#BloggerContest: Reminiscences of a Pleasant Stay at the Oberoi, Bengaluru

“I have never stayed in a hotel that offers so much comfort and luxury”, these were the words that I heard from one of my business associates from the UK, who was in India for a week on business. I had suggested that he stay at The Oberoi and he had done just that. Coming from a person who has traveled the world, this was indeed, high praise. These remarks rekindled some pleasant memories of the couple of days that we had spent at the hotel, when we initially moved to Bengaluru. It wasn’t just an amazing place, we found it was great value for money too. 

When we arrived in Bengaluru and drove from the airport into the city, we were shocked by the hustle and bustle and the traffic. The fact that we were stuck in peak hour traffic, made it worse. We moved through the Central Business District buzzing with activity to finally reach our destination, The Oberoi, Bengaluru. As soon as we entered the driveway of the hotel, we felt as if we had entered a cocoon of nature. Standing in the midst of verdant, lush gardens, the ambience immediately soothed our frayed nerves and we experienced a sense of relief. We felt as if we had reached an oasis in the midst of a desert. On later exploration of the hotel grounds, we realized that The Oberoi, even though it is located in the heart of Bengaluru’s Central Business District, on the famed M.G.Road, is nestled serenely in the amidst of verdant lush greenery. The most remarkable feature which is indeed the crowning glory of the gardens is a 120-year-old rain tree that occupies center stage.

We had pre-booking and the check-in formalities were over quickly and we soon found ourselves in our room. Our room was luxurious and comfortable and the best thing about it was a private balcony, which had a wonderful view of the lush gardens beneath us. The room itself was a pleasing blend of classic comfort, luxury, modern technology, and security. We were especially delighted with the iPad interface that helped us control many features like room lighting, air conditioning, entertainment and in-room dining options with our fingertips. Just then, the doorbell rang, and the door camera enabled us to see that a bell boy had come with some refreshing tea that we had ordered.
 After refreshing ourselves and taking a short nap, we took a walk in the gardens and relaxed with some cocktails by the pool. Feeling hungry, we decided to have lunch and pondered over the choices.

The Oberoi offered us some fine dining options with its elegant restaurants. There was the opportunity to indulge in some authentic Thai cuisine at Rim Naam; for Indian and Western style buffets with 24 hour service, there was the Le Jardin; another option was the Chinese restaurant, Szechwan Court. We decided on the Indian Buffet at the Le Jardin and our ravenous appetite was satiated by some great food.

In the evening we took a dip in the temperature controlled outdoor pool, fringed by green trees swaying in the breeze and had a great time.
 
Our couple of days at the hotel went by very quickly! May be even too quickly, and soon it was time to leave the hotel. We regretted that we had not been able to use some of the facilities like the spa and the fitness center, but hoped to be back another day. As we left the portals of this elegant hotel we felt as if we were saying adieu to a home away from home; such was the personalized service provided by the staff, right from reception to housekeeping who are courteous and obviously believe and practice the adage, ‘Service with a Smile’.

Book your stay at The Oberoi, Bengaluru!