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What Waldorf Astoria is to New York, George V
(cinq) to Paris, Savoy, Ritz and Claridges are to London, Ashok is
to Delhi…. A name reputed the world over as the abode of VVIPs.
The aura thee hotels exude transcends national boundaries and on
occasions they become the local point for momentous declarations of
peace and friendship.
The credit for visualizing the need for such a hotel
in Delhi goes to Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of
independent India. He charted India’s role in the international
arena, not only in politics but also in areas such as science and
technology, economics, art and culture. Thus came Delhi’s first
luxury hotel, the Ashok, built in 1956 for UNESCO – the first of
many international gatherings in the capital.
The number of famous personalities from every walk
of life who have walked through the portals of this esteemed hotel
would fill a sizeable portion of the world’s Who’s Who
directory.
Ashok is located at the exclusive Diplomatic
Enclave, a few hundred metres away from Teen Murti, now a memorial to
Jawaharlal Nehru. Sprawling over 25 acres of land, this magnificent
edifice has become a national landmark and an institution. As
visitors are greeted at the high portico entrance by a concierge
resplendent with red and gold, and move into a sweeping expanse of a
marbled lobby with a centerpiece fountain flanked by mirrors, they
are reminded of the era of the Maharajas.
The hotel has a variety of rooms and suites, all
centrally air conditioned for its discerning clientele. At the top of
the billing is the Presidential Suite. It consists of two regal
bedrooms, a study, a dining room with an oval dinning table for
fourteen and a well furnished and cosy sitting room with a bird’s
eye view of Rashtrapati Bhawan (President’s House). There are 10
deluxe suites, individually named – Panna, Neelam, Basant,
Noorjehan, Naga, Rajput, Kashmir, Hyderabad, Natraj, Jamuna –
evocative of their own special charm and distinctive décor.
Also, 40 luxury suites and 60 Executive suites. Guests opting for the
Ashok’s Presidential Service are provided with a valet in
attendance during their stay at the hotel.
The hotel’s 571 rooms and suits are equipped
with channel music, colour TV, and 24-hour room-service. To meet the
diverse culinary tastes of its guests from around the globe, Ashok
provides international cuisine at its six restaurants – Samovar,
Durbar, Frontier, Burgundy, China Town and Tokyo. For the businessman
in a hurry, the 24-hour coffee shop- the SAMOVAR, with its modern
setting of silver and green and overlooking the swimming pool is an
ideal rendezvous.
For authentic Indian Mughlai cuisine, walk into
Durbar. The carved golden door promises an opulent setting beneath a
regal dome and the mood is further enlivened by the soothing musical
notes emanating from the Sarod, Sarangi or Sitar.
The Frontier restaurant with its rugged
fortress-like walls covered with murals of mounted horsemen, assures
you of the gastronomic adventures of Peshawar and the North-West
frontier region.
The continental ambience is very much in evidence at
the Burgundy, serving French food. The Garden Bar, one of the most
popular bars in town has the choicest appetizers and liquers.
The simulated atmosphere of a Chinese market place,
replete with shuttered windows, neon signs, trolleys laden with fresh
vegetables and herbs, beckons you to partake in the specialised fare
of Szechwan and Cantonese food at China Town.
The recently commissioned Tokyo at the Ashok is the
only restaurant in New Delhi serving authentic Japanese food. The
ambience is totally Japanese with soft lighting, simple but elegant
rosewood chairs and original Japanese paintings. Provision has also
been made at an elevated are a within the restaurant called TATAMI
where Japanese food is served in the traditional manner.
The Convention Hall at the Ashok has seating
arrangements for 2,500 and is backed by a battery of facilities such
as audio-visual equipment, special lighting effects, multiple screen
projections, adjustable stage and simultaneous translation in six
languages. The hall, if need be, can be divided into three
sound-proof sections. The hotel also provides additional committee
rooms, party rooms and banquet halls.
The shopping arcade has exclusive shops for
handicrafts, silks, carpets, precious stones, ivory, leather
accessories, boutiques, a beauty parlour and a barber shop. The Cake
Shop is the connoisseur’s favourite and its chocolate flake
cakes and sumptuous breads are market leaders.
For outdoor enthusiasts there are tennis courts, a
mini golf course and a swimming pool.
Over the years the Ashok has developed a fine blend of royal
comfort, olde world charm and modern efficiency. Ashok, to be
precise, is not just a hotel… it is a total experience in Indian
hospitality, and if you are one of those who have missed this
experience, try it during you next visit to New Delhi.
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