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M a g a z i n e

The Wellness Issue

3

THE LEELA MAGAZINE – MONSOON 2012

2


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


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 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


37


Slug Here

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12


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


14


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


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INDULGE

Interesting trends to rest your tired feet and uplift your body, mind and soul.

NirvanaRoad to

17


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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

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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

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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

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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

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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


26


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


28


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


30


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


32


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


34


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


36


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


38


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


40


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)

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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

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44


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

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46


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


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

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50


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.

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52


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

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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

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56


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


SLUG HERE

58


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


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.

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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.


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.

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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.

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68


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,


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.

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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

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