The now 40 day long lockdown that has been placed on the country out of the blue makes one wonder of what would have happened if one had got stranded in a hotel away from home. After all, despite the allure of exotic destinations and offbeat properties, when one is stranded at a new place for so long and all of a sudden - some semblance to their normal life becomes imperative to ward off boredom and mental fatigue. Thinking on these lines, of all the properties stayed in over the past decade, only a couple stood out as places where a quarantine would have felt like a staycation (that is of course assuming availability of basic services). The 2 making it to the personal shortlist were: WelcomHeritage Shivavilas Palace hotel in Sandur, Karnataka and the Mayfair Palm Beach Resort, Gopalpur-On-Sea, Odisha.
We discovered the WelcomHeritage Shivavilas Palace hotel by sheer chance thanks to online aggregators. The hotel looked enticing and a bit detailed research led to the discovery that it used to be the actual palace cum residence of the rulers of the erstwhile princely state of Sandur. Sandur is a place that not many recall immediately although almost everyone knows about Hampi that lies a mere 40 km away. It seemed a world apart from the dusty plains as we followed Google maps up into the green hills and red soil of the Bellary district. Somehow, it immediately brought to mind the quaint setting of the Bollywood film Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikandar - probably because the first complex we crossed on reaching the town was a huge residential school like in the movie. There is an ancient temple further up in the hills which are also the site of the blooming of the rare Neel Kurunji flowers after the monsoons.
We had chosen the hotel for a break in the middle of a long road trip and it certainly lived up to its claims of a royal retreat after a dusty journey of 230 odd kilometers from Bijapur. While it is not as opulent or architecturally/historically significant as the palace turned hotels in Rajasthan, it has a quaint old world charm within its gates (rather like the sets of an Indian Downton Abbey series). We always got the feeling of being in a welcoming home rather than being in a hotel, which is the reason of selecting it as the ideal lockdown retreat.
The rooms have huge bathrooms and equally huge balconies, with a huge garden surrounding the building. One can laze around on the comfortable arm chairs in the balcony sipping tea or drinks as per the time of the day. There is a nice pool to unwind alongwith the remnants of a bygone era like a well stocked library, billiards room, a small car collection which hosts the royal car collection, a museum of royal collections of arms and other nick-knacks, two temples and a sprawling garden for long walks in greenery. For those who have to be connected to work even on vacations there are ample well-equipped workspaces. We were the only guests at the hotel when we had visited and hence were offered a set food menu which was a simple fare - pale in comparison to the grand setting it was served in. The courteous and smiling staff make one feel that they are visiting as guests rather than impersonal attention to travelers staying over for the night only.
In short, it has something to offer for most age groups if suddenly stranded there. The quiet environment of Sandur itself provides protection from crowds.
A historic hotel in the Ganjam district of Odisha, the Mayfair Palm Beach Resort is a great location for a long and tranquil holiday. It is a new resort built over at the site of a historic hotel (visited by most of the Prime Ministers and eminent personalities of India) which had unfortunately been destroyed during the infamous supercyclone of 1999. The new Mayfair is a luxurious Balinese styled retreat with views of the sea from all corners of the property.
Well placed sitting areas let one enjoy the tranquility of gazing at the sea for hours. A superb pool surrounded by cabanas, spa and adjoining fitness center, kids’ play area and a well stocked library in addition to the luxurious rooms make it an ideal spot for a long and sunny retreat. The best part is that one can opt for an entirely local meal with fresh catch from the sea complimented by fresh garden vegetables grown on the property itself.
While no place can beat one's own home, these two places are ideal for long breaks.