Business at leisure

Place: KUKAS

Hotel: FAIRMONT

It is a fort, or a palace? As you approach Fairmont’s first hotel in India, the first glance may leave you momentarily perplexed. A royal welcome begins the experience as the giant wooden fortress-like gates open to shower you in rose petals, accompanied by blowing trumpets. For anyone used to the Fairmont experience globally, eg London’s Savoy, or Shanghai’s Peace, this hotel had been eagerly anticipated. The property, nestled among the Aravalli hills overlooking the fort of Amer on the outskirts of Jaipur, and just off National Highway 8, doesn’t let you down.  Spread over eight acres, and next to the Meridien, - the hotels incidentally have a common owner, the hotel is at once sparsely beautiful and opulent. The combinations of seeming opposites does not take away, but instead becomes a seamless whole. 

Jaipur teems with palace hotels, some ranked among the best in the world, and yet the city has low room inventory – palace hotels have few rooms, and had no real convention facilities till the Marriott came up in 2011. Fairmont, a group known as much for its convention hotels as well as its heritage lineage, addresses both needs – it has 250 plus plush rooms, and extensive high end conference facilities.

Designed to cater to the rapidly growing MICE market, a 60,000-square-foot conference centre comes with its own dedicated event space and catering. “We address a large NRI wedding market,” says Atul Lall, GM, who also expects to convention centre to offset the seasonality of Jaipur’s tourism market. 

The expansive convention hall being prepared for an event

The convention hall, adjoining the residential block of the hotel, is simply the prettiest convention centre in India. it has its own separate entrance, so that hotel guests are not affected by the large conventions. There are five individually styled, state-of-the-art meeting rooms. The interiors are a combination of beautiful indigo and gold - as arches, pillars and motifs, white marble staircases, intricate lattice work, lamps you are more likely to encounter in Moroccan tents, white stucco relief floral patterns, swaying curtains in matching colours create luminous magic. Budget some time to just stand and admire!  

A resident falconer explains intricacies of his craft

Jaipur hasn’t lacked for activities ever, especially in of the sightseeing and cultural variety, but just in case you were intrigued – there is falconry, elephant polo, hiking and bike trails, not forgetting monuments and extensive shopping! Outdoor tents (again very pretty!) with musicians, log fires, spicy tikkas and single malts round up an average winter evening in the hotel.

Another wow moment for the hotel, and a continuous one at that, is its design. It’s exterior may look to be a fort, inside it has all the opulence of an erstwhile royal palace. Whether Mughal or Rajput is a more difficult poser, given that there are elements from both influences, though leaning more towards the former. The reception - spacious, studded with sofas, low tables, lamps more unusually swords and tent chairs, has islands of rich warm colours in a sea of whitewashed yellow and white walls. 

Exploring this property – an extensive 8 acres plus – takes a while, but there is little doubt that you will want to see every nook and cranny. Picturesque architectural or aesthetic flourishes with a touch to heritage are all over – carved pillars, Shahjahani arches, chhatris, mud coloured walls, hand painting all over, stucco relief on walls, antique looking beds, doors and windows in a variety of options – wooden with metal studs, inlay work; There’s gilt edged mirrors, glass topped tables with silver receptacles, mood lighting, pastel lampshades in walls, brass ones on tables, teak wood cupboards that would not be out of place in a Shekhavati haveli, traditional staff uniforms, patterned gardens, exquisite colour combinations dominated by a deep blue and silver or gold combinations offset the surrounding gold of the sand. 

The rooms are warm, inviting and rich in details

Another facet you need to be aware of - you will be very reluctant to leave the rooms. Whether they are the Gold rooms or the regular ones, the extent of detailing is sure to leave any one pleasant awestruck, and sent off on another exploratory note. Note the gold category rooms are in gold and blue, while white/ silver and blue is the combination for the other category. The four poster bed, the brass lamps, stately desks, silver hued clock, and matching napkin holder, a stark white lounger, wall paintings, stucco relief, designer cupboard doors, fans in the classic look, a welcome chocolate in the form of a cannon and cannon balls! ... there's a lot to be seen till you come to the real surprise, and one that could best any competition in its category easily. 

Pictures do no justice to the washrooms, they have to experienced!

That washrooms could be so atmospheric is a realization that dawns only after one has stayed in a Fairmont Gold room. A huge bath the middle dominates the area, while sytilised basins, bath stands, brass taps, soap dishes, gilt edged mirrors, cute receptacles for cosmetics, perfect lighting... the benchmark has been raised, rest of industry!

All day dining destination Zoya is prettiness exemplified, with matching food served a relaxed atmosphere

Given that the hotel works as much as a destination in itself, there are a number of culinary options, each more stunning than the other. Zoya is underserved by being labeled as all day dining, for both in interiors and cuisine, it is a destination in itself. Chef Anurag Bali points out that great care has been taken to select both the menu and the elements of the restaurant – from Villeroy and Boch cutlery to custom made blue glasses from Moradabad while the platters come from Glass Studio in faraway Piraeus, Greece. “We get rose petals from Lucknow, spices from Delhi’s Khari Baoli, mozzarella from a vendor in Gurgaon…” The food is “authentically local” he says, pointing to the Bhavnagari Mirch as a signature dish, though there are vast choices of western, oriental and Indian cuisine. 

A beautiful day bar Anjum, and a cosy evening bar, Aza, offer refuge for those seeking serenity, and a refreshing cuppa / something stronger.  

At about $300 a night, the experience will come at a price, but nevertheless make you want to repeat the indulgence!