See Where US Presidents Stay When They’re in Delhi
Striking art, elegant rooms, great restaurants and a luxe wellness spa – ITC Maurya New Delhi hotel offers all this and more in the fascinating Indian capital.
A heady confluence of chaotic bazaars, colonial façades, crumbling monuments and cutting-edge malls, Delhi is a sprawling city of 25 million people. Located in its centre is the Delhi Ridge – a cluster of forests, parks and gardens, spread over 13 square kilometres. Think of it as Manhattan’s Central Park – the lungs of a lumbering megalopolis – only four times larger. Located along the ridge’s southern edge is one of the city’s best hotels, ITC Maurya, which takes its art and interiors as seriously as its food and service. Little wonder it’s the hotel of choice for heads of states, including past and present US presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. We checked in to find out what makes it so special.
Rooms
There are 438 rooms and suites, most with sweeping views of the verdant ridge. Opt for the ITC One Room with a spacious lounge and walk-in wardrobe as well as complimentary features like butler service and use of the boardroom for up to three hours. Or, if it’s privacy you’re after, opt for a room in The Towers block, which is quieter and has its own check-in desk. Of course, if you want to go all out, make a beeline for the Grand Presidential Suite, with two bedrooms, a living room, a dining area and its own mini spa and gym.
Location
The hotel is located in the Diplomatic Enclave, home to most of the embassies and high commissions in Delhi. Expect wide, spick-and-span, tree-lined avenues, charming architecture and lush parks. A few minutes drive will take you to some of the city’s top attractions – India Gate (a war memorial), Rashtrapati Bhavan (India’s answer to White House) and the buzzing Janpath market.
Food
ITC Maurya has one of India’s most well-known Indian restaurants – Bukhara. Both aforementioned US presidents have eaten here and cricketer Brett Lee calls its butter chicken the best in the world. But there are six other on-site eateries and bars to try, from the rooftop Tian Asian Cuisine Studio to Dum Pukht, which re-creates 200-year-old Indian recipes in a setting that’s just as traditional – a dining room complete with Taj Mahal-esque arches and mirrors.
Facilities
Kick back and relax at the hotel’s open-air pool or make your way to Kaya Kalp – the subterranean spa where treatments range from Exotic Pomegranate (120 minutes of scrub and massage) to Passage to India (two hours of guided meditation, massage and exfoliation).
Concierge
The hotel boasts a desk of highly informative concierges who’ll not only give you the best recommendations but also organise chauffeur-driven cars – daily hire costs are a fraction of those in Australia.
Fab factor
Take a moment to admire the art on the walls as well as on the ceilings. It took local artist Krishen Khanna four years to paint scenes from an Indian village directly on to the lobby’s soaring dome-like ceiling, while 18 vivid glass panels by M.F. Hussain – widely referred to as India’s Picasso – adorn the walls next to the reception desk.
Location: Diplomatic Enclave, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi; +91 11 2611 2233
Style: Classic, grand and traditional
Perfect for: Business and leisure travellers
Number of rooms: 438 rooms and suites
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