Livin' the luxury
Kitchener Suite, Wildflower Hall, Mashobra, Himachal Pradesh
Forty-five minutes out of Shimla, at a tranquil perch in the snowy Himalayas, Lord Herbert Kitchener of Khartoum, commander-in-chief of the Indian Army from 1902 to 1909, found a secluded and grand summer home for himself -- Wildflower Hall.
Though it burnt down in 1993, the Oberoi hotel group recreated the hall, including its exotic turrets and slate mansard roofs. The snug resort, with its teak floors and rich colonial furnishings, is one of the most fairytale hotels India possesses.
Nor is it short on luxury. In winter a Grecian-looking heated indoor pool looks out to snow-covered pine and cedar forests. And the reputed spa center offers an endless list of body treatments. The hotel organizes elaborate picnics and a butler will pop out of the forest with a basket of gourmet food and wine at the appointed time, should you be on a trek.
Sachin Tendulkar and the Ambanis have holidayed at Wildflower Hall.
The elegant Kitchener Suite offers accommodation for $925 (about Rs 41,625) a night.
Image: Oberoi's Wildflower Hall, Mashobra.
Photograph courtesy: Oberoi Hotels
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