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Deluxe Hotels
India has its own list of deluxe hotel chains the
standards of which compare with the best in the world.
The Oberoi, Taj, Leela and Welcomgroup are the best known in
the private sector. You will find that these hotels have luxurious amenities
and world-class décor. Tariff is generally charged on
the European system of 'room rent only'. In any 3 to
5-star hotel, expect to find any or all of the following
facilities : choice of restaurants, round-the-clock
coffee shop, conference services, a business centre, a
health club, swimming pool, beauty salon, shopping
complex, travel counter, baby-sitter, safe deposit,
currency exchange, rooms with attached baths, channel
music, cable TV and telephones with direct dial
facilities etc.. Centralised reservations may be
obtained through travel agents.
International Chains
Liberalisation and a spurt in travel has brought a large
number of international hotel chains to India. While
well-known brands such as Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Hyatt,
Inter-Continental, Meridien, Quality Inns, Best Western
and Kempinski have been in the country for a while,
recent entrants are Country hospitality with all its
brands (Regent, Radisson, Country Inns, TGIF), Marriott,
Hilton, and Park Plaza. Even the
existing brands are expanding in the country.
Heritage & Palace Hotels
India's chivalrous and romantic history finds record in
its ancient palaces where the architecture is stunning
and suggestions of an old-world luxury thrive. One may experience these intimately by
booking into a 'heritage hotel' which is a palace turned
into a hotel. Some of these have been given over to
hotel chains to run while others are run by the present
generation of the royal descendants. The concept has
been pioneered in Rajasthan, where a heritage hotel may
be found in every little principality; Madhya
Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh also have a few heritage
hotels.
Tourist Bungalows/Traveller Lodges
These offer comfortable lodging and boarding, between a
dormitory and a self-sufficient room with attached bath.
A restaurant or a dining hall with a bar is a possible
feature. Room reservations must be done in advance.
Rest House/Dak Bungalows
Introduced during the British period, they are meant for
government officials, though tourists may stay in them
under certain conditions. Located near national
highways, they are convenient for those travelling by
road. For reservations, contact district/local
authorities well in advance.
Railway Retiring Rooms
Due to their location, these are convenient for tourists
planning an early morning train departure. Rail ticket
or Indrail Pass required to avail of this facility.
Usual Stay Options
Would you like a tree-house, a
boat, a thatched hut? If you do not wish to opt for
Kashmir's shikaras (boat houses), come to Kerala.
Rice-boat houses that float over the backwaters have
turned many a tourist into a poet. You may find a
tree-house, in wildlife sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh;
nature therapy resorts in south India are also
unusual - accommodation is very often in indigenous,
eco-friendly mud and thatch units, where luxury is
redefined as being one with Nature.
Others
For information on staying with an Indian family as a
paying guest, contact the Government of India Tourist
Offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai. You will
find that Goa has various paying-guest stay options.
Indian Youth Hostels offer accommodation to members and
non-members. For information, contact Youth Hostels
Association of India, 5, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New
Delhi - 110 021. Tel. 6116285, 6110250, Fax : 6113469
Salvation Army Hostels, camping sites, Sikh temples and
dharamsalas at pilgrim sites also offer variety in
accommodation. |
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