Located in the heart of Chanakyapuri, near the prestigious diplomatic enclave, the 5-star Leela Palace New Delhi exemplifies the magnificent architecture, grace and elegance of Lutyens’ Delhi. Hotel Spec looks at the design that aims to provide every guest a regal experience...
Reflecting the stateliness and grandeur of Edwin Lutyens’ Delhi, The Leela Palace New Delhi is designed in the shape of a butterfly, with its two wings embracing a vast lawn and a lush tropical garden. The hotel earns the distinction of having some of the largest rooms in the capital and showcases some of the most regal designs to ever adorn a hotel. But, this doesn’t stop at the furniture, display or carving – an array of artwork from eminent artists around the world is displayed throughout the hotel, and varies from corridor to wall, restaurant to guestroom and spa to lobby.
To add to the exclusivity, each of the 260 guestrooms and suites, which reflect the ambience of a stately mansion, feature limited edition and numbered lithographs, embedded with gold leaf and semi-precious stones by the renowned photographer, Rohan Shreshta. Depicting Indian kings and queens in their regal attire, the lithographs complement the majestic styled rooms, which have been designed with spacious seating, walk-in wardrobes and elegant marble finished bathrooms.
The rooms, which range from 550sqft to 600sqft in size, offer guests comfort and luxury and are elegantly furnished and equipped with modern amenities and facilities such as an iPod dock; an iTouch digi-valet for in-room electronic control and movie and music on demand; mirror television screens; and spa mood lighting in all bathrooms, to name just a few.
The Royal Club guestroom offers a royal experience with 24-hour butler services, a limousine service for airport transfers, and an exclusive check-in, check-out facility.
Heightening the luxury, the Suites, which come with a spacious bathroom and a large bedroom-living room, overlooking either the capital city or the hotel’s gardens, range from 700sqft to 1,570sqft in size and ooze comfort and luxury.
The Executive Suite is one-of-a-kind and features a wide array of amenities and rich handcrafted tapestries, brocades and warm wooden floors.
For aquatic-loving guests, the hotel’s two Grande Suites come with plunge pools. Designed in an Indian theme with floor-to-ceiling columns, stunning arches, vaulted ceilings and a private pool, this two-bay suite is said to provide guests an unrivalled experience.
The Royal Suite, manifests a luxurious aura, making it one of the most stunning suites in the hotel. Apart from the modern in-room comforts, an ornate floor-to-ceiling door opens to an “open-to-sky” plunge pool with jacuzzi. The plunge pool features a seating area overlooking Lutyens’ Delhi, providing an exhilarating view for guests.
The largest suite in the hotel, the Maharajah Suite is a palace within a palace. The eight-bay suite comes with facilities including complimentary use of a Rolls Royce Phantom, 24-hour butler services, jacuzzi, walk-in wardrobe, private gymnasium, and more. Keeping in mind its distinguished guests and their need for privacy and enhanced security, the Suite is equipped with bullet-proof glass.
Speaking about the guest room design concept, lead designer and owner of KNA Design, Kirk Nix told Hotel Spec, “The design concept was a collaborative experience between the owner, KNA and the design architect, Smallwood Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart. Timeless and classic were our buzzwords throughout the process.
“The interior took its cues from the local history, and brought it indelibly into the 21st Century. It was critical the property celebrates its provenance, and be an elegant tribute to India and its wonderful people.”
As well as the guest rooms, KNA Design was commissioned to design all Common Areas, Ballrooms, Meeting rooms, the Maharajah Suite and the Lobby. Kirk commented, “We had originally completed the Leela Palace Bangalore many years before. It was such an enjoyable experience, we couldn’t wait to embark on a new project with these wonderful clients. We are privileged and honoured to work with this client that has so generously allowed us the freedom to design and construct such a beautiful homage to India and its deep, rich and storied history.”
For guests not fortunate enough to book a room with a private pool, the hotel has a pool on the top floor. The outdoor heated infinity-edged pool’s design has been crafted seamlessly to provide guests with a stunning view of the New Delhi skyline.
Restaurants
The Leela Palace New Delhi boasts three specialty restaurants, a lounge and an all-day dining restaurant.
The Lobby Lounge – This tea room offers timeless elegance and takes guests back to the Edwardian era of sheer grace and style, savouring the time-honoured tradition of afternoon tea, enhanced by attentive yet unobtrusive service.
Jamavar – Designed by DesignWilkes, this signature Indian restaurant is decorated with silken sheers, decorative jamavars, a paisley pattern in gold and silver leaf work, flower-laden urlis and vases with floating candles.
Megu – New York’s iconic Japanese restaurant brings The Leela Palace New Delhi guests modern Japanese cuisine. The restaurant interiors are designed by Design Studio Spin Inc, in hues of red, black, gold and white, blending the ultra-modern design elements with those from ancient Japanese art and culture. White porcelain columns comprised of more than 5,000 interlocking rice bowls and sake vases climb to the high ceiling; 450 rolls of antique kimono fabric cover the walls; white leather banquettes with 11ft backs provide privacy in the bar; and an imposing glass Buddha statue rises over a pool of water. Additional outdoor seating is available from October through March.
Le Cirque – Design Studio Spin Inc, also designed the interiors for Le Cirque, another restaurant from New York. Located on the 10th floor of the hotel, the Italian restaurant seats 144 diners, and offers outdoor seating overlooking the New Delhi skyline.
The Qube – This all-day dining restaurant with a striking modern glass house design, overlooks the hotel’s expansive lawn and lush gardens. The restaurant is designed by DesignWilkes in a black, white and orange colour scheme and features a “live kitchen” concept, as well as a lighting system, which changes colours every 45 minutes, engulfing the entire space in a revolving spectrum of colours.
DesignWilkes worked closely with Leeladventure Ltd’s director of interior design and operations, Madhu Nair, on The Qube, the Jamavar and the hotel’s spa – ESPA. Lead designer, and principal of DesignWilkes, Jeffrey Wilkes told Hotel Spec, “The design brief for all three spaces was for contemporary interiors as the rest of the hotel is very traditional Luytens Delhi meets the George V. For The Qube, our interior takes on an almost Museum of Modern Art feel with ‘Mies’ inspired leather banquettes, Volakas marble tables that act as buffet by, casual dining by night, and accents of the power colour orange, which complements the blue sky. Venetian mirrored floral pedestals, and 7m high mother of pearl panels, add an exotic Indian touch. Beaten metal bowls dance across the ceiling reflecting natures light, from hues of early sunrise to the magic of a magenta sunset and ultimately the mystery of twilight in rich deep cobalt light.”
He continues, “In Jamavar, a moody rich palette of champagne leaf and smokey espresso are expressed with timber, velvets, lacquered wallcovering and leather. Enormous contemporary cylindrical chandeliers reflect in sky high mirrors, there is no natural light, so it’s a complete interior with no outside influence. We see it as the power lunch location – discreet, hushed and luxurious.”
Spa
The world-renowned ESPA at The Leela Palace New Delhi draws inspiration from India’s glorious traditional heritage, with the added benefits and comforts of contemporary-styled spa rooms and advanced rejuvenation techniques. Designed by Jeffrey Wilkes, the two-level spa is a soothing retreat of natural wood, hand-carved stone and soft furnishings.
Spanning over 6,500sqft, the spa features separate relaxation areas, sauna and steam rooms for male and female guests, seven treatment rooms, a spa suite for couples, a relaxation room for women, along with a fitness center with Technogym equipment and a Spa café.
Commenting on the design, Jeffrey said, “The spa is again an expression of luxury with relaxation and rejuvenation at the forefront. Rosewood paneling envelopes you, while white floors guide you and elements of citrus chartreuse enliven the space.”
The Library Bar
Reminiscent of a classic gentlemen’s club, The Library Bar, designed by Design Studio Spin Inc, evokes a bygone era of Chesterfield chairs, leather and dark wood paneled settings and leather bound first editions.
It also offers outdoor seating, a smoking area as well as a wide selection of whiskeys, wines, innovative martinis and fine cigars.
Function rooms
The 3,485sqft Grand Ballroom has a 500sqft pre-function area that provides easy access to the Function Lawn. The Royal Ballroom, six meeting rooms and two boardrooms provide a multitude of options for meetings of various sizes and are ideal for small breakaway sessions from the Grand Ballroom. Spanning over 5,000sqft, The Terrace Garden on second floor provides an ideal option for outdoor events.
All meeting rooms feature the latest audio-visual equipment and soundproof partitions that ensure multiple meetings can take place simultaneously. The business centre also comes with three Internet stations with high-speed Wi-Fi access.
The Leela Palace, New Delhi
Architect: Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart and Stewart & Associate, Inc, USA.
Interior Design: Guest Rooms, Suites, Lobby and Common Areas – KNA Design, USA; The Qube, Jamavar, and Spa – Jeffrey Wilkes, DesignWilkes, Malaysia; The Library Bar, Megu, and Le Cirque – Design Studio Spin Inc, Japan.
Brand: Leela Hotel
Owner: Hotel Leelaventure Ltd