A comfortable twenty minute drive takes us from Ulsoor to Kodihalli, where our destination awaits – The Leela Palace at 23 Airport Road, BANGALORE 560008 (+91 80 2521 1234). The Leela is a 5 star business hotel for which the term opulent is a tad of an understatement. For locals with a paunch and a little cash tucked away beneath it, Sunday is most decidedly brunch at the Citrus Lounge.
Bangalore is a big sprawling city. One of its main centres is MG Road (Mahatma Gandhi!). We are lucky to be just east of this, MG leads straight to Old Madras Road, off which is Cambridge Road where we are staying.
Ok, so the links will give you an idea of the stateliness of the Leela’s outside, but let’s look inside. The entrance area is imposing, beautifully carved pillars, but my son has it sussed, for him it was a wonderfully huge play area.
[Normally I don't upload high resolution images but this place deserves them, so please click on any pictures that interest you - they'll be in a more appealing 1600 x 1200 pixels]
Our driver dropped us at the main entrance where we are greeted by a colourful line-up of staff, and I am suddenly thrown into what I can only imagine to be the hey day of The British Empire (though to be technically correct I believe it is actually the Vijaynagar empire ;-)
We arrived a little early (brunch starts at 12.00) but I do recommend just that, so that one can take in the grounds whilst one is still capable of walking unassisted – brunch is an all you can eat affair, and Sparkling Wine (damn you French for stealing our linguistic heritage and joie de vivre – it’s Champagne) is on tap, and all prix fixe :-)
Well the grounds are indeed delightful, and maybe only pictures can evoke the beauty within.
I recommend that if you ever visit Bangalore then come here at least once, you will not regret it. The place as you can see is lovely. The food was truly amazing. It is almost midnight as I type this and I am still not hungry (but I am sober ;-) The waiter service was impeccable, they tended to us and our children with equal aplomb (parents you will understand this. Ok, look at a dictionary and then you will understand this ;-)
I invite you to put yourself in this picture and complete your own story.
THE BILL: we dropped 4500 rupees (A$120) for a family of 4 and we would do it again at the drop of a hat.
ADDENDUM: that price was for two adults (IR2250 a head), children are free. Free but not forgotten, the children are specifically addressed, having their own Lilliputian buffet area! Attention to detail gets 10/10.
Fit for a prince!
