Words by Bindu Gopal Rao
Located away from the urban chaos of Delhi, is the Aerocity home to a clutch of hotels, restaurants, office spaces and malls too. So you are never really far away and still can experience a sense of calmness and quiet. And yes, it is right next to the airport and this was one of the shortest distances I had to travel from the airport to the hotel.
Incidentally this is Accor group’s 100th Pullman in the world and is the only one operating under the Pullman brand in India. A quick 10 minute drive and I am whisked into a lobby that is sheer magnificence. Well laid out and carpeted in monochromatic tones, what catches my attention is the massive chandelier that snakes its way through a whopping 6000 lights.
Live Right
The hotel has 270 keys across various categories of rooms including deluxe rooms, executive rooms, executive suites, rooms for the differently abled as well as a Presidential suite. All guestrooms are spacious and luxurious equipped with modern 5-star amenities and complimentary Wi-Fi. The 387 sq ft deluxe rooms are smartly designed to offer modern day comforts and are available as King or Twin and have ceiling-to-floor windows, elegant peacock-inspired décor by Meriem Hall, bold brass and leatherette features. The Executive rooms have executive comfort with added space, great views and executive lounge access. And for uber luxury step into the Presidential suite complete with personal lounges to relax in private, well-equipped kitchenettes, massive bathrooms, wide work desk, exclusively designed Pullman bed and the best view in the hotel!
I stayed at the Executive Suite a large luxurious room with a separate living and bedroom space, a powder room and a huge bathroom. Beautifully designed, it was the attention to detail that had me appreciating the room more. For instance, the cupboard lights light up automatically when they feel a human presence and the shower cubicle is so large that you can actually spread your arms wide out. Bose sound link II, flat-screen satellite TV, espresso coffee machine and a private four-fixture bathroom with shower were other amenities in my room. The colour palette of teal, cream and beige also add a luxury feel to the room and the best part is the view of the airport where you can see flights landing. However, to ensure guests are not disturbed the windows are soundproof. As a brand that cares, the differently-abled room ensures easier accessibility and specially designed facilities without compromising on style.
Eat Local
While you are here you have a plethora of options as this hotel is connected to Novotel as well. Within Pullman dining options include Pluck, a modern day eatery with an in-house farm, Café Pluck a unique café and deli, Honk that serves Pan Asian delicacies and Pling, a lounge bar. The hotel has a fairly large in house herb garden where the Chef grows vegetables like tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce and greens like spinach, basil and more. Many of these find place in the menu at Pluck and I was lucky to sample some of these dishes too.
Culinary Director Ajay Anand tells me that he is looking at focusing on more vegetarian food and using more local ingredients. Incidentally he changes the menus once in 4 months at least to incorporate seasonal ingredients into the food. While you are here do try the delectable creations like the Parmesan burnt garlic oat meal strudel soup and the Khandvi and Masala Khakra, a traditional dish served with coconut mousse, ginger and tamarind granita with fresh greens from the house garden.
Making the Difference
While I was here, a highlight of my stay was to be part of a coffee brewing experience with barista Aparajita who took me through the entire process of the coffee – from bean to cup. Using a Probat machine that brews coffee beans in about 12-13 minutes, Café Pluck only serves a selection of freshly brewed coffees that are delectable. Pullman also takes its wines seriously and actually has its own blends – one red and one white and in house sommelier who does interesting wine tasting sessions. Vinoteca is a concept synonymous with Pullman and the introduction of Vinoteca by Pullman is a good example of how Pullman New Delhi Aerocity aims to meet the needs of the modern traveller. This is a minimum selection of ten wines served by the glass and a minimum of two champagnes is served by the glass. The guests can opt from at least two different serving sizes half a glass or a full glass 6cl & 12cl. The wine cellar hosting the display is visible at Pling where guests can discover and enjoy full-bodied and rich reds, crisp whites and many specialty wines. The appropriate wine preservation systems to store and serve wines by the glass effectively are in place.
Facilities Galore
The hotel has a well-equipped, large and pillarless meeting and banqueting space. A variety of Ayurvedic, Thai and Swedish spa treatments are available in the inhouse WOO Wellness & spa. I had a luxurious 120 minute Hot Stone Full Body Massage which was so relaxing and invigorating that I had the energy to look around the city for hours without feeling tired for once! A fully equipped gym and a swimming pool will keep health watchers happy.
Discover Co-Meeting by Pullman is a full-service event concept that offers modular spaces and state-of the-art facilities and you will find 13 of these with three board rooms on the lower ground floor. Apart from a large open courtyard, the Peacock ballroom is majestic and is rightfully one of the largest pillarless convention and banqueting spaces in Delhi with an area of 12712 sq ft area. For me discovering Delhi through Pullman was an eye opener and showed me the capital city in a new light. The unparalleled hospitality, unique culinary experiences as well as the ultra-luxurious accommodation was the perfect break I could ask for.
Fact File
• Address: Hotel Pullman New Delhi Aerocity, Asset No 02 GMR Hospitality District IGI Airport New Delhi, 110037
• Tel: (+91)1146080808
• Fax: (+91)1146080809
• Web: pullmanhotels.com
Photos: Pullman New Delhi Aerocity
