LIVE THE X....3 THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012 2 THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012...
Transcript of LIVE THE X....3 THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012 2 THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012...
LIVE THE X.
BMW X1. THE WORLD’S FAVOURITE COMPACT LUXURY SAV.
Infuse life with spontaneity everyday with the BMW X1. Bend the rules, look for detours along the shortest route, discover new passions, experience freedom, rule the urban jungle – Live the X. BMW X1, the world’s favourite compact luxury sports activity vehicle (SAV). Equipped with a powerful diesel engine (177hp) in a lightweight
* and features rear wheel drive which delivers optimized driving dynamics. The long wheelbase of the BMW X1 ensures that you and your friends can comfortably experience Sheer Driving Pleasure.
BMWIndia
www.bmw.inSheer
Driving Pleasure
For more information or a test-driveFor corporate enquiries please write to [email protected]
www.facebook.com/bmwindia
M a g a z i n e
The Wellness Issue
3
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
2
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
It’s the year of celebration. It’s the year of coming of age.
We, at The Leela, turn 25, and are celebrating this youthfulness
with a certain joie di vivre. Reflecting our energy and celebratory
mood is the absolutely new design and feel of The Leela magazine.
Change, they say, is the only constant thing. We, at The Leela,
have been constantly implementing new changes; be it the opening
of new properties, setting new benchmarks in the hospitality industry,
adopting international standards in terms of service or drawing from
our inner reserves to reach new milestones.
Our 25 years is one such landmark. It also marks the launch
of The Leela Palace Chennai. In keeping with the signature look
of all our other hotel properties, The Leela Palace Chennai has
architecture inspired by traditional Chettinad architecture, beautiful
surroundings, and overlooks the lovely Bay of Bengal coastline.
I believe that man must restore to nature all the greenery he has
deprived her of, in his mad race for urbanisation, commercialisation
and what he considers as civilisation. I have always had a keen
interest in the environment and with my wife, Leela, at my side,
have personally supervised the landscaping of each of the group’s
hotels, selecting each sapling, planting it in a hand-picked place
systematically, and turning barren and swamp lands into verdant and
lush green zones.
In our endeavour to take The Leela to yet another level of
innovation, we have embraced modern day technologies. Our
forward-thinking attitude finds itself mirrored in the new look of
our website (theleela.com). It also reflects in the accolades we
have received. Robb Report, USA, has just named The Leela Palace
New Delhi amongst the finest hotels around the world in the luxury
hospitality industry.
As India witnesses a transformation, we, at The Leela, are all set
to be part of the change, too.
CAPTAIN C. P. KRISHNAN NAIRCHAIRMAN
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts
“As India
witnesses a
transformation,
we, at The Leela,
are all set to
be part of the
change too.”
7
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
36Heritage
Bhau Daji Lad Museum opens up
its space to contemporary art
12Eco Effect
Carefully selected eco-friendly
products just for you
24Design
Green buildings spruce up the
urban landscape
16Indulge
Rishikesh, hamams, exotic
treatments... take your pick
16
46Travel
A road trip to north India
unfolds its myriad charms
30Gourmet
Wellness food brings health and
goodness back to life
42Viewfinder
View the beauty of the Western
Ghats after the first splash of rain
70Insider’s Guide
Dilip Kapur tells you the best spots
to hang out in Pondicherry
T H E L E E L A M A G A Z I N E — M O N S O O N 2 0 1 2
9
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
THE LEELAPUBLISHER — Amruda Nair
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF — Lakshmi Nair
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR — Shobha Patel
CONTENT AND DISTRIBUTION — Priyanka Paul
PRODUCTION — Prakash Bachche
MEDIASCOPE PUBLICITASEDITORIALEDITOR-IN-CHIEF — Deepali Nandwani
EDITOR — Sujata Dugar
CLIENT SERVICE MANAGER — Reshma Malvankar
ARTCREATIVE DIRECTOR — Muhammad Jaan Faruqui
ART DIRECTOR — Sanjay Rane
SENIOR DESIGNER — Shamkant More
IMAGE EDITOR — Mrunali Gujarathi
PRODUCTION MANAGER — Elidio Fernandes
ADVERTISING SALESMUMBAI (022-22850188 / 61377200)
Vice President — Monica Chopra
Lamont Dias, Mallika Jamsandekar,
Gokul Dharan, Shruti Baghel
DELHI (011-23730873/74) — Asha Augustine,
Nikhil Mehrotra
BANGALORE (080-25592714/82514) — Yogeesha A
LUCKNOW (0522-2780560/754) — P P S Marwa
PUNE (09850086865) — Shailesh Amonkar
KOLKATA (09831131395) — Subrata Mazumder
CHENNAI (09841091288) — J V Naveen
KERALA (0484-2354867/2381417) — Hari M Das
JAIPUR (09828150706) — Peeush Gupta
AHMEDABAD (09898002522) — Madan Menon
SECUNDERABAD (08978866599) — Sheetal Petkar
AD SALES - INTERNATIONALHONG KONG (+852-2516 1003) — Winky Wong
MALAYSIA (+60-3-7729 6923) — Shallie Cheng
SINGAPORE (+65 6735 8681) — Joui Ong
DUBAI (+9714 3913360) — Sunil Kanchan
MARKETINGMANAGER MARKETING SERVICES — Salim B.
MANAGER — Ritcha Verma
ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENTSR. MANAGER - ACCOUNTS & ADMIN.
— Girish Sharma
ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE — Ashwin Makwana
CREDIT CONTROLLER — Girish Joshi
DELHI ASST. MANAGER - ACCOUNTS & ADMIN.
— Raj Bhushan Singh
CORPORATECEO & MANAGING DIRECTOR — Marzban Patel
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR — Anita Patel
CFO — Manish Mehta
COO — Indu Joshi
COVER CREDITSThe Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. Photograph: Rohit Chawla
“This Magazine is published by Hotel Leelaventures Limited (“Leela”) and produced by Mediascope Publicitas (India)
Pvt. LTD. (“MSP”) on behalf of and under agreement with Leela. Opinions expressed herein are of the Authors and do not
necessarily reflect the opinions of Leela or of MSP. Editorial, reproduction of articles and advertising enquiries should
be addressed to The Leela Magazine, Mediascope Publicitas (India) Private Ltd, 51 Doli Chamber, Arthur Bunder Road,
Colaba, Mumbai 400 005, India. Email: [email protected]
Material in this publication may not be reproduced, whether in part or in whole, without the consent of the publisher. Leela
or MSP do not assume any responsibility or endorse any claim made by the advertiser herein”
Printed at Parksons Graphics, Andheri (West), Mumbai 400053.
This magazine is printed on environment-friendly, wood-free paper.
T H E L E E L A M A G A Z I N E — M O N S O O N 2 0 1 2
52Spa Talk
Spa indulgences within the
confines of The Leela
57Jet Set Go
Guerlain’s Laurent Boillot talks
about his maiden trip to India
62Accolades
Awards galore for The Leela Palace New Delhi
58Launch PadTake a sneak peek into the
The Leela Palace Chennai
64Events
Celebrating the lifeand times of two legends
71Perspective
Travel writer Fiona Caulfield shares her connect with India
36
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
37
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
Slug Here
13
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
12
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
Some thoughtful, eco-friendly products that say ‘we care’.
Nature’s own
Lecoanet HemantAllow your skin to breathe in Delhi-based designer duo Lecoanet Hemant’s Ayurganic, a wellness and fashion collection for men and women. Their range of clothing is free of synthetic chemicals and toxic irritants. It stimulates the body to release negative toxins, thereby enhancing metabolism. Price available on request. TO BUY, VISIT: The Gallery, 13 M.G. Road, New Delhi, Contact: 91 11 4680 2289.
lhcares.com
Forest EssentialsPamper your skin with soft and creamy luxury butter soaps from Forest Essentials. Made from highly organic and 100 per cent natural sources, such as fresh cow’s milk infused with saffron and organic honey, vetiver with cold pressed oils and Ayurvedic herbs, these soaps will leave you with a smooth, satin-scented skin. They cost `395 for a 125 gram pack. TO BUY, VISIT: 4/1, Lavelle Junction Building, Vittal Mallya Road, Bangalore, Contact: 91 80 4211 0481; Express Avenue Mall, S-11 (GF), Whites Road, Chennai, Contact: 91 44 2846 4136; 11,
Foreshore Apartments, Juhu Tara Road,
Mumbai, Contact: 91 22 6522 4480.forestessentialsindia.com
Presidents TeaInvigorate your senses with the soothing aroma of the Presidents Tea. A rare blend and limited edition tea, it is made from one of the purest and superior quality Darjeeling tea. Selected from the best gardens of Darjeeling by tea experts of the Aap Ki Pasand Tea Company, it is also known as real first flush tea and has a fresh character and a flowery bouquet. The tea, which costs `16,000 per kg, is available in a 100gms black velvet bag with zardozi embroidery. TO BUY, VISIT: Sterling House, 15 Netaji Subhash Marg, Daryaganj, New Delhi, Contact: 91 11 2326 0373, 2325 9373 or 2328 7775.
aapkipasandtea.com
BY ANKIT GUPTA
ECO EFFECT
15
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
14
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
ECO EFFECT
LladróLladró’s latest offering is an Arion on a Sea Horse, an impressive sculpture, inspired by the work of the French painter, William Adolphe Bouguereau. Lladró porcelain figurines add an element of grace and elegance to any home. Each such limited edition (only 500 pieces) piece costs `12,70,000.TO BUY, VISIT: Lladró, Atria Millennium Mall, Worli, Mumbai, Contact: 91 22 2481 3341/ 42; 270/2 TTK Road, Chennai, Contact: 91 44 4312 9440/ 43; Select Citywalk Mall, G-08B, New Delhi, Contact: 91 11 4186 4400 / 11;UB City, Bangalore,Contact: 91 80 4098 5215/ 16.
lladro.com
BlackBerry® Porsche
Design P’9981The smartphone is designed for those want to give their power – style. The BlackBerry® Porsche Design P’9981 has a forged stainless steel frame, an exclusive Porsche Design UI and a bespoke Wikitude World Browser augmented reality app experience. A sculpted QWERTY keyboard and a crystal clear touch display further add to its appeal. Price available on request. TO BUY, VISIT: The BlackBerry Premium and BlackBerry Exclusive stores in India. SMS ‘Porsche’ to 575758.
in.blackberry.com/P9981
L’OccitaneL’Occitane en Provence’s new Immortelle
Brightening Collection combines the power of flowers like Bellis perennis,
l’Immortelle from Corsica and the Garden Nasturtium to impart a
youthful glow to the skin. The brightening moisture cream (seen in the picture) costs
`3,290 and the brightening water is priced at `1,475. TO BUY, VISIT: DLF Promenade Mall, Shop no. 130 A, ground
floor, New Delhi,Contact: 91 11 4104 2450;
Palladium Mall, F-9B, 1st floor,Phoenix Mills Compound, Mumbai,
Contact: 91 22 4004 3884.
loccitane.com
White ChampaFeel at ease in the 7/8 length trousers made in a stretch cotton poplin from
White Champa. A convenient back slit at the hem, drawstring waist and
pleating at the knee-level ensures you’re comfortable in every yogic posture. Complement this with a
little wrap jacket made of pure cotton and embellished with delicate hand
embroidery. Check out the Babul Yoga Trousers with Imli Wrap
Jacket and Amla Top (seen in the picture). Price available on request.
Bespoke services are also provided by the brand.
TO BUY, VISIT: White Champa, 125B,Shahpur Jat, New Delhi,
Contact: 91 11 4102 3460.
facebook.com/whitechampa
Haathi ChaapChoose from a range of organic, recycled and environment-friendly bags, photo frames, photo albums, notebooks and other stationery items from Haathi Chaap. Made of elephant poo and dyed in bright colours, you can buy these quirky products and do your bit for the environment. Souvenirs like a bookmark or a set of coasters (seen inthe picture) cost `75 for a set of four. TO BUY, VISIT: Design Studio, Shop No.1, Mansarovar Bldg, New Delhi, Contact: 91 11 4161 8630; Tappu Ki Dukaan, 27A, Kermani Building, Sir PM Road, Fort, Mumbai, Contact: 91 22 2204 3716.
elephantpoopaper.com
17
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
16
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
INDULGE
Interesting trends to rest your tired feet and uplift your body, mind and soul.
NirvanaRoad to
17
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
16
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
It must be something in the sparkling
green waters of the Ganga, the most
sacred river of the Hindus. In the
morning, temple bells ring in unison and
an ethereal atmosphere descends on the
banks. The sadhus (sacred mendicants)
in saffron robes let their matted hair loose
to take a dip in the waters, and the women
drape themselves in the million folds of a
sari. A magnetic hum is palpable under the
sounds of the city. No wonder then, the once
offbeat town of Rishikesh has now become
one of the biggest wellness centres across
the world.
It was decades ago that Beatles arrived
here and gave this provincial hub the
mystique it has retained ever since. From
the poshest spas in the world to the quietest
temples, from Mercedes-owning high-
flying spiritual gurus to humble yogis (yoga
practitioners) who are more than willing
to teach you their craft, this city has both
glamour and the absolute serenity of the
other world. Even now, you can see the cream
of London’s Holland Park residents patiently
listening to the sermons of an emaciated
holy man who has been meditating on the
same spot for the last 40 years. Or, monkeys
and cows co-existing with supermodels, out
on a morning jog.
However, Rishikesh’s biggest draw
continues to be yoga and Ayurveda. An ancient
Oriental technique, yoga concentrates on
one’s breath, to the extent that the minutest
action of the body is monitored, and finally
through practice, mastered. In Rishikesh,
hundreds of ashrams (spiritual centres) dot
the sacred banks, and at nights their lights
flank the serpentine course of the river,
making it all seem like a meandering descent
into consciousness. Chants of Om rise
above the night-time cacophony of forests.
When coupled with Ayurveda, yoga has the
potential to transcend the mundaneness of
our daily lives.
Do not be tempted into thinking however,
that all this is serious stuff meant for folks
looking for an alternate metaphysical reality.
You can just as well have a cracking afternoon
of fun. A lot of moneyed tourists arrive to try
their hands at the increasingly popular sport
of white-water rafting. The reviews have
all been positive, and experts predict that
in addition to being a spiritual monastery,
the city is soon bound to be one of the
hottest adventure sports destinations in
the world.
Once a leafy town on the foothills of the Himalayas, Rishikesh has emerged as
one of the most attractive wellness and spiritual destination in the world.
The mystic river
FACT FILEThe discerning traveller has several options in
Rishikesh to cater both to his mind and soul.
We offer you a few rejuvenating possibilities:
Yoga Study Centre, Haridwar Road:
The ashram commands a legion of followers who
insist that this is the most authentic venue for learning
yoga. Contact: +91 135 243 3837.
Yoga Niketan, near Ram Jhula, Rishikesh:
This beautifully-located yoga ashram offers
custom-designed courses with nutritious meals and
accommodation. Contact: +91 135 2430 227.
BY LALIT SULTAN FARZDAN
CO
RB
IS
INDULGE
19
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
18
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
INDULGE
Golden Body Treatment
Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but for just once, go for the
gold. Silk, ginger and pure gold come together to create a sensorial
delight in the Golden Body Treatment. It commences with a scrub
that’s rich with extracts of ginger camomile, silk protein and jojoba
oil. Together, these ingredients work to exfoliate the skin, while their
delicate fragrances coax the mind into a relaxed state. The body is
then lathered with a premium, state-of-the-art gel (comprising
23-carat gold, caffeine, carnitine, aescin and coenzyme) that is said
to have lipolytic results. A flow of hot oil helps nourish the skin to
radiant effect. The treatment is topped off with a Pinda Sweda — an
ayurvedic pummelling massage — that strengthens the body and
soothes the senses with camomile, lavender, calendula and balm
scents. The second-last step is a rich wrap of a ginger-based mask
and particles of gold to tone the body. Finally, an emollient cream of
silk protein ensures your skin is left with a luxurious velvety texture.
Orchid Wonder
The orchid, with its natural symmetry, is a flower often associated with
perfection, fertility and overall spiritual growth. A treatment using this
flower helps exfoliate and revitalise the skin. A massage with orchids
is best administered by two therapists of complementing physiques,
who work in perfect sync (massage techniques/ movements) to bring
about a harmonious sense of well-being. It is followed by a head and
foot massage with specially-made orchid massage oil. Soak it all in
with a therapeutic orchid bath.
Essence of Africa
When it comes to exotica, the Essence of Africa spa treatment is in
a league of its own. The treatment includes a back exfoliation using
a heady mix of baobab oils, rooibos leaves and Atlantic sea salt.
Baobab oil is an exceptional emollient as it is rich in vitamins A, D, E
and F. Besides moisturising the skin, it also improves elasticity and
skin tone by encouraging regeneration of skin cells within a short
period of time. Additionally, baobab oil has also been used in the
treatment of burns. Rooibos, (meaning red bush in Afrikaans), is
high in antioxidants and has been used in traditional South African
medicine, in the treatment of skin problems such as acne, eczema,
sunburns, itchy rashes, allergic reactions, etc. The back exfoliation
is topped by a deep rungu muscle massage with hot soy candle oil.
Historically, the rungu was carried as a weapon — a throwing stick
— by African warriors of a high status. In today’s context, the rungu
(usually crafted out of eucalyptus wood) is wielded in a graceful,
rhythmic fashion to enhance the impact on sore muscles.
Vital Qi
This treatment takes you on a journey through time, all the way
back to ancient China. Age-old healing practices meet modern-
day luxuries with Vital Qi Time. Here, the preventative healthcare
benefits of traditional Chinese massage and foot reflexology
therapies are drawn on to restore the balance of the body’s vital
energy, called ‘Qi’ in Chinese culture. The treatment is administered
sans oil; comfortable clothing is usually provided by the spa. The
traditional Chinese massage employs a deep massage technique
that works on the energy lines or meridians across the body.
Focussing on acupressure points in the back, legs and arms, helps
alleviate tight muscles. Further relief is offered by traditional
foot reflexology, a technique that pays special attention to reflex
points on the feet and lower legs to stimulate the nerves. In
doing so, the body and mind are relieved of all tension, leaving
you revitalised.
Rollerssage Spa Treatment
Hot stone therapy has been a popular choice with spa junkies for
years now. While heat is known to soothe tired muscles, stone
will be stone. Cold (figuratively speaking) and unmoved. At the
end of the day, there’s nothing quite like the comfort of human
touch. Addressing this little problem is Rollerssage — a spa
treatment that blends the advantages of a hot stone massage with
that of a Swedish one. What’s more, the stones employed for the
purpose are semi-precious in nature, especially chosen for their
crystal healing properties that have an impact at a deeper level
of consciousness. While tiger eye is said to encourage optimism
and insight; hematite helps with grounding and circulation; rose
quartz (the love stone) helps deal with issues of hurt and anger,
and finally, sodalite supports the digestive system. The treatment
commences with a selection of stones ideal for you and the current
circumstances in your life. So, choose wisely. The initial part of
the session involves a traditional Swedish technique massage.
Some therapists administer Swedish strokes together with oblong
crystals, usually on exceptionally tense areas. This is followed by
a hot stone massage with a specialised castor-based tool that
allows the stones to roll smoothly over your body. The end result is
a mentally, physically and spiritually reenergised you.
Ultimate exoticaFive must-try wellness therapies to
satiate the hedonist in you.
BY GRETCHEN FERRAO
CO
RB
IS
19
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
18
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
21
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
20
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
INDULGE
A dip into opulence In Turkey, there are secularists, there are Muslims and there are
those for whom cleanliness is a religion. No one takes as much
pleasure in rubbing their body with soap and tap water, or
performing ablutions outside mosques as much as these sensualists.
A hamam is where this love of washing and pleasure reaches its
apogee. Dating back to the Romans, these communal spaces have
always been the nerve centres of power where the coups were
staged and empires were conceived.
It is a myth that a hamam is just another variant of a massage.
A Turkish bath is more like an afternoon game of golf, or a business
lunch, or a club where the members often drop in to steal a moment
of respite from their busy lives. Words like parlour, sanctuary, cabin,
or volonté come to mind. You come in at a convenient time and have
a chat with the masseur who may offer you a cup of clear crimson tea
to get you going. You are handed your individual peştemal (exquisite
towels made of a special skin-invigorating material) and nalin
(wooden clogs), and accompanied to the hot room. Here, billows of
steam rise above the hazy, marble facades. You lie stomach down on
the heated stone bed in the centre of the room, and let yourself drift
in a stress-obliterating daze.
You then proceed to exfoliate your body with warm water, and
a special oil-based soap. The masseur arrives and quickly sends
you ecstatic in pleasure into another world. His movements follow
an orchestrated rhythm which is carefully guided by tradition.
He solemnly tells you the state of the various parts of your body.
Be sure to listen to him or you risk spraining a muscle under
his 200 pound frame. The final phase involves a soothing splashing
of your body with cold water. A supple freshness now coats the
skin and you smell wonderfully of camphor, lemon and stray
notes of tobacco.
Like an Egyptian monarch, draped in three pristine white towels,
you then sip another cup of strong Turkish tea. The masseur comes
to bid you goodbye and whispers some advice about your body
into your ears. Tipping is strongly recommended at this point.
You are then at your leisure to step out into the manic chants
of Istanbul.
Packed with all the sensual luxuries under impressive
domes, the Turks have kept alive the fine art of a bath.
FACT FILEBesides being ultra-modern 21st century spas, the
hamams often possess an illustrious history, much to
do with the refinement and the follies of the Ottoman
emperors. Here are a few suggestions:
Çemberlitaş Hamami: Built by the emperor’s
favourite architect Mimar Sinan in 1584, this historic
hamam is probably the first venue Istanbulites will
recommend to you.
Vezirhan Caddesi No.8, Çemberlitas, Istanbul.
Contact: +90 212 522 79 74, 212 520 18 50.
Cağaloğlu Hamami: A 300-year-old bath that has
hosted the likes of Harrison Ford and George Soros,
luxury was never before this accessible. 34 Prof. Kazim
İsmail Gürkan Caddesi, Cağaloğlu, Istanbul.
Contact: +90 212 522 2424.
Tarihi Galatasaray Hamami: An incredible six
centuries have been lived under the domes of this
magnificent structure. Built by Sultan Bayezit II in 1481,
this spa happens to be in the trendy Beyoğlu district.
Contact: +90 212 249 9456.
BY LALIT SULTAN FARZDAN
GE
TTY
23
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
22
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
INDULGE
At the ESPA at The Leela Palace Udaipur, its signature Ayurvedic
treatment — Brahmi Abhyanga is highly recommended by its
therapists. It is hailed as the ultimate treatment to rejuvenate
the mind and body. In it, herbal oil is slathered on the body in long,
rhythmical strokes to calm and regulate the circulatory and the
nervous system, a process that promotes inner peace and vitality.
The Leela Kovalam’s Detoxification Experience package includes a
specific detoxification diet, along with different Ayurvedic massages
and treatments like nasyam (nasal drops), virechanam (purgation),
vasthi (enema therapy), etc. This is for mental and physical well-being
and is meant to tone the body and purify the blood
As the world wakes up to the goodness of Ayurveda, India, the
birthplace of this science of life (In Sanskrit, Ayur means life and
Veda means Science), is propagating it with renewed vigour through
dedicated Ayurvedic colleges, wellness centres and luxury resorts.
This age-old healing system, which is known to the wider
world as the new age medicine, is based on the eternal principle
of healthy living. Its main premise is that a complete synergy of the
body, mind and spirit is the basis of a healthy being. Any imbalance
in this synthesis results in physical ailments. It also believes that
every individual is unique and has a distinct constitution, genetic
inheritance and predisposition to certain diseases. So, unlike modern
science, which considers all individuals the same and offers medicine
to remove the symptom rather than the root cause of the symptom,
Ayurveda addresses the uniqueness of each patient and heals his/
her body accordingly.
Ayurveda is based on the Panchmahabhuta or Five Great Elements
theory: the five elements are earth (prithvi), water ( jal), fire (agni), air
(vayu) and space (akash). Just like the universe is composed of these
five elements, Ayurveda considers the human being’s body to be
divided into each such category. It divides the constitution of people
into these three categories — Vata (air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (water).
Using these three types, the Ayurvedic expert determines the
dosha (fault) or the imbalance on either of these categories and
recommends a corrective diet, massage, herbal medicine, exercise
and meditation to cure the body, mind and soul and achieve the
balance in a holistic way.
Back to natureThe goodness of Ayurveda is now finding
its way into spa treatments and diet
charts of luxury hotels across India.
FACT FILEThe Divya Spa at The Leela Kovalam offers a range of traditional Ayurvedic treatments
— ranging from the Netra Tharpanam i.e. warm, medicated ghee eye bath to relieve
eye strain and strengthen the optic nerve, to the Abhyanga Snana or body massage to
the signature Kalari massage and Shirodhara for complete relaxation of the body and
the mind. You can be part of the yoga sessions, which are conducted at certain times
of the day.
Rejuvenating and detoxification packages are available for 7, 14 and 21 days. For
guests staying at The Leela Kovalam, there is also a recommended diet chart
prepared and circulated to the chefs so that those availing the package can enjoy a
holistic well-being by eating Saatvik food (pure vegetarian food with no onion and
garlic). It is prepared as per the recommendations of the in-house doctor to balance
out the kapha, vata and pita of the body. (Read page 52-54 to know more about the
Ayurveda treatments available at The Leela properties in Goa and Udaipur).
RO
HIT
CH
AW
LA
25
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
24
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
DESIGN
A clutch of experimental architects across India go beyond the current
design lexicon to create beautiful buildings that
are sustainable and carbon neutral.
BY DEEPALI NANDWANI
An apartment by Total Environment Solutions is
in harmony with its natural surroundings
Harnessingnature’s
goodness
In a country where extreme climatic
conditions play a humungous role in
deciding how we live, what we eat and
what we wear, it constantly surprises me
that our planners and architects do not pay
enough attention to the kind of buildings
they construct. As a an architecture and
design writer, I have often questioned
experts on why India so tragically ignores
its traditional architectural heritage or does
not experiment enough with new-age green
building technologies.
Alibaug-based Pinakin Patel, among
India’s best-known designer and architect,
once told me, “Historically, India’s
architecture had a natural instinct for
weather, local design idioms and contextual
materials. Every region had its own unique
architectural vocabulary — be it Hampi,
Bijapur or Fatehpur Sikri, we built sensitive
and sensible architecture. Living in a building
that’s not energy-efficient and environment
friendly is not just unsustainable, but also
takes a physical toll on the residents.”
John S. Gerondelis, Principal of Atlanta-
based Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart,
Stewart and a LEED accredited professional,
who has designed The Leela Palace New
Delhi, says that among the challenges faced
while selling the green building concept to
developers is the perception of the initial
cost vs. the economics. “Responsible
owners realise the benefits from sustainable
design — in reduced operating costs,
more comfortable environments and better
public relations,” he says. “Developers
who are only interested in quick returns
on their investments do not really believe
they will realise any benefit from
sustainable design .”
As concepts of wellness and carbon
neutral living takes hold in urban India,
however, an eclectic bunch of architects
spearhead a movement to build sustainable
buildings, many of which reinterpret
27
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
26
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
DESIGN
Unusual materials like bamboo, which works
beautifully in north-east India’s rain-lashed terrain,
have found their way into the material palette
traditional architecture in contemporary ways. Among them is Delhi-
based Vidur Bhardwaj, partner in atelier Design & Development,
whose signature project, the Wipro Technologies Development
Centre was awarded the LEED certification for the largest Green
Building in Asia, by the U.S. Green Building Council. “The concept
of a green building is of an eco-friendly, low wastage and intelligent
structure, which has a minimal impact on the environment,” he says.
The Indian Green Building Council predicts that there will be over
1,000 green buildings by the end of 2012 and according to Bharadwaj,
“the use of solar energy will be their common feature”. One of his
recent projects includes Shunya, a prototype of net zero energy
home, which generates its own energy with the help of solar panels.
Unusual materials like bamboo have found their way into the
material palette used by architects. Neelam Manjunath of Bangalore-
based Centre For Green Building Material and Technology says that
the willowy wood is the way forward. “In the north-east of India, the
material works beautifully in harsh rain-lashed terrain. Of course,
the bamboo is strengthened so that it can be used in construction.
It exhibits stoic resistance during earthquakes and has excellent load
bearing capacity.”
Several green buildings have set the standards for green design
in India: the TZed Homes in Bangalore, designed by the Biodiversity
Conservation India Ltd to reduce light and energy bills by nearly 70
per cent; the Olympia Technology Park in Chennai, the world’s largest
LEED Gold rated green building that features three magnificent
towers constructed with energy saving technology, autoclaved blocks
containing 30 per cent fly ash, wooden door-frames made from
compressed sawdust and low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)
paints; the Uttarayan Art Centre, designed by architect Karan Grover,
and The Druk White Lotus School in the extreme desert landscape
of Ladakh. Awarded the Best Asian Building, Best Education Building
and Best Green Building, the school combines the elements of
TOP: Traditional Chettiar architecture, with a combination of high ceilings and
openings, has been referenced for the design of The Leela Palace Chennai
Ladakhi architecture with 21st century engineering, and is built with
traditional materials such as locally excavated stone, mud bricks,
timber and grass.
The Leela Palace New Delhi, designed by Gerondelis is the first
hotel in The Leela Group to be certified Platinum LEED. He is also the
man behind the upcoming The Leela Palace Chennai, in which he
has used features from traditional Chettinad architecture to create a
masterpiece that is sustainable and contemporary. (See box for more
on The Leela Palace New Delhi and The Leela Palace Chennai).
Alibaug-based designer du jour Pinakin Patel, the man credited
with the ‘India Modern’ movement in design, has conceptualised the
brilliant Hara Villas or the Green Villas, fully furnished, made-to-order
wooden villas that will pop up on your property — in a farmhouse, or
as a spa or additional living quarters in your own backyard.
In 2000, Patel shifted his studio from the big city of Mumbai to the
solitude of Alibaug and was inspired to create what he calls, “limited
edition, plug-in living”. The villas are designed as bio-degradable
ready living units of 670 square feet, and consists of one bedroom,
kitchenette and bathroom, an outdoor wooden deck and sit-out with
shaded pergola — the roofs, walls and flooring are all crafted with
local timber. The villa can receive electricity supply from solar panels.
In Bangalore, Total Environment Solutions constructs luxury
homes that are in harmony with their natural surroundings. They use
natural construction materials like wire-cut bricks and exposed form
finished concrete, which age beautifully. The Wall House, designed by
architect Anupama Kundoo as her own home in Pondicherry, set the
standards for sustainable homes in India. Designed using achakal,
a locally manufactured brick, is a narrow 2.2m long vaulted space,
the house has long steps and terraced surfaces. The double-height
allows better air movement and ventilation. The house is oriented to
the south-east for optimal air circulation; the windows are designed
in layers, and water bodies cool the temperature of the house further.
“If chosen carefully, materials prevent accumulation of heat. Hollow
clay tubes used in the roof reduces the need for using steel,” says
Kundoo.
The Kamal Malik architectural studio, headquartered in Mumbai,
has been designing buildings that were sustainable much before green
design became fashionable. Malik has an uncanny knack of harnessing
light and wind in the buildings he constructs. “Architecture has to be
process-driven rather than form-driven. How can I make a building
without disturbing the ecology or cutting steps into a hill? How do the
sunrays fall on a building? What are the wind directions or how can I
incorporate the trees outside, into the building? Sustainability has to
do with orientation of buildings according to sun angles and the use
of recyclable and local materials,” he says.
TOP: Grover’s Uttarayan Art Centre in Vadodara is crafted out of eco-friendly
fly ash bricks and recycled wood; RIGHT: The Leela Palace New Delhi
ABOVE: Malik’s unusual GSM Grande Palladium is oriented according to sun
angles, so that the harsh sunrays are filtered out
GE
TTY
BA
JIR
AO
PA
WA
R
29
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
28
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
DESIGN
The way the sunrays fall on the different sides of the façade
forms the core of Malik’s GSM Grande Palladium project. So, the west
façade, in which the south-west sun has the harshest glare, has sun
shades designed to project out on the south side to cut out the glare.
The east façade is skinned with laminated glass in order to suffuse
the interior spaces with natural light. “The north façade is made up
entirely of triangular pieces of laminated glass interspersed by skin
truss members, and is raked back on the upper levels in order to
suffuse the interior spaces with as much natural daylight as possible.
It also provides a visual connection to the slopes of the landscaped
garden below.” The building is hoisted 8mts above the ground to
make way for trees and water bodies at the street level.
Green design may still be a blip on India’s chaotic architectural
landscape. However, the work of some of these architects prove that
it is possible to harness nature’s energies and reinterpret eco-friendly
local architecture in modern ways, to bring about considerable
change in the way we live.
ABOVE: Patel’s Green Villas are bespoke,
energy-efficient wooden structures that
will pop-up on your property
GREEN HOTELSThe ultra-luxe The Leela Palace New Delhi, designed by John S. Gerondelis, a Principal
of Atlanta-based design firm, Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart, is The Leela
Group’s first hotel to be certified LEED Platinum, putting it leagues ahead of others
in the same space. “Much of the sustainability is achieved through the mechanical
systems employed in the building as well as the way the building is managed,” says
Gerondelis.
The designer has incorporated state-of-the-art systems that use significantly
less power, reducing the need for power generation — which in turn minimises
greenhouse gases. “Recycling, water conservation and increasing the amount of
green space and gardens, improves the quality of the surrounding environment.
The design of the building is such that it has a minimal building footprint — it
allows for more of the property to remain planted and increases the garden areas.
Maintaining a significant portion of the site as green space or public gardens is a result
of this planning.”
At the upcoming The Leela Palace Chennai, elements from traditional Chettiar
architecture have been intelligently incorporated in the hotel building. “Traditionally, a
Chettiar house is designed to be able to see right through it — which, in combination
with high ceilings and openings, actually allows for natural ventilation to address the
hot climate,” says Gerondelis. “Also, the light-coloured painted exteriors reflect the
heat during the day, helping to naturally cool the spaces.”
Details like high ceilings and cross views have been incorporated in the hotel
, with a lobby that spans the tower width so that guests can see through the tower
from the banquet hall or reception courtyard, right out to the breathtaking view of the
sea beyond. “Along with the light-coloured facade, this helps to bring the traditional
architectural elements into a modern building,” he adds.
The way the building is arranged on the site — to minimise the solar heat gain
at the public levels and maximise the daylight in the guestrooms — helps reduce the
energy used to cool and light the building. “State of the art glazing reduces the amount
of energy used as well, by allowing light in and keeping the heat out.”
31
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
30
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
GOURMET
The concept of wellness cuisine
has evolved from bland
vegetables and low fat cheese
on the menu to a more exotic and
imaginative fare.
Good HealthH
ow about some multi-grain, multi-seed
pizza, or, a whole wheat spaghetti, a
millet (nachni) dosa or some ‘dark’
molasses kulfi topped with pistachio and saffron?
As the concept of eating healthy and nutritious
catches on, hotels and restaurants are adding on
wellness dishes, like the ones above, to their menu.
The Leela Kovalam, for instance, has just
launched a new menu called The Leela Wellness
Menu. It boasts of dishes like Citrus Carrot Slaw
with lime, prunes and sunflower seeds, Green Pea
and Mint Soup with walnut pesto crisp, Multi-seed,
free range chicken tikka with onion and cilantro,
Whole Wheat Spaghetti Alla Marinara with a hint
of garlic, freshly diced tomatoes drizzled with
extra virgin olive oil, a Mushroom Biryani with
spinach garlic raita and a Dark Molasses
Kulfi, among others.
“Each of these dishes included in
the wellness menu are prepared
using minimal oil and sugar,
in keeping with the
growing demand from
guests for healthier
food options,”
informs chef Dinesh
Lal P, Executive
Sous Chef, The
Leela Kovalam.
He has also
introduced a
healthier alternative
to the regular refined
flour and cheese-laden
pizza. Called The Leela
Wellness Pizza, it is served
at The Terrace restaurant of the
hotel. This multi-grain, multi-seed
pizza base is a blend of different kinds of
grains and seeds, ground coarsely into multi-
grain flour. This whole grain blend incorporates
the bran, germ and endosperm portions of the
grains of whole wheat, rye, oat, corn, soy, barley,
brown rice, millet, sunflower seed, white and black
sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and flaxseed to
make a nutritious flour, explains chef Lal.
According to him, “It takes the body longer to
absorb whole grain products. A slow absorption
rate prevents the sharp rise in sugar and insulin
levels. Moreover, the soluble dietary fibre present
in it slows down the digestive process, allowing
the food to spend more time in the digestive tract
and increases the amount of nutrients absorbed
into the body. This fibre also creates a feeling of
fullness, making you less likely to over-indulge as
well as reduces cholesterol levels in the blood.”
With so much goodness packed into a pizza, you
will not feel an iota of guilt when you dig into it.
In fact, the restaurant also serves The Leela Vegan
pizza, a pure vegetarian pizza for its vegan guests.
Lal affirms, “Each of our restaurants at the
property have a wellness menu along with the
regular one and almost 30 per cent guests,
(especially foreigners) opt for the healthier option.”
Since organic food plays an essential role in the
well-being and overall good health of an individual,
most of the ingredients, especially fruits,
vegetables and seafood used for the preparation
of the wellness menu at The Leela Kovalam, is
sourced from its surroundings.
So, the fresh catch of the day comes from the
sea off the Kovalam coast, and perishables like
coconut, tapioca, breadfruit, spinach, tomatoes,
bananas, drumstick, lettuce, among many others,
are plucked from the surrounding greens of the
hotel. This reduces the loss of nutrients during
transportation from a far-off farm.
Health talk
Explaining this trend, Siddharth Rastogi, co-
founder and CEO, Meta Wellness Pvt. Ltd. says,
“There is a growing interest in staying fit, both for
aesthetic as well as health reasons. Food plays a
major role here since a healthy diet is a precursor
to a healthy body.”
In the last 30 years, adds Rastogi, the heart
disease rate in India has gone up from three per
cent to 12 per cent and is largely noticeable among
BY SUJATA DUGAR
Eat your way to
Chefs at The Leela Kovalam have
introduced a multi-grain and multi
seed pizza, a healthier version of the
popular fast food, for its guests
33
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
32
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
GOURMET
“A wellness diet
provides you a
good mix of natural
foods from across
various plant-based
building blocks. It
doesn’t recommend
any artificial diet”
the high income group individuals. He blames this
stupendous rise to the consumption of rich food,
erratic eating pattern, a sedentary lifestyle and
undue stress.
In fact, Meta Wellness, the healthcare firm that
provides lifestyle change programmes to Indians
with heart disease and diabetes, has nutrition as
one of the core elements, along with exercise and a
healthy lifestyle. It has tied up with The Leela Group
to provide this facility as a residential, wellness
programme at each of The Leela properties. The
Leela hotels handle the hospitality as well as the
gourmet, heart-healthy menu (termed re:lish)
aspect of the programme.
According to Dr Jyotsna Changrani, Director,
Healthcare Services, “A wellness diet provides you
a good mix of natural foods from across various
plant-based building blocks. It doesn’t recommend
any artificial diet.” Hence, such a diet has no space
for processed, refined or animal-based food.
Reality check
A recent study by the Delhi-based Centre for
Science and Environment (CSE) found that most
junk food contains high levels of trans fat, salt and
sugar — which inevitably leads to cardiovascular
disease, obesity and diabetes. The tests were
conducted on 16 popular snacks, and CSE
discovered that companies resort to large scale
misbranding and misinformation.
As per the World Health Organisation
guidelines, in a normal adult diet, a maximum
of only one per cent of the total energy should
come from trans fat. Therefore, an adult male can
consume 2.6 grams of trans fat per day, an adult
female can eat 2.1 grams, while a child (10-12
years) can have 2.3 grams. The survey revealed
that most popular snacks, which claim to be
trans fat-free, actually contain fat higher than the
permissible limit.
An earlier survey, conducted by the CSE found
that all the vanaspati brands (hydrogenated oil)
sold in India had trans fat levels at least five to
12 times higher than the world standards, set in
Denmark, at two per cent of the total oil. Even
a small amount of this fat in the body tends to
increase the bad LDL cholesterol, triglycerides
and insulin levels and reduce the beneficial
HDL cholesterol.
Trans fat is found in abundance in preserved
foods, carbonated beverages and commercial
baked products like cakes and cookies, most of
which are part of the urban diet and consumed in
large quantities.
Global trend
Worldwide, too, several hotels are adopting unique
ways to show their healthier avatar.
A US hotel chain recently launched a De-Light
menu, available at its properties in New York,
Chicago and several other North American cities.
Guests can order a three-course meal that doesn’t
top 500 calories, and every item on the menu is
cooked without oil, flour, butter or cream.
Yet another hotel group has begun listing
calories on menu boards posted in its new hotel
bistros. Handouts are available for guests who
BARLEY RISOTTO
WITH CAULIFLOWER INGREDIENTS:
Olive oil: 10 ml Onion: ½ of an onion, choppedCauliflower florets (small sized): 15 gmBarley: 90gm Vegetable stock: 500 ml. Salt to taste Grated Parmesan cheeseFat: only a pinch if required for finishing METHOD:
Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté the onions until soft. Add the barley and sauté them for 5 minutes until lightly toasted.Add 100 ml stock and seasoning. Add the rest of the stock. Bring it to boil and cook the barley over a low flame and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding the stock as and when needed.When the barley is almost done, add the cauliflower. When the cauliflower is cooked, spoon the cheese on it and serve.
COOKING FOR
THE SOUL
The book, Lord Krishna’s
Cuisine: The Art of Indian
Vegetarian Cooking, written by
the late Yamuna Devi features
more than 500 recipes, filled
with fresh produce and herbs,
delicate spices, hot curries, and
homemade dairy products. A
Western convert to the Hare
Krishna movement (ISKCON),
Yamuna Devi’s (formerly known
as Joan Campanella) award-
winning book has recipes
based on readily available
ingredients and have been
scrupulously adapted for the
American kitchens. The recipes
are enlivened by the author’s
anecdotes and personal
reminiscences of her years
in India, including stories of
gathering recipes from royal
families and temple cooks,
which had been jealously
guarded for centuries. Devi’s
vegetarian cuisine book unlocks
the mysteries of the most
healthy recipes of the world.
RECIPE
BELOW: Stir fried vegetables retain their nutrients
(Courtesy: The Leela Kovalam Culinary collection)
— Dr Jyotsna Changrani,
Director, Healthcare Services
35
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
34
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
GOURMET
BELOW: Mediterranean lentil salad, Metawellness
PROVENCAL
VEGETABLES WITH
COUS COUSINGREDIENTS:
Cous Cous: 30 gmAssorted bell peppers, chopped: 5 gmParsley, chopped: 5 gmExtra Virgin Olive oil: 5 mlLemon juice: 5 mlChopped garlic: 10 gmDiced zucchini: 30 gmDiced aubergine: 30 gmDiced peppers: 30 gmDiced onions: 30 gmBasil: few sprigsThyme: few sprigsWhite wine: 20 mlPlum tomatoes: 25 g METHOD:
Soak the cous cous in warm water and leave it to fluff. When the cous cous is done, add the chopped red peppers and parsley, lemon juice, seasoning and extra virgin olive oil, if required.Sauté garlic in a pan, add thyme and onions, sweat them until they soften.Add tomatoes and salt. Add rest of the vegetables one by one. Saute them for a while and deglaze with white wine. Add stock to cook the vegetables. When the vegetables are cooked, add the tomato sauce. Check the seasoning and finish it with some low fat butter and basil. Serve Provencal Vegetables with warmcous cous.
GRAIN OF TRUTH
Barley: It contains dietary fibre,
Vitamin B6, Thiamin and Niacin.
Barley helps in keeping the colon
and intestine healthy, prevents
gallstones, diabetes, heart
diseases, osteoporosis, supports
the immune system and
preserves the skin’s elasticity.
Bajra or pearl millet: It is a
gluten-free grain, which contains
protein, iron and zinc. It is rich in
fibre content and hence good for
those suffering from diabetes. It
keeps the glucose levels normal.
It also gives a feeling of fullness
for a prolonged period and this
controls the hunger and likewise,
makes you eat less and helps in
weight loss.
Nachni or Ragi (finger millet):
It contains protein, calcium
and magnesium. It contributes
towards bone health, lowers
blood sugar levels and also
helps fight anxiety, insomnia
and depression.
Oat: It contains thiamin, folic
acid, zinc and copper. It lowers
the blood cholesterol levels.
want a more detailed breakdown of the food’s
content, from sodium to carbohydrates.
Nowadays, several hotel chains have a wellness
menu included as part of their spa experience.
Here, traditional cooking techniques are combined
with modern gastronomy to create a satisfyingly
light and delectably healthy meal. Organically
grown fruits, veggies and herbs, free range
poultry and ocean-fresh fish are part of the menu.
Cooking times are kept at a minimum to avoid the
loss of vital nutrients, and cooking methods are
specifically chosen to reduce the need for fat —
grilling, broiling, roasting, steaming and poaching.
With wellness tourism gaining prominence,
wellness resorts are going all out to offer a range of
organic and nutritious fare. Some even mention the
nutritional value of the dish, including the calories.
The good news is that the concept of wellness
cuisine has evolved from a menu consisting of
largely bland steamed vegetables and low fat
cottage cheese to a much varied and exotic fare.
Modern spa cuisine is all about nutritious food
that is good for you and rich in flavour and taste.
Some hotels have introduced a wellness menu
consisting of a well-balanced cuisine that is free
of trans fat, low in saturated fat, cholesterol and
sodium, and rich in lean protein, whole grains
and dietary fibre. Light yet flavoursome, these
wholesome recipes are all created under the
watchful eye of a nutrition advisor and a registered
dietician, who conducts a nutritional analysis of all
the new dishes before they’re put on the menu.
On the home front
In India, too, the traditional food eating habits like
Detox diet, Ayurvedic diet and Sattvik diet, which
lead to a clarity and equanimity of the mind and
body, are drawing converts. So, mildly spiced
food comprising cereals, whole grains, legumes,
vegetables, herbs and fresh, unsalted nuts are now
being adopted as part of the daily diet.
In fact, the wellness trend has sparked off a
whole new area of business of organic stores and
delis serving low fat cheese, lean meat, whole grain
bread and healthier delicacies.
In Mumbai, for instance, it is common to see
both high-end stores and retail foodmarts stocking
its shelves with organic spices, low fat cheese, curd,
milk, extra virgin olive oil, roasted nachni chips,
oats biscuit, oats muesli, brown rice khichdi and
roasted chiwda (flat rice), among others.
The new-found urge to lead a healthier and
fuller life is finding its way into several aspects of
our lifestyle, including food. it’s time we make the
right dietary choice towards a healthy lifestyle.
RECIPE With wellness
tourism gaining
prominence,
wellness resorts
are going all out
to offer a range
of organic and
nutritious fare
The wellness trend has sparked off a whole new
area of business of organic stores and delis
serving low fat cheese and healthier delicacies
Wheat pasta with sautéed seasonal vegetables and mushroom walnut pesto, Le Cirque
RO
HIT
CH
AW
LA
37
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
36
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
HERITAGE
The revitalised Dr Bhau Daji Lad musuem reinvents itself by juxtaposing avant-garde art exhibitions with its rich repository of cultural artefacts and antiques
A Renaissance architectural gem and one
of the oldest city museum in India, the Dr.
Bhau Daji Lad museum houses the cultural
and historic icons and collections that reveal how
Mumbai evolved into the megacity it is today.
Restored to pristine glory by a group of
architects and restorers led by art historian, writer,
curator and cultural activist Tasneem Zakaria
Mehta, the museum today connects the city’s
historic past to its present through exhibitions,
shows, workshops and more.
The museum has hosted cutting-edge art by
several well-known artists such as installation
artists Sudarshan Shetty and Sheba Chhachhi,
internationally acclaimed Jitesh Kallat, and
Alibaug-based surrealist Nikhil Chopra.
“Museums in India are viewed as graveyards, as
relics of history that are of little consequence to the
daily life of citizens. Our objective is to change this
mindset and encourage an active engagement with
the community through contemporary expressions
in different cultural media,” says Mehta, its
managing trustee and honorary director.
Mehta’s pioneering effort has opened the grand
old colonial edifice to vast possibilities in terms of
the utilisation of its space and appeal. You cannot
but wonder at the juxtaposition of a Sudarshan
Shetty sculpture or a Nikhil Chopra performance
and exhibition against the objet d’art and dioramas
of the 19th century.
In the exhibition titled, This Too Shall Pass,
Shetty’s larger-than-life sculptures were seen
questioning the role of a museum and its status as
the ultimate arbiter of truth and taste. So, a trashed
car sculpture near the entrance of the gallery took
on a new life through manipulation of material and
its recontextualisation in the museum. Instead
of symbolising horror, the material seduced the
viewer with its texture and colour. A lot of Shetty’s
sculptural works displayed at the exhibition
explored the museum and its history with
“remarkable acuity” and drew the layman as well
as the art enthusiasts alike.
“This interface between the past and the
present enables the museum to find a dynamic
identity for itself and make itself relevant,” says
Mehta. Giving credence to her views are the
various exhibitions held within the premises of the
museum in the last couple of years, that have seen
visitors queuing up at the museum.
Jitish Kallat’s exhibition, Fieldnotes: tomorrow
was here yesterday, ran for five months and was
structured as an open laboratory in which the artist
could intervene when he chose. Part of the show
included a 120-part sculpture simulated to look
like a bamboo scaffolding that connotes building
repair work in Mumbai. It recalled the museum’s
restoration as well as that of the city.
The Artful Pose, an exhibition of early 19th
century studio photography, held in collaboration
with the Alkazi Foundation for the Arts, New Delhi,
explored the interface between photography
and art.
Even international exhibitions like Something
That I’ll Never Really See, a contemporary
photography exhibition from the Victoria &
Albert Museum, London’s permanent collection
or A Century of Olympic Posters, on interesting
Olympic posters over the last 100 years, offered
visitors an opportunity to view global contemporary
art work.
BY SUJATA DUGAR
FACING PAGE: The beautifully restored Art
Deco interiors of the Dr Bhau Daji Lad museum
ABOVE: The Kamalnayan Bajaj Mumbai Gallery
houses objects that showcase life in 19th and
early 20th century;
BELOW: A finely carved ivory statue of Radha
and Krishna (late 19th to early 20th c)
A visualA visual
Renaissance Renaissance
39
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
38
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
HERITAGE
ABOVE: L N Tallur’s work, Anger Therapy
Machine; A koli couple from the museum’s
Community of Mumbai collection
ABOVE: Installation from Sudarshan
Shetty’s show This Too Shall Pass;
A Parsi couple from the Museum’s
‘Communities of Mumbai’ collection
The collection includes
the fine and decorative
arts that showcase
the importance of
craftsmanship practiced
by various communities
of Bombay
New wave
Such avante-garde shows have revived a museum
that was virtually moribund less than a decade
ago. Founded in 1872, the erstwhile Victoria &
Albert Museum. Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum was
actively engaged in promoting the contemporary
arts of the day. And Mehta, is doing just that, by
connecting the museum with the contemporary
art and culture of today.
A testimony to its growing popularity is the
thousands of visitors who flock to it everyday.
As part of its agenda to promote the museum
as an innovative art space, Mehta has collaborated
with the Italian fashion powerhouse Ermenegildo
Zegna’s ZegnArt, a community initiative of the
group. Through this initiative, Zegna plans to be
in the forefront of contemporary visual arts in
scattered pockets all over the world. The museum
will explore the art scene and present an offer for
Zega’s first public commission in India.
Drawing in the crowds
The museum enjoyed a close relationship with the
Sir J.J. School of Art and several of its early objects
have been crafted by the students of the school. In
fact, during the 19th and 20th century, the position
of the curator of the museum and the principal of
the Sir J.J. School of Art were held by the same
person.
The museum has revived this link by initiating
the residency programme. It invites eminent artists
who have studied at the Sir J.J. School of Art to
look at the legacy which shaped the city’s modern
art movement. Exhibitions by the likes of Shetty
and Kallat, a part of this programme, help artists to
engage with and respond to the museum’s history.
The museum has an extensive outreach
programme that encompasses workshops, special
seminars and lectures for children, to draw them
to the museum. These engage the kids in a learning
adventure by exploring topics like heritage, history
and culture of Mumbai using interactive techniques
revolving around the museum’s collection. It has
also conducted workshops on pottery, silverware,
miniature paintings and the communities of
Mumbai.
Mehta cites the example of the Museum of
Modern Art (MoMA), New York, which holds yoga
classes and drama within its premises to attract
people to their precinct.
While its proximity to the zoo does attract
a fair share of the crowd, the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad
Museum plans to host art events, poetry reading
sessions and even book launches to engage with
the community at large.
Since January 2012, the museum has started
a one year diploma course in modern and
contemporary Indian history for art enthusiasts.
It has also made its presence on Facebook.
Future plans include setting up a café, a new
exhibition space and a project space for artists.
“Our pro-active approach has drawn a lot of
international attention and we now get requests
from foreign students who desire to work here,”
she informs.
The beginning
The idea of setting up a museum in Mumbai was
mooted in 1850, when preparations were for the
first mooted in 1850, when preparations were
underway for the Great Exhibition of the Works
of Industry of all Nations, to be held in London’s
Crystal Palace in 1851. Prince Albert, the consort
of Queen Victoria, wanted to present to the world
the industrial arts and crafts of Britain’s colonies
and thereby stimulate trade for these products.
Duplicates of India’s beautiful arts and crafts
that were sent to the Great Exhibition from the
Bombay Presidency formed the nucleus of the new
museum’s collection. It was opened to the public
in 1857 to much interest and curiosity.
The museum building came up at its present
site in 1872, and was then known as the Victoria
& Albert Museum, Bombay. In 1975, the Museum
was renamed the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum in
honour of the man whose vision and dedication
ensured its establishment. Its collection includes
the fine and decorative arts that showcase the
importance of craftsmanship practiced by various
communities of the Bombay Presidency. It also
has an extraordinary collection of clay models and
dioramas that document the life of the people of
Mumbai and the history of the city in the 19th and
early 20th centuries.
Restoration
Lying in a derelict condition for years, it was not
until 2003 that a major five year restoration and
revitalisation project salvaged the museum.
In 2003, a tripartite signed by the Municipal
Corporation of Greater Mumbai, the Jamnalal Bajaj
Foundation and INTACH saw the first-of-its-kind
public-private partnership to restore this ancient
museum at Byculla.
The building and objects were in total disrepair.
The original colours and details had been effaced
41
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
40
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
HERITAGE
and the delicate stucco and stencil work was
damaged. Poor lighting and lack of labels made the
visitor’s feel at a loss.
After five years, the museum was finally
restored to its former glory. Standing elegant in
its celadon green painted exterior, a colour widely
seen in the 19th century European buildings, it
has Minton tile floors paving the way, stucco and
stencil works embellishing its walls and 23.5 carat
gold gilding adding a certain grandeur to the
monument. The wooden display cases have been
polished, repaired and retro-fitted with state-of-
the-art lighting and display systems. The entire
collection has been researched, archived and
labelled for the visitor’s ease.
The absolutely marvellous restoration work
done by INTACH (Mehta is its convenor-Mumbai
chapter), has won the museum the UNESCO’s Asia
Pacific Heritage Conservation Award of Excellence
2005, the highest international award in the field
of cultural conservation. It beat the Beijing Palace
for this award.
The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum
finally re-opened to the public in January 2008. Its
various galleries such as the Industrial Arts Gallery,
the Origins of Mumbai Gallery and the Kamalnayan
Bajaj Mumbai Gallery are reminders of the city’s
past. While the first houses a fine collection of
19th century paintings and pottery from Mumbai;
the second showcases the city’s evolution from a
group of seven islands into a metropolitan city. The
third gallery showcases the expansion of the city in
the 19th and 20th century through dioramas and
clay models.
ABOVE LEFT-RIGHT: Mistry ke haath,
an installation by Sheba Chhachhi; an
installation from Sudarshan Shetty’s
exhibition, This too shall pass
ADDRESS:
Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum
91 A, Rani Baug, Veer Mata Jijabai Bhonsle Udyan, CONTACT: +91 22 2373 1234Visiting hours: 10am o 5:30pm (except Wednesday and certain public holidays)
“The interface
between the
past and
the present
enables the
museum to
find a dynamic
identity for
itself and
make itself
relevant”
— Tasneem Zakaria Mehta
Preview of Tibetan and Chinese carpets from the private collection of
Mr. Sheel Chandra
The Carpet Cellar1, Anand Lok, Khel Gaon Marg, Siri Fort Road, New Delhi - 110049.
Tel.: +91 11 41641777 / 41741012
(Herbal Washing & Restoration also undertaken)
43
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
42
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
VIEW FINDER
The southwest monsoons have just rolled over the hills and the deep valleys carpeted with the brilliant green of the forests in the unexplored Chorla Ghats, which border three states — Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra — but belong to none. The many moods of this achingly beautiful season, when clouds that seem ready to burst shadow your every step, the light is mellow, and the colours look intense, are best reflected in photographs than in words
PHOTOGRAPHS: NIRMAL U KULKARNI
Sunset in the dense forests of Chorla Ghats
one monsoon evening. The vantage point offers
a sweeping view of Goa with the shimmering
Arabian Sea somewhere far on the horizon
Western Ghat’s The
best kept secret
45
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
44
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
VIEW FINDER
ABOVE: Tiny raindrops on the orb web of a spider
BELOW: Terraced farming dates back thousands of
years and is still practised in the backcountry
INSET: Goa is a paradise if you want to go ‘butterfly
watching’ in the monsoons
ABOVE: Dark monsoonal clouds gather
over the Ghats in the Goan Sahyadris, a
catchment area for the Mandovi river
BELOW: A close-up of water droplets on a
thatched roof of a Goan home
INSET: A land snail species, which has been
photographed but not identified
47
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
46
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
TRAVEL
Incredible
A BBC TV journalist roughs it out on a road trip to northern India only to come home to the luxurious
confines of The Leela Palace New Delhi.
The sacred river Ganga is a riot of
colours and rituals and it can be seen
at its best during the evening aarti
held along its banks at Haridwar
I find myself alone in the urban metropolis of Delhi on my first trip
to northern India. Friends have left, after our exasperating three
week budget tour, and a friend is en route for the coming three
weeks of palace hotels, pampering and ultra-luxury.
The thought of being alone in this urban cluster is slightly terrifying.
Yet inside, I feel child-like butterflies of liberation.
I’ve thus ensconced myself within the luxurious confines of the
suite at The Leela Palace New Delhi to rest up after the exhausting
Himalayan and Punjab adventures. With cool gadgets like a TV iPod
control, butler service and mirror TVs built into bathtubs, I don’t feel
the need to leave.
Heading to breakfast, my tastebuds throw a party at the sight of
a lavish spread. My breakfast order is specific and I am hoping that
they get it right. While I’m waiting, I observe people around me. After
all, watching people is my favourite pastime. A lady glides past like
royalty, her coiffed curls perfectly accented by a shimmering green
saree and gold heels which sparkle as she sashays down to a table.
I’m shaken out of my thoughts by a handsome man in a suit.
Seeing me staring into thin air, the restaurant manager asks if I need
a newspaper. It’s refreshing to converse with a charismatic and
courteous man. In fact, The Leela is a girl’s fantasy. Generous doses
of handsome men are peppered throughout the ranks. It certainly
makes a girl smile when she happens to be flying solo.
My food arrives as per my specification, leaving me delighted with
The Leela’s ease of service.
I start my journey to northern India on an upbeat note.
Heavenly Haridwar
The drive to Haridwar is an eye-opener. I lose myself watching locals
in rural villages running basic human errands to survive. Immersed
in a sea of colour and steeped in new smells, I’m willingly taking on
new experiences. My attention flits to a sudden smattering of glitter.
Four college girls emerge through the red village earth, like Bollywood
heroines, adorned in a hue of red and pink silks, mirror-work glistening
in the sunlight. They’re laughing and chatting with gay abandon.
Further along, farmers are riding bullock carts loaded with
vegetables to sell at the market place. Stopping midway for some
freshly brewed masala chai at a roadside tea stall, I see a labourer
walk by; withered body and skin creased like a walnut shell. I smile
gently. He smiles back and his face sparks up like lightning exuding a
flash of joy; a smile that speaks straight to my soul. Thus begins the
unique kind of life education so synonymous with travelling.
Haridwar, the gateway to the gods, is a religious retreat, teeming
with saffron-robed saints rolling their prayer beads and muttering
chants. Haridwar’s raison d’être is the mystical Ganga aarti, the
IndiaBY ANISHA SHAH
48
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
evening ritual of worshipping the divine river. As darkness descends,
thousands gather along its bank. Frenzied chanting begins, enforced
by the temple bells; the air thick, redolent with incense; flickers
of candles lighting up the river. Robed priests line the water’s
edge, hands engulfed in raging flames from the burning oil lamps,
revering the river. In the midst of the mayhem, I try to step outside
myself to absorb the awesomeness of this powerful ritual. Once the
impassioned crowd dwindles, I float the candle with a wish. Watching
it drift along the river, teardrops trickle down my cheek and I’m
overcome with emotion.
Serene Shimla
The coming days take us high up the Himalayas to Shimla, via a brief
break in peaceful Mussoorie. At a whopping 8,000ft altitude, it’s a
10-hour drive meandering through rocky ranges. We leave on the day
of Holi, the festival of colours, held during the spring season. Groups
of kids stop the traffic on these rural roads, demanding money. The
forfeit? Get doused. I resist no longer and leap out to soak a group
of stunned boys with their own colours. Our driver is a little amused
as I return to the car dripping in colours and beaming with an aura of
self-satisfaction.
Shimla’s candy-floss coloured homes are stacked above each
other with drastic drops; people live on the edge of cliff-tops.
Universities attract smart liberated girls, who freely ride scooters to
the campus, relishing freedom found with education.
For a heady feeling, I trek up the Jakhoo Hill, home to a towering
33-foot statue of Lord Hanuman, affectionately known as the Monkey
God. Amazingly, the place is full of red-bottomed (vicious) wild
monkeys. I watch in glee and terror as one manoeuvres the trouser
leg of a tourist, frisks each pocket and swipes his camera. It’s believed
that Lord Hanuman blesses Shimla, akin to Rio’s Christ the Redeemer.
Don’t miss the Tara Devi temple. This 250-years-old temple
hovers atop a mountain, encircled by majestic undulating hills as far
as the eyes can see. To reach, remain determined. The hair-raising
road up tests the mettle of the car driver. However, the stillness and
ethereal beauty of the place makes for an awe-inspiring experience,
comparable to Peru’s Machu Picchu.
My next stop is Manali, an interesting summer retreat, offering
acres of snow ski slopes. The biggest surprise is to see young Indian
couples relishing outdoor activities.
Little Lhasa
My final Himachal destination is Dharamshala, home to His Holiness
the Dalai Lama. It is a place that oozes tranquillity just like its most
famous resident. Tibetans take to the city’s streets in a moving weekly
march as tourists join in, raising flags and lighting candles symbolising
hope for their fellow countrymen. Their mission courts controversy
TOP LEFT: The Leela Palace New Delhi combines the best of Indian hospitality and luxury
TOP RIGHT: A temple on Hatu Peak near Shimla
LEFT: Devotees float oil lamps into the Ganga during the evening prayer
TRAVEL
51
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
50
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
TRAVEL
but the peaceful surrounding seems to pacify the anger and translate
it into one of prayer and belief.
Amazing Amritsar
The fairy tale Golden Temple is magical, lit up, seemingly hovering
on a lake with glorious reflections. An open-air piazza provides bed-
space for pilgrims. It’s a flash mob sleepover; an interlocked lattice
of thousand sleeping bags. Further in, I happen to chance upon
a sprawling food tent run by volunteers feeding those in need; an
inspiring display of human empathy.
On top of Delhi
Returning to Delhi feels like a home-coming of sorts. As I wave
friends goodbye, a white X5 whisks me to The Leela Palace New
Delhi. This is a game-changer. Sinking back into the luxurious
leather sofa, I feel at home. This is my entrée to yet another
three weeks of uber luxury palace hotels across Rajasthan, Agra,
Varanasi and Mumbai.
The Leela Palace New Delhi’s most impressive asset is its
open-air rooftop pool. As the sun descends, Delhi’s government
homes are cast in radiating golden and Jaipur-pink shades. Whilst
St. Tropez beach music echoes, I’m reminded it’s Delhi: a constant
backdrop of horns, layer of smog and that lingering smell. These
elements keep your feet firmly imprinted in the Delhi soil, despite
towering above on the 11th floor. As sunlight wanes off, the city’s
bright lights switch on. Soaking it up with a night swim, overseeing
the city shrouded in a hazy fog, this panoramic viewpoint is the most
chic spot in town.
TOP: The Golden Temple in Amritsar is the spiritual centre of the Sikhs
LEFT: The stunning, open-air rooftop pool at The Leela Palace New Delhi
offers a breathtaking view of the capital
Anisha Shah is a British BBC TV news reporter and world-traveller. Lately, she’s been documenting her escapades in a wide range of publications across continents. As a natural journalist, she specialises in unearthing lesser-known intricacies of life, culture and history from emerging destinations. What sets her apart is an innate interest in conflict zones or uber-luxury retreats off most tourist radars. Her genuine empathy with
fellow beings, natural curiosity and willingness to new experiences prove her as the ‘journalist to watch’. Follow her adventures and see the world through her eyes at ani-shah.com.
53
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
52
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
SPA TALK
The ESPA Signature Ceremonies are provided
in stunning Rajasthan-inspired tents
Majestic palaces, brimming lakes and princely tales define Udaipur, the historic city in Rajasthan.
Hailed as the City of Lakes, Udaipur has an enriching past, tales of valour and has also been the
setting for many famous films, including the James Bond Hollywood movie, Octopussy. Overlooking the
beautiful Lake Pichola lies The Leela Palace Udaipur. Its lavish architecture and resonating opulence forms
the perfect backdrop for some private moments with yourself and luxury.
The award-winning ESPA at The Leela Palace Udaipur is the place to go to for some luxurious pampering
that befits its royal surrounding.
The ESPA Signature Ceremonies is one such unique treatment, which combines the therapies of the
East and the West and provides them in stunning Rajasthan-inspired tents with crystal chandeliers,
swathes of rich fabric, outdoor pools and a seating place to enjoy a cup of aromatic tea. Each ceremony
begins with a welcoming foot cleansing ritual with exfoliating Rosehip seeds and essential oils of ginger,
clove and lime, to prepare the body and mind for the experience that follows.
Royalpampering The Royal Princess of Rajasthan ceremony is a four-hour-long therapy that includes a salt oil scrub,
aromatherapy massage, facial with firming eye treatment hair conditioning and scalp treatment.
There is also a Royal Knights of Rajasthan ceremony for men, which includes a facial, shoulder and
scalp massage, aromatherapy massage and Padabhyanga.
The ESPA Signature Ayurvedic Treatments, which infuses Ayurvedic healing discipline with Western
practices, range from Brahmi Abhyanga, Bhringaraj Abhyang to the ESPA Holistic Hot Stone Treatments.
With pamperings galore, you’re sure to feel like the royalty of Udaipur.
For details, visit: theleela.com
55
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
54
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
SPA TALK
Sun, sand and susegad (quiet, relaxed) Goa beckons one and all.
Its unhindered beaches, delicious Goan fish curry or the chilled
out attitude of this coastal state that draws you here, is sure to make
you come back asking for more.
Tapping the beauty and calm environs to provide complete
relaxation of the body, mind and soul is The Leela Goa. The resort’s
spa, located just off the pristine beach, offers an extensive selection
of holistic and Ayurvedic spa treatments and packages that helps the
guest unwind and rejuvenate completely.
A new wellness offering includes a self exploration walk in the
morning, followed by a glass of fresh local and seasonal vegetable and
fruit juice, and a yoga session at the Honeymoon Island. The evening
session begins with meditation, followed by a Sunset Reflection
Walk, where a silent reflection group walks along the Mobor Beach,
followed by a one-on-one walk, where the guest reflects upon his/
her well-being and interacts with the wellness consultant.
If this sounds relaxing, wait till you avail its 3 to 5 days treatment
package (till October) and indulge in some Ayurvedic therapies that
are a natural way to eliminate the toxin imbalances from the body and
regain good health.
After a personalised health consultation with the in-house
Ayurvedic health specialist, you can choose from the many therapies
on offer, depending on the kind of problem you want to attend to.
So, you can choose from the Abhyanga (one therapist) massage
to the Shirodhara warm oil massage, to relieve the body from stress.
Holistic treatments like Aromatherapy, Swedish Massage, Hot Stone
Massage, along with body polishes and scrubs like the Sea Mineral
Scrub or the Ancient Indian Scrub.
Guests can also enjoy the benefits of yoga, meditation and Reiki
as well as the facilities of a state-of-the-art gymnasium.
The spa offers bespoke wellness retreat treatment packages for
3-5 days. For details, visit: theleela.com
SusegadGoa
57
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
56
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
SNAPSHOT JET SET GO
Guess the Leela property in this photograph and win a luxurious monogrammed bathrobe from The Leela.
Send in your entry along with your contact details to [email protected]. All entries must be sent before September 10, 2012.
A lucky draw from all the correct entries will declare the winner.
Previous contest’s winner is:
Meenakshi
Radhakrishnan-SwamiD 1702, Lloyds Estate, Vidyalankar College Road,Wadala East, Mumbai 400 037
Hoda (Hasanpour) Rooholamini
Professor of Art,
Designer
The Leela Palace
New Delhi
“The Leela hotels
have the most
beautiful décor, superb service and
unmatched staff.”
Yuvraj SinghCricketer
The Leela Goa
“Thank You.”
Daizo ItoPresident,
Panasonic India
The Leela
Kempinski Gurgaon
“Thanks for all sorts of favours you
did when I shifted
to The Leela. You
always think of providing the best.”
Beena KakUnion minister of
Woman and Child
Development, Tourism, Art & Culture,
Archeology, Printing and
Stationery
The Leela Palace
Udaipur
“Just loved our stay here. Kunal, our
personal butler,
was fantastic.”
Jack CanfieldMotivational speaker,
author
The Leela Palace
Bangalore
“I feel like a maharaja staying at
The Royal Club.”
Sree Padmanabha
Dasa Marthanda Varma
Maharaja of Travancore
The Leela Mumbai
“The ancient Indian
concept of Athiti Devo Bhava makes
itself seen in every
aspect and every individual here.”
GUEST SPEAKWas the recent trip to India your first visit to the country?
Yes, it was my first trip to India. I had been planning to visit India for
quite some time but couldn’t make it earlier.
How would you describe India in a few words?
I would describe India as a country of contrasts. On one hand, I
was moved by the beauty of the cities, its people and the energy of
colours; on the other, I was, like many, disturbed by the misery and
the sight of slums. But, the memories I have taken back from India are
of its love for beauty, art and culture.
During your recent visit to India, you stayed at The Leela
Palace New Delhi. How was the experience at the hotel?
The Leela Palace New Delhi offers one of the highest standards of
service and can be compared to any top hotel across the world. You
can believe me on this, as I spend quite a long time in hotels. I was
particularly impressed with the quality of service, and the kindness,
empathy, discretion and rapid execution I encountered. A special
mention should be made about the restaurants at the hotel. Each one
is outstanding in terms of décor and the variety of food.
What is the most distinctive element at The Leela Palace
New Delhi?
It is certainly its hospitality and the staff, who go all out to please their
guests and make the stay a memorable one.
The Leela and Guerlain are two iconic brands in their own
right. Do you see a common link between the two brands in
terms of the values they signify?
Guerlain is an iconic, 184-year-old French perfume house, which has
always had quality, beauty and service as its core values. I felt the
same approach at the The Leela Palace New Delhi.
Laurent BoillotPresident and CEO, Guerlain
Royal Club Lounge, The Leela Palace New Delhi
59
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
SLUG HERE
58
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
LAUNCH PAD
New York’s leading luxury salon brand, Warren Tricomi Salons, is all
set to make its foray in India at The Leela hotels. The Leela Group
has roped in the American salon brand to spruce its salons across all
its properties. Hailed as the ultimate experience in luxury salons in
the US, Warren Tricomi will now redefine the
salon industry in India with its cutting-edge
style and sense of high fashion.
Boasting of a client list that includes
the likes of Scarlett Johansson and Kate
Beckinsale, among several other Hollywood
A-Listers, socialites and business leaders,
Warren Tricomi will begin its India operations
from The Leela Mumbai, followed by the other
properties in the consequent months.
Legendary stylist Edward Tricomi and celebrity colourist Joel
Warren joined hands over 20 years ago to bring to life the glamorous
Warren Tricomi Salons in 1990. It is known for its hair styling and beauty
care. They are an unrivalled duo whose shared expertise defines hair
trends season after season.
With a 6,100 sq.ft. flagship salon at the
legendary Plaza Hotel in New York, Warren
Tricomi has five salons across the USA.
Here, in India, it will offer international
styles and techniques, unique to the legendary
salon and will also provide an unparalleled
choice of products including Kerastase for
hair, Clarins and Estee Lauder for skin, M.A.C
for make-up and OPI for nails.
Overlooking the Bay of
Bengal is the spectacular
The Leela Palace Chennai. Built
on six acres of land, the hotel
is Chennai’s first waterfront
hotel. The 326-room, 11 storied
property boasts of a design that
is reminiscent of the Chettinad
Palace style of architecture.
The rich and historic design
influence imbues the property
with a deep sense of the
destination. Its guest rooms,
suites and restaurants offer
magnificent views of the Bay.
Like other palace hotels of
The Leela Group, The Leela
Palace Chennai, too, features
a rare collection of Indian
art, both contemporary and
artisanal. It also offers a host
of dining options, bars and
The Royal Club, a hotel within
a hotel providing highly-
personalised business and
leisure services.
Chennai’s luxe address
Cutting-edge style
60
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
PROMOTION
How to gift a memory ?
Simply gift an ‘experience’ Let experiences create memories
Gift a ‘Leela Gift Voucher’
Experience life as a maharaja in Udaipur; take a leisurely
backwater cruise on the Ashtamudi lake at Kovalam or simply,
build your appetite over a round of golf at the 12 hole, 3 par
course in Goa, and then head out to Mum’s Kitchen to experience a
traditional home-cooked meal at one of Goa’s oldest kitchens.
Enjoy all these offbeat local experiences in India as part of an
innovative loyalty programme being offered by The Leela Palaces,
Hotels and Resorts through its partnership with the Global Hotel
Alliance (GHA).
Moving away from the existing model of reward points, The Leela
Palaces, Hotels and Resorts will focus on experience-based rewards
by creating ‘amazing local experiences, wherever you travel’.
Based on the airline alliance model, GHA is the world’s largest
alliance of independent hotel brands. Its GHA Discovery Programme
unites all its 12 independent luxury hotel brands and nearly 300
hotels globally, turning a business trip or a weekend getaway for a
guest into a one-of-a-kind adventure.
“The partnership gives us the opportunity to allow travellers
to explore behind the scenes and beneath the surface, while
experiencing unique activities in authentic local settings, by repetitive
stays at seven Leela hotels or across 48 countries at 300 hotels in
India”, said Mr. Sanjoy Pasricha, Vice President (Sales and Marketing),
The Leela Palaces, Hotel and Resorts.
Local experiences vary according to the membership level —
the higher the membership level, the more exclusive the reward.
While a Gold Level membership (beginning from enrollment to nine
nights) at The Leela entitles you to a leisurely backwater cruise on
the Ashtamudi, a Black Level membership (30 or more nights) at
The Leela takes you to Udaipur with a full day tour of the city in your
own vintage car and a private meal at the City Palace.
Go local, stay globalExplore the beauty of a city and experience its local charmthrough The Leela’s GHA Discovery programme.
63
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
62
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
ACCOLADES
The Leela Palace New Delhi
The Leela Palace New Delhi is the first hotel within The Leela group to earn
the prestigious LEED Platinum (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) certification for excellence in sustainable design and for integrating
world-class green practices. It was awarded by the Indian Green Building
Council (IGBC), which is licensed by the internationally renowned U.S. Green
Building Council.
It received this internationally recognised mark of excellence for being a
stellar carbon-reducing hotel and for setting green standards in all key areas:
furnishing each room with ozone-friendly, CFC-free refrigerators and air
conditioners to reduce the greenhouse effect, reducing water consumption
by more than 40 per cent by selecting ‘green’ plumbing, mechanical and
lighting systems designed to conserve water and energy, installing a state-
of-the-art rainwater harvesting plant and using treated waste water for
irrigating its gardens and lawns, among several others.
“We are extremely proud that The Leela’s enduring commitment to
protecting our environment has resulted in the stringent LEED certification at
the silver level. It recognises The Leela’s proactive efforts since its inception,
to build and operate efficient, green hotels that contribute towards
environmental protection and offer important benefits, including a healthier
and safer environment for our guests and employees,” said Captain C. P.
Krishnan Nair, Chairman, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts.
Conde Nast Traveler,
USA, has named
The Leela Palace New
Delhi amongst the 121
Best New Hotels in the
World, and the ESPA
at The Leela Palace
New Delhi amongst
the 35 Sybaritic Spas in
their 16th annual Hot
List, May 2012.
The Leela Palace New Delhi
has been named amongst
the ‘finest hotels’ around
the world in the luxury-
hospitality industry by
Robb Report, USA. The
annual flagship edition,
“Best of the Best” Hotels
2012, conferred the honour
to The Leela Palace New
Delhi for its exceptional
features and excellence
in service.
Food and Night Life magazine
conferred five awards to the
Food and Beverage division of
The Leela Palace New Delhi.
The ceremony held at the hotel
saw the awards being given to
Best Food Styling Chef — chef
Yutaka Saito, Best Fusion Chef
— Chef Mickey Bhoite, Best
Indian Chef — Chef Vinod Saini,
Best New Restaurant — Megu,
and Best Restaurant in the 5
Star Category — Le Cirque.
Megu, the Japanese restaurant
chain from New York, which
opened its door at The Leela
Palace New Delhi early this
year, received the coveted
International Six-Star Diamond
Award by the American
Academy of Hospitality
Sciences (AAHS). It is the
first Japanese restaurant to
receive this prestigious
award, which recognises the
exceptional experience and
the true quality offered by a
hospitality establishment.
The LeelaKempinskiGurgaonInternational Hotel Awards
2012, in association with
Bloomberg television, conferred
The Leela Kempinski Gurgaon
with several awards.
These include:
Best 5-Star Deluxe Hotel 2012 - India
Best Convention Hotel 2012 - India
Best Spa Hotel 2012 – India
Best Marketing Hotel 2012 - India
The Leela Palace Udaipur
Robb Report USA named The Leela Palace Udaipur
as one of the world’s top resorts and the most
exclusive retreat on earth, in its May 2012 issue.
And the award goes to… The Leela KovalamLonely Planet India Travel Awards
conferred the Best Resort Hotel
(India) award, May 2012, to
The Leela Kovalam.
65
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
64
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
EVENTS
As part of its corporate social responsibility, The Leela Palace Chennai
organised several activities to connect with the larger community and
be a part of their lives, even if it is in a small way. Holding a blood donation
camp and a fun outing for orphaned children were some such initiatives
undertaken by the hotel recently.
Pascal Dupuis, General Manager, The Leela Palace Chennai, along with
his team of employees, donated 185 units of blood at the blood donation
camp organised within the hotel premises. The collected blood was donated
to the poor and needy at the Adyar Cancer Institute, government hospitals
and for children affected by thalassaemia.
The hotel also tried to spread smiles and create special memories for
the 70 children of Kaakkum Karangal, (Santhome branch), a home for the old
aged, forsaken and orphaned children. They were treated to a sumptuous
lunch within The Leela Palace Chennai, entertained with a magic show and
taken on a tour of the hotel thereafter. Gift hampers consisting of school bags
filled with goodies were given to each child.
The Leela Palace Chennai initiated a drive
to beautify the area of MRC Nagar (where
the hotel is located) and raise awareness about
the environment on the occasion of the World
Environment Day. The drive, which started at
7:30am, saw nearly 400 employees of The Leela
Palace Chennai holding garbage bags and brooms
and marching their way to the city streets.
Earlier, the hotel had initiated a sapling
plantation drive in and around MRC Nagar
and has, so far, planted 1,000 saplings around
the vicinity. The activities are a part of the
Greenwave initiative.
“The Greenwave initiative has been
undertaken in alignment with our Chairman’s
vision and it gives me great pleasure to have
a dedicated team who are environmentally as
driven as the group is. Moving ahead, we would
want to go beyond MRC Nagar and initiate similar
drives to make the city of Chennai the most
beautiful, clean and green city. In future, we also
plan to dedicate our resources to clean the Marina
Beach,” said Pascal Dupuis, General Manager, The
Leela Palace Chennai.
The life and times of two legendsSweeping green
Ties that bind
Captain C.P. Krishnan Nair, Chairman, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts and Sree Padmanabha Dasa Marthanda Varma, Maharaja of Travancore, celebrated their Navathi (90) years at a
function held at The Leela Mumbai. Inaugurated by Shri K. Sankaranarayanan, Governor of Maharashtra, the guests of honour included R.K. Krishna Kumar, Director, Tata Sons, Dr. Ravi Pillai,
Chairman, Raviz Group, K. Madhavan, Vice Chairman, Asianet and M.A. Yusuf Ali, Chairman, EMKE Group
“I rarely travel out of Thiruvananthapuram
these days, so my recent trip to Mumbai to
attend the Navathi celebration and to meet
my old friend Captain Nair was a welcome
and pleasant change from the routine.
The highest standards of hospitality and
tradition that The Leela Group represents, in
its envisioning of the ancient Indian concept
of Athiti Devo Bhava, makes itself seen in every
aspect and every individual, from the welcome
at the airport to the last farewell on departure.
I continue to marvel at the magnificent
realisation of Captain Nair’s dream.”
— Sree Padmanabha Dasa Marthanda Varma,
Maharaja of Travancore
LEFT: Mr Pascal Dupuis, General Manager, The Leela Palace Chennai at the
beautification drive in MRC Nagar
ABOVE AND BELOW LEFT: The staff of The Leela Palace Chennai participated
in the cleanliness drive, along with children from an orphanage
EVENTS
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts collaborated with Meta Wellness
to conduct a cooking demonstration and class for select guests at
The Leela Palace Bangalore to showcase heart-healthy gourmet cuisine.
Meta Wellness is a New York-based company, which provides clinically-
proven solutions for heart disease prevention and reversal, and has
physician-led programmes to prevent and treat diseases caused by your
lifestyle. A significant component of these programmes is the dietary aspect.
The recipes created by The Leela and Meta Wellness reveal that healthy
food can be delightfully delicious. Aishwarya Nair, Head, Corporate Food
and Beverage and Chef Rudolf Eichele, Executive Chef, The Leela Palace
Bangalore took the ladies through the recipes, while Dr. Jyotsna Changrani,
Co-founder and Director of Meta Wellness explained the science behind the
food. Each guest was gifted a delectable array of soups, salads and desserts
along with a pedometer and recipe cards.
Meta Wellness has introduced two of its flagship programmes at the
Leela, re:verse and re:tune, which offer the clients and guests of The Leela
hotels a residential component for about 10 days at The Leela hotel.
Food for the heart
The Leela Mumbai played host to Stephen HB Twining, the tenth-
generation flag bearer of the world famous English tea company,
Twinings. At a special tea-tasting session held at the hotel recently, Twining
was joined by tea sommelier Georgina Durnford explained the nuances of
the pairing delicately flavoured tea with food. Scrumptious savouries and
desserts comprising vegetable quiche, candied fig cake and scones with
creme Chantilly topped with home-made strawberry jam, among others,
prepared by the hotel’s assistant pastry chef Rashna Elavia were served
thereafter. A Twining festival was hosted by The Leela Kempinski Gurgaon
(N.C.R.) recently.
Perfect blend
Liquid goldT
he Library Bar at The Leela Palace New Delhi received the highest accolade by Icons of
Whisky 2012 and was named the Best Whisky Bar in India at a function held at the hotel.
Attended by the capital’s crème de la crème and the who’s who of the hospitality industry, a
gold certification was presented to the bar at the event.
The Library, which boasts of a collection of 129 finest and exclusive whiskies from across
the world, earned the celebrated title after competing with over 500 premier hotels and
bars in India. It has been awarded for delivering unrivalled guest experience and offering the
most outstanding whisky collection in the country.
69
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
68
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
CONCIERGE SPEAK
Which is the best place for a guest to unwind within the confines of
The Leela Palace Udaipur?
The ESPA at the The Leela Palace Udaipur is a treat for the body and
mind. The Aroma Steam Rooms, featuring amethyst crystals
and anthracite glass tiles, are set amidst a story of
heritage and architectural beauty and offer a
calming prelude to your spa experience.
Treatments are performed in the privacy of
the spa tents. It also has a well-equipped
gym. While you’re sweating it out, your
kids can enjoy the Bocce and Croquet
games at the gym lawns.
Which are the best restaurants in
Udaipur for those keen on a romantic
dinner?
The Sheesh Mahal at The Leela Palace
Udaipur offers royal fine dining expereince under
a starlit sky. The traditional cuisine, which is given a
contemporary twist, takes fine dining to a completely different level.
The Dining Room at The Leela Palace Udaipur brings to you an
eclectic mix of cuisines from different parts of the world. Its exemplary
setting and immaculate service which befits a king, makes eating out
an affair to remember.
Ambrai is an Indian cuisine restaurant at the lake-shore level,
overlooking the Lake Palace Hotel, Lal Ghat and the City Palace.
The Jagat Niwas Palace Hotel has an elegant restaurant with
superb lake views and offers delicious Indian cuisine. A tempting bar
menu adds to the dining experience.
1559 AD, a bistro and restaurant, is named after the historical
year when Udaipur was founded by Maharana Udai Singhji. Its
95-year-old building is set amidst beautifully landscaped gardens.
Live Indian classical music performances held daily make for a
perfect evening setting.
Of Udaipur’s tourist sites, which are the must-see places and why?
Jagdish Temple: Built by Maharana Jagat Singh I, the temple is
dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It has an imposing 79 feet high pagoda and
is the city’s largest and most radiant temple.
City Palace: The palace stands on a hill on the banks
of Lake Pichola.
Crystal Gallery: Located at the Fateh Prakash
Palace and established by Maharana Sajjan
Singhji of the erstwhile Rajput kingdom, it
displays precious crystal items brought
from various parts of the world.
Vintage Car & Classic Car Museum:
Housed within the Garden Hotel, it is a
paradise for car enthusiasts. The garages
are home to around 24 vehicles, which
were once the means of transportation for
the maharajas. Vintage cars like the Cadillac,
Chevrolet and Morris are also on view.
Where would you advise guests to shop?
Jewellery: The Retail Shop, The Leela Palace Udaipur; Mewar,
The Craft Boulevard, opposite Gulab Bagh; Silver Art Palace, 135,
Saheliyon Ki Bari Road; Alankar Jewelers, near Dashora gali.
Textiles: The Retail Shop, The Leela Palace Udaipur; Krishna
Emporium, 7, Haridas ji ki Magri; Rajasthali, 26, Chetak Circle; Soma
Shop, next to Hotel Mahinder Prakash; Boheda Ki Bari, opposite
Gulab Bagh.
Antiques: Mayur Arts, 1 Moti Magri Scheme; Mewar (address given
above); Mewar Art Gallery, 10A, Saheliyon ki Bari Marg.
Marble/ Bronze/ Silver artworks: Mewar; Indian Art Décor, outside
Rang Niwas Palace Hotel, Lake Palace Road; Apollo Arts, Rani Road.
Souvenirs: Visit the Tourist Market in the old city and the Hathipol
Market. Take home folk toys, hand-printed textiles, dyed sarees,
silver jewellery, miniature paintings and Pichwai wall hangings.
Sheesh Mahal at The Leela Palace Udaipur
| What to see | Where to eat | Where to shop |
By Vinayak Trivedi
The Leela Palace Udaipur
OENOLOGY
In essence, the fundamental
principle of pairing food
and wine is balance.
Matching the elements of the
chosen food with the wine is
crucial. I have devised a list
of three predominant factors
that govern the idea of classic
pairing to further enhance your
dining experience.
The classic pairing would be
of the local cuisine with the wine
from that region. For example,
the wonderfully fragrant truffles
of Périgord undoubtedly match
the intensity of the exquisite
Barolo and Barbaresco wines,
both made from the Nebbiolo
grape variety. The same goes for
the natural ash preserved goat’s
milk cheese and fresh oysters
of the Loire valley that pair ever
so marvellously with the crisp
tartness of the Sancerre, made
from the Sauvignon Blanc grape.
Therefore, it is evident
that cuisine and wine are
genetically predisposed to find
each other in marriage due
to their ethnicity and heritage
of terroir. At our restaurant
Le Cirque at The Leela Palace
New Delhi, we recommend
pairing the Pasta Primavera
with a full-bodied Chardonnay.
It balances the flavours of the
vegetables, fresh cream with the
tart and oak-induced, rounded
mouth feel of the wine. In Indian
cuisine, we recommend the
raan (leg of lamb) or Gucchi
masala (morrels) at Jamavar,
paired with a medium tannin,
fruit forward Merlot, to balance
the spice.
Three fundamental principles
of pairing:
Always match the immensity
of the food and the density of
the wine.
Example: A rich, intensely
flavoured Chateaubriand
tenderloin will pair nicely with
a full-bodied wine such as the
Cabernet Sauvignon and the
Merlot blend from Bordeaux.
Match astringent foods with
wines that have the same
intensity of acid.
Example: Although, it is difficult
to decipher the astringent
quality of the kind of food we
eat, just pair wines of equal
calibre in tartness to what
you find sour on your palate.
A perfect matchAn essential guide to the basics of food and wine pairing
Aishwarya NairFood & wine merchandising,
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts
TOP: Sauterne and cheese pairing
LEFT: Pasta Primavera from Le Cirque,
The Leela Palace New Delhi
At Le Cirque,
we recommend
pairing the Pasta
Primavera with
a full-bodied
Chardonnay
Choose to pair tomatoes,
vinegar, citrus fruit,
tamarind and pickles with
acidic wines. This helps bring
out the zesty, fruity notes
of the wine.
Pair sweet foods, such as
dessert, with wines that are
equally sweet.
The key to the beautiful
Sauternes is its refreshing
balance of acidity that
cleanses your palate
and highlights the wine’s
luscious quality. This non-
conflicting balance of flavour
complements the cloying
sweetness of the dessert,
unlike a dry wine, which, when
paired with something sweet,
tends to heighten its acidity.
71
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
70
THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012
INSIDER’S GUIDE PERSPECTIVE
Dilip KapurFounder and President,
Hidesign
What is the best thing you like
about Pondicherry?
I like its cosmopolitan rebellion
against the big metro culture.
Also, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram,
Auroville, has attracted
numerous small artisans, artists,
craftsmen, yogis and crackpots.
Not to forget, the tolerant,
liberal culture of Pondicherry.
Which is your favourite
destination in the city?
The Sri Aurobindo Ashram
quarter in the French town.
These six-eight blocks exude
calmness and simplistic beauty
that does not shout, but speaks
softly to us Pondicherrians.
What are the options you
would recommend to travellers
seeking wellness programmes
and a place to de-stress?
The Quiet Healing Center is
Auroville’s main alternative
healthcare facility, and the best
organised one. You can also try
the numerous individual healers
and masseurs in Auroville to
rejuvenate your tired body. Visit
the Ashram and the Matrimandir
for meditation.
Can you name some must-see
destinations in Pondicherry?
The old French Quarter and
Ashram blocks for the French
influence. Do not miss the three
cathedrals. Visit the beautiful
old houses, such as Le Dupleix,
for a feel of the Mediterranean
French culture. The Indian
spirit is alive and thriving in the
old market and in the Muslim
quarter around Qazy Street.
Which are the best restaurants
to eat out in?
For breakfast, head to the
Auroville bakery and Baker
Street. You can also try Mark’s
coffee shop on the main
Auroville Street. For lunch, try
the buffet at the Promenade;
don’t miss the poolside Sunday
brunch overlooking the sea.
Also try Frite, Tanto’s and
the Visitor’s Centre cafe in
Auroville. Fine dining is best
at The Lighthouse, the rooftop
restaurant at the Promenade,
or at Le Dupleix, where you eat
sitting under a mango tree. In
Auroville, try the Wellpaper café
and the Matrimandir; they are
both fantastic.
Which are the best places to
shop for furniture, leather,
souvenirs, textiles and pottery?
The Matrimandir or Temple of the Mother is situated at the centre of the experimental
city of Auroville. Inside this central dome is a meditation hall known as the inner
chamber which contains the largest optically-perfect glass globe in the world
Pondicherry’s well-known resident Dilip Kapur is a man of many talents; a businessman, designer, hotelier,
adventure enthusiast and a teacher of International Affairs at the Auroville ashram. However, he is best known as the founder and president of Hidesign, the much sought-after handbags and leather accessories
brand, which has made its name in the global market. For Kapur, what began as a hobby of leather-
crafting, has now diversified into manufacturing affordable luxury goods as well as high-end luxury ones, for clients spread across the world. The free-spirited Kapur gives an insight into his hometown Pondicherry,
hailed as the French Riviera of the East and at only a three hours drive from The Leela Palace Chennai.
Feet up and soul high
BY SUJATA DUGAR
PONDICHERRY
FURNITURE: The East Coast Road
(ECR), on the way to Auroville.
There are wholesale dealers of
beautiful antique furniture.
LEATHER & LUXURY: The Hidesign
flagship store on the corner of
Mission and Nehru Street. It’s the
brand’s best store (out of 92),
with their museum pieces and
history spread across four floors.
ECLECTIBLES AND SOUVENIRS:
Casablanca in Pondicherry and
Auroville boutique in Auroville.
TEXTILES: The third floor of
Casablanca for local designers,
and the Auroville boutique for the
“crafty” simple garments.
POTTERY: Golden Bridge Pottery
on the 3rd floor of Casablanca.
Also, visit the Auroville boutique.
Can you recommend some
unusual destinations to travel to,
around Pondicherry?
The Canyons and The Red Earth
Riding School in Auroville, and the
Kallialay Surf Club and School on
Serenity beach.
Don’t leave Pondicherry
without…
A few hours of total quiet.
T hree decades ago,
when I was deciding
between a life in Sydney
or London, I turned to India. It
appeared to me to be a warm
midway point on the map, and I
was hopeful that it would have a
palm tree or two. The plan was
to take a quiet week to reflect on
what choice I should make, one,
which at that point of time, felt
life defining. Little did I realise,
then, that some effort would
be required to look inside; it
was far easier to be seduced
by the crowds of Mumbai and
the beaches of Goa. The week
slipped by in a haze of pleasure,
and not surprisingly, when I
emerged, I took the path of least
resistance, and remained in the
status quo.
Much later, my career took
me to New York, where I had
a big global job and business
travel became a way of life,
not providing much time to
reflect. However, thanks to a
serendipitous afternoon at the
cinema, I became a mountain
climbing junkie. At first, it
started in my armchair or more
often, a plane seat, reading a
book or two. Soon, it became
obsessive and all-consuming;
voracious; high adrenaline and
high volume: I read quite literally
hundreds of climbing books,
ranging from the best selling
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
to the classic Annapurna by
Maurice Herzog.
My first actual hike was
the Larapinta Tail in Australia’s
outback, and this was followed
with a stroll to the summit
of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and then
ensued a tumble of personal
hopes to tackle all seven
summits, the highest peak on
each continent. A journey to
base camp Everest was next, to
take a good look at the icefall.
After this, I took a serious
mountaineering course in the
Canadian Rockies. Dangling
upside down in a crevasse in the
Selkirk Mountains, I realised that
the testosterone-laden world
of ropes, knots, ice axes, and
crampons was not ever going to
be my thing.
What I had grown to love,
instead, was the slow steady
steps of a hike, simply one
foot in front of another, the
trance like state induced by the
rhythm of my boots on the trail.
Since those early trips, I have
journeyed to Ladakh in India
and to Mt. Kailash in Tibet and
just a few months ago, enjoyed
a vertical stroll to the Taktsang
Palphug Monastery in Bhutan.
My decision to move to
India resulted from one of these
long walks. It wasn’t a flash of
altitude-induced inspiration. I
think the meditative power of
the walk created a space for
a different journey, an inner
one, a creative discovery about
what a different kind of life may
look like. I don’t remember the
names of many of the peaks, nor
can I describe the vegetation in
any accurate detail. In truth, I
can barely remember the names
of my fellow hikers. But, what is
absolutely clear, is that an inner
shift had occurred somewhere in
those mountains.
Within a few months of that
trek, I had resigned from the
corporate whirl of Manhattan
and was bound for India, with
a passion to travel and write.
Hiking boots and Kolhapuri
chappals had replaced the
Manolo Blahniks and the Jimmy
Choos. The first Love Travel
Guide was published in 2007
and today, there are five titles in
the series and I am proud that
they have quite a following and
have been recognised as the flag
bearers of India guides.
Recently, whilst researching
a new edition, I caught the train
from Mysore back to Bangalore.
At the station, I jumped into an
autorickshaw to head home. My
auto driver stopped the vehicle
just a few minutes outside of
the station and disappeared.
Naturally, I was quite irritated
and eager to be on my way. I saw
that my driver was at a roadside
temple, making an offering.
In an instant, my irritation
gave way to a moment of
reflection, about faith, about
belief and about hope. We
exchanged a gentle smile upon
his return and headed into the
chaos of the streets.
Passage to IndiaFiona Caulfieldis the creator of the Love
Travel brand of guidebooks,
designed for luxury vagabonds;
the series is regarded as
the flag-bearer among India
guides. Born in Australia,
she has lived in the UK, the
USA and Canada and now
resides in Bangalore. Apart
from being an international
travel writer, Caulfield
continues her high profile
global career as a futurist and
branding consultant. A self-
confessed luxury vagabond,
she has a discerning eye for
singular experiences that set
a destination apart.
The hiking expedition to Ladakh had a spiritually uplifting effect on the author