soon-to-open locations in Jaipur and Agra (where the Taj Mahal is situated). The Bengaluru hotel’s spacious nine-acre compound houses 357 rooms and suites, which are spread across six floors. During breaks from sightseeing, I often found myself wandering along these meandering hallways, admiring the interiors. Bedroom suites and common areas of the hotel are filled with art and handcrafted objects, each inspired by actual antiques and paintings owned by the Wodeyars, the royal family of Mysore. Save for the modern conveniences, I felt transported back to an earlier time with the plethora of art objects and decorative details. These details have been seen to by Madhu Nair, director of design and operations of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. The daughter-in-law of the late founder, she is married to Dinesh Nair, co-chairman and managing director of the hospitality group. “India has a history of such storied opulence that we need only look within our country for inspiration,” she says. “This helped me to define The Leela properties with a unique identity. Each hotel is a blend of modern, world-class comfort with the ancient soul of India. It is a soul that I am fiercely proud of— one that I like to showcase to travellers who seek the inner richness of our country.” Grand gardens contribute as much as the gilded details to the hotel’s regal design. “Our dream was to create green havens in the heart of the urban cities where our hotels are located—and The Leela Palace Bangalore is a perfect example,” Nair explains. The hotel is surrounded by seven acres of lush greenery and flowering varieties such as the tabebuia rosea. When in full bloom, the trees grow abundant with powder pink flowers, appearing like oversized bouquets that add to the hotel’s romantic ambience.
CITY CHIC
The next leg of my journey continued in Delhi, where I encountered The Leela Palace New Delhi. Surrounded by the embassies of the Diplomatic Enclave, this hotel is the cosmopolitan sister to the Bangalore property; its prime location in the capital city also attracts foreign dignitaries as well as celebrities keen to receive the royal treatment. Whereas the Bangalore property embodies an old-world grandeur, The Leela Palace New Delhi embraces a modern elegance that characterises its affluent neighbourhood. I made my way to the grand lobby, admiring its ornate ceiling as trolleys of delicate treats whizzed by, with jazz music playing in the distance. I’m told that this is one of the city’s most popular afternoon venues—and it’s easy to see why. Spread across three acres, this property shines with exquisite poise. It marries the stately grace of residential palaces in North India with references to Edwin Lutyens’ vision of New Delhi—the British architect played a key role in building and planning the city and its monuments, such as the Presidential Palace and the India Gate. At the hotel rooftop, gold domes sparkle in the sunlight, next to its infinity pool and gazebos.
ARTFUL CURATION
Throughout the hotel, an abundance of modern and contemporary art decorates the spaces. Steeped in Indian folklore and cultural motifs, the art collection celebrates heritage while looking to the future; it is another testament to Nair’s passionate support of the local art scene. “We believe in democratisation of art, and take extra special care to adorn both private spaces and public spaces with museum-quality art,” she says. “I view our art and artisanal crafts collection as my ultimate gift of luxury to our guests.” On the hotel’s behalf, she commissioned works by emerging local talent such as Sachin Jaltare, Jayasri Burman and Sujata Bajaj, alongside established names such as Dimpy Menon, Laxma Goud and Paresh Maity. Created especially for The Leela Palace New Delhi, each artwork enlivens its interiors, becoming the soul of its myriad spaces. Art walks conducted by the hotel are available upon request for any curious traveller. Among the works, one of the most striking pieces to catch my eye was Satish Gupta’s Let a Thousand Lotuses Bloom, which is found on the wall by the central courtyard. This large installation features the lotus as a bud that gradually blossoms into a full-blooming flower at its centre. Just like the space that it resides within, the artwork’s imposing scale and elaborate detail makes a grand statement without appearing overly ostentatious. As Nair puts it, “True luxury is understated and discreet—a subtle elegance where the finest of details are addressed to perfection.” It’s the same ethos that shapes the group’s approach to hospitality design, which makes its properties such refined experiences.
“EACH HOTEL IS A BLEND OF MODERN, WORLDCLASS COMFORT WITH THE ANCIENT SOUL OF INDIA”