Rising like a wave that is permanently poised in mid air, the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty (GHKB) is a prominent entity that towers over the shoreline of the Bolgatty island.
Emerging out of the shard of land that forms a part of the fragmented shores, this uber luxurious hotel is a familiar landmark in the city of Kochi which lies along the coast of Kerala in India.
Its opulence apart, it also has the unique advantage of being attached to the mammoth Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Center which it manages. This is one of the largest convention spaces in the country and boasts of world class features.
Accompany me as I take you on a tour of its extravagant interiors and delectable cuisine and gaze at its expansive surroundings and panoramic views, as you join me on yet another journey.
The GHKB is a luxury 5 star property managed by Hyatt and owned by the NRI businessman Yusuf Ali who owns the Lulu group in the UAE.
How best does one describe a property that doubles as a resort as well as a business hotel in the heart of the city? The GHKB is located within the city of Kochi and strategically perched at the ‘peninsular’ region of the narrow strip of Bolgatty island, which gives it the added advantage of being a lakefront property with views of the water on either side and hence can aptly be labelled a Luxury Waterfront Urban Resort.
An overview of the GHKB –
Like its owner Yusuf Ali who is a native of Kerala but is resident in the UAE, the architecture and decor of the GHKB is also an amalgam of the Indian and Arabian. Its Indo Arabic composition has been designed by architects from Wimberly Allison Tong and Goo UK Ltd (WATG), who are the the world’s leading design consultants in the hospitality industry.
The first thing that strikes you as you enter the hotel, is the immensity of the place and generosity of space, with its high ceilings and wide lobby.
The main lobby leads to the Grand lounge cum coffee shop with its floor to wall glass windows that permit an indulgent view of the picturesque lake Vembanad, whose large expanse fills the entire frame. The lounge further leads to an outdoor terrace where one can enjoy unhindered views and a cool breeze when the weather is kind.
Rooms and Villas –
The hotel has 264 rooms that include an impressive 38 suites and 4 villas, which is the highest ratio of suites to rooms as compared to any other property in the city.
Dining options –
The GHKB takes its cuisine very seriously and each of its 3 restaurants that span Kerala, Thai and Continental cuisine, are a labor of love and passion which is evident when one interacts with their dedicated chefs.
GHKB has 3 main restaurants – the Malabar, Thai Soul and Colony Clubhouse and Grill. They also have the main bar adjacent to the Colony Clubhouse, called the Colony Bar.
In addition, they have the lobby side coffee shop at the Grand Lounge, a Poolside bar and the Grand Club which is an exclusive space for eligible guests.
The Lulu Convention Center –
In addition to the above spaces, what makes the GHKB unique apart from its grand decor and elaborate features, is the one of its kind convention center that is among the largest in the country. This is a space that offers world class facilities that open up endless possibilities, right from exclusive private functions and ceremonies with groups as small as 10 numbers to corporate events and large conferences.
Other features of the resort –
An indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a tennis court, a spa, gym, yoga center, salon, an onsite gift shop etc.
Experiences -
When you book a room at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty (GHKB), it is not just the hotel that you have accessed but you have also placed yourself on the threshold of infinite touristic possibilities. All you have to do is to step into the host of experiences that encompass history, geography, archaeology, culture, heritage, adventure, local festivals and happenings, cuisine and so on (I did say that the list was infinite :-D)
While the sheer number of options can get quite confusing for the traveller, the helpful folk at the GHKB have made it easy even for the most bewildered of guests, by listing all the salient options on their user friendly website. And thanks to the location and connectivity of the hotel, there are a range of specific activities that are easy to access.
A short video on the Fort Kochi tour -
Getting there –
Kochi is a well connected city. The Cochin International Airport CIAL, is around 30 km from the city and handles several domestic and international flights to many major cities in India and also countries of the middle east and far east.
This post was originally published on Currylines
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