It's about the people and their passions …..
24 Nov, 2011
Promoting RARE partner hotels to discerning, direct travelers is quite a challenge. Talking about these beautiful jewels on India’s travel map from a tiny stall pitched under the winter sun is inadequate. The posters do not do much justice as they only paint a uni-dimensional picture that does bring some “wows” but what about the story of how they came to be, about the small details and the special features. We need a bigger stage as there is so much to say.
To begin with each RARE hotel is a personal journey for the hotelier in question and the chosen location is where it all began. Over the years each of these hotels have evolved to include some of the most amazing experiences which draws from the local culture, landscape and family traditions of cuisine, hospitality and style. I always maintain that it is about the people, their personality and interests first, the destination coming up a close second. Everything else, the amenities, the service, the décor is detailed to match the best in the business.
At RARE hotels – the owners, hosts and your friendly guides are the stars!
Your kids spending a day with Tara would kindle a lifelong passion for wildlife (Kipling Camp, Kanha), Avi’s gentle persuasion and timely organization will help you out of bed each morning and head to the jungles (Jamtara Wilderness, Pench), time spent with David while he talks about dragonflies, butterflies, snakes and take you through his album of images will mesmerize you and you will be facebook friends for life (Forsyth Lodge, Satpura)! Your silent boatman is a local who takes you on a river cruise on the Ken and has been personally trained by Joanna and Raghu (Sarai at Toria, Nr. Khajuraho) to help you spot and identify birds. Rehman’s (Jim’s Jungle Retreat, Corbett) jungle activities show you a side of Corbett which you will never encounter with any of the lodges that literally cluster in and around Ramnagar. While Ajit’s dream of creating something akin to the open savannahs of the African wild lands not very far from Jodhpur will mesmerize you enough to take that drive out again and again (Overlander).
In Rajasthan there is more magic, Hemendra’s involved pampering while you enjoy your stay in a palace perched over the Chambal river (Bhainsrorgarh Fort, Bhainsrorgarh), Ravi Banna’s lal maas (Ramathra Fort, Ramathra) cooked to perfection while you watch fascinated and one can talk endlessly on myriad subjects with Mamusa, Jai and Sat’s uncle the scion of the erstwhile Shahpura State (Shahpura Bagh, Shahpura). Then again the story and design secrets imparted to you by Anil and Anand even as they proudly show you around (Raas Haveli, Jodhpur) and a chance to meet the Thakurs of Kanota while you explore their Museum (Castle Kanota) while Harsh and Nandi’s subtle directions bring to life the camping lifestyles of royalty at (Chhatra Sagar).
Mathilda’s detailed housekeeping and Pradeepji’s attention to your every requirement makes your stay in Aashyana feel like the home you never left (Aashyana Lakhanpal, Goa), while Balaji and his team ensure that each of your days at Shreyas is filled with healthy activities for the body and soul (Shreyas Retreat, Bangalore). Itemnaan Lodges is the dream project of Ashish whose team has created virtual havens out of crumbling vintage Kumaoni homes, the villages a picture book of idyllic life. Glenburn is intricately woven with the story of tea and Husna’s journey of converting this extensive plantation into a world class retreat (Glenburn Tea Estate, Darjeeling). Within a blissful sight of the western Himalayas in the Binsar sanctuary is the inspired retreat for nature lovers from where you can also explore the forests and villages that sustain side by side. While down in peninsular India experience Niraamaya Surya Samudra now a well-managed boutique hotel - a maverick German resident’s pioneering project of trans-locating Kerala heritage homes piece-by-exquisite piece, detail by careful detail to this beautiful location by the Arabian Sea (Niraamaya - Surya Samdura Private Retreat, Kovalam).
Is there a price for passion? Can one evaluate a mind blowing event or define a moment of discovery and learning? Is it fair to price a RARE experience!
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I totally love this place and have to visit again this coming December for holiday season with my family.
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ledzepellin41 | 25 Nov, 2011
Wow!!! Such a nice post, it is very useful for Goa visitors. Keep updating.
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