Words by Indrani Ghose
Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, the central state of India, was badly scarred by the Union Carbide Gas tragedy in Dec 1984 and most people relate the city with that incident. That has started to change and today, the city has bounced back in a new avatar and is gaining reputation as the City of Lakes and Greenest City of India.
A lakeside luxury property, cusp of tribal art and modern amenities, The Taj Lakefront now caters to the increasing footfalls in the city. Ensconced between a hill and Bhojtal, the Upper Lake of Bhopal, The Taj Lakefront, which opened in October 2021, is an ideal place for stopover, whether travelling for business or as a tourists.
Hotel
Within a year of its launch, this IHCL property in the heart of Central India has bagged an award as the Best Luxury Upscale Hotel in South Asia in April 2022. The chain was always known for its exemplary service, thoughtfully chosen location and immaculate facilities; The Taj Lakefront Bhopal is no different.
After a ride of twenty five minutes from the international Raja Bhoj airport I arrived at its warm interior. Before stepping in, I stopped to feast on the sight of the upper lake – a sight that surely will appeal to the most refined travellers!
It is said first impressions of a hotel begin in the lobby. Brightly lit, walls adorned with large murals and tribal metal artwork, huge vases with flowers – the ambience left me awestruck. The staff played their role right, welcoming with a bright smile, tika and tulsi mala (sandalwood paste mark on forehead and garland of holy basil seeds), a refreshing drink; it was quite simply heartwarming. A quick check-in and I was led to my room.
Rooms
The hotel is fairly large, with 152 rooms made up of well-appointed rooms and suites. Waking up in my room was a special experience – the deluxe room had a king bed and spectacular vistas of the hills. The morning scene was filmy, reflecting the glory of the rising sun, if only I could stay to gaze a little longer, but I was here on work.
There are other luxurious rooms including deluxe rooms with king bed and twin beds with views of hills or lakeside. Luxury and executive suites have state-of-the-art bathrooms, ultra-modern facilities, luxurious amenities and interiors that give a sublime peek into the bygone era. For guests looking to go all out and splurge, the hotel has the Presidential Suite with a private balcony, the most extravagant suite to offer. It has all the elements dreams are made of.
Food and drink
With four restaurants you are assured of a good variety of dishes both local and international.
Machan serves the buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. I had a favourite spot here by the window that overlooked the serene lake. House of Ming, as the name indicates, serves Chinese cuisine. It is interesting to note here that 50 per cent of Indians consume Chinese food once in a fortnight and around 80 per cent once in a month. It’s little wonder branded hotels dedicate a whole restaurant for Chinese cuisine.
Infinity, located beside the rooftop tenth floor swimming pool, has the bar and is a perfect place to hang out while feasting your eyes on the views of Upper Lake. Emperor Lounge offers one of the most extravagant afternoon teas with a patisserie, lavishly cream loaded.
During 9th to 18th March, 2022, the hotel was the venue of a ten day long tribal food festival. It was a gastronomic tribute to five tribes of Madhya Pradesh, namely Gond, Baiga, Bharia, Kol and Korku. During the inauguration, the spacious Satpura Terrace of Taj Lakefront Bhopal was utilised to host the dignitaries and guests. Besides food, the hotel hosted several cultural events performed by the tribal artists.
To do
If relaxation by exercising is more your bag, then head to the second floor that has an open air court that can tire, yet rejuvenate you with a good round of tennis. Their fitness centre is equipped with the latest cardio machines and strength-training equipment with trainers to assist.
The hotel has extensive meeting spaces for large-scale events. It has the city’s biggest ballroom called the Raj Mahal. The ornate chandeliers suspended from the ceiling in the huge hall made me wonder how dreamily lit the place would be at night. The boardroom space, Tapti, is equipped with modern technologies and the outstanding banquet planning services ensure business events can be conducted successfully here. Vindhya, the outdoor lawn, seems planned well for weddings and celebratory events. I witnessed the inauguration of the tribal food festival and Times Passion Trail by high state dignitaries here.
The city has lots to offer in terms of sightseeing sites. You can check with the concierge for local recommendations.
Factbox
The Raja Bhoj Airport is located 17 km from Taj Lakefront Hotel. Rooms can be booked from 7300 INR.
Address: Link Road No. 3, Prempura, Bhadbhada Chouraha, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, 462003, India
Email: reservations.lakefront@tajhotels.com
Phone: +91-755437 0000
Website: tajhotels.com/en-in/taj/taj-lakefront-bhopal/
All imagery supplied by The Taj Lakefront
Indrani Ghose is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Bangalore, India. She writes about art, culture and cuisines related to travel destinations. Her work has been published in Vice, Lonely Planet, Deccan Herald and her own blog: https://isharethese.com
