History plays Mannequin
The Sawantwadi Palace Boutique Art Hotel offers a glimpse into the rich artistic and culinary heritage of the family that has ruled the princely state for four centuries.
Today finds an easy reference within the glory days of past tradition at the historic Sawantwadi Palace Boutique Art Hotel. Here, fiercely guarded palace recipes such as sunti gola and keshari maas share space with ramen and croissants in the royal kitchen. Just as heritage art forms such as the Persian-origin ganjifa paintings and lacquer ware find modern expression on night lamps and mirror frames. At the two-month-old Sawantwadi Palace Boutique Art Hotel, currently the only royal residencehotel in Maharashtra, heritage marries modernity in every experience, making the union appear almost seamless.
The ‘rajwada’ is the residence of the Sawant-Bhonsles, the former rulers of the region. The princely state was founded in 1627 and Khem Sawant III built the palace in 1755 using the local red laterite stone home and gave it distinctly European arches. But it was Lakham Khem Bhonsle and his wife Shraddha Lakham Bhonsle, the youngest generation of the royal family, who revamped and re-imagined a section of their stately home as an art hotel. Their training at the Culinary Institute of America reflects in the eclectic menus that they draw up for their guests.
The Taisaheb Wada, residence of the former queens, was converted into a boutique hotel that is a nod to the artistic heritage of the family. “It is a culmination of heritage, art, history and all that our family has supported over decades,” says Shraddha, who spends long hours experimenting with recipes and fanning her love for Japanese and Korean cuisines.
The Art of Craft
Art enjoyed great patronage in this princely state and the family’s love for art forms is reflected in every corner here. Lakham’s grandparents Shivramraje Bhonsle, the ruler of Sawantwadi until India’s independence, and his wife Satvashiladevi Bhonsle had set up Sawantwadi Lacquerwares to promote ganjifa and lacquer to support the
dwindling community of artists. Their patronage has kept the art forms alive in the region and allowed the artists to flourish. Ganjifa, which finds its roots in Persia, took a new form in this region with mythological figures and tales, particularly depicting the various avatars of Lord Vishnu, which gained prominence and support.
The newly created art hotel gives these traditional crafts a modern form. Heirloom furniture pieces were brought out of storage rooms, dusted, re-upholstered and lacquered. Ganjifa artists, who work within the Bhonsle residence, were asked to give their art a contemporary form and paint on mirror frames, night lamps and study tables. “We want people to sit on this furniture and start discussing the art form. We’ve tried to incorporate art into everything and want to show people how these traditional arts can add a pop of colour to any space,” says Shraddha.
The hotel has six suites; designed on the theme of each of the incarnations of Vishnu. The Mastya suite, for instance, which pays tribute to the fish avatar, has a fish-shaped door knob and a large painting aesthetically placed on a wall. The furniture is part of the family’s collection—either crafted by the former raja, Shivaramraje Bhonsle or collected over the years. The hotel also houses two Iranian furniture sets that have been lacquered by their in-house artists. Comfortable sink-in beds, embroidered cushions and fragranced toiletries add that modern touch of luxury. The hotel uses minimal plastic; the rooms have sanitised glass water bottles and dispensers for soap. “We want to make it as eco-friendly as possible,” says Shraddha.
The Royal Plate
The culinary background of the young couple reflects in the emphasis they place on the menu every day. In a place where the Malvani masala in fish, meat and vegetable curries is the staple diet, the Art Hotel serves flaky croissants and prettily plated desserts for breakfast, local meals for lunch, royal recipes as bar snacks and Asian tasting menus for dinner. Lakham and Shraddha often customise meals to suit their guests. “We encourage guests to focus on the food as part of their memorable experience here,” says Shraddha whose stints at Oceana and the Bombay Bread Bar in New York and a Korean restaurant in Charleston, steered her towards Asian flavours. She makes regular trips to Goa, a 45 minute drive away, to buy ramen, sauces and other ingredients. Lakham, a baker and pastry chef brings his three years of valued experience in the kitchens of Ritz Carlton to create desserts and tea cakes that until now were unheard of in this region.
With coconut groves framing the red building of the hotel, an imaginative gastronomic experience and the friendly hospitality of the royal couple, this boutique hotel offers travellers a quiet alternative to the bustling holiday hotspot of Goa, which is less than an hour away. Imagine besting the Goan experience, but with a royal touch.
Where Sindhudurg, Khaskilwada, Amboli Rd, Sabniswada, Sawantwadi, Maharashtra 416510; sawantwadipalace.com; 02363 - 272010
Cost Upwards of `12,,000 per night