Grand Seasons Hotel, Kuala Lumpur- Review

Located in the centre of all action in Kula Lumpur and within a short distance from Putra World trade centre, Grand Seasons is a premier hotel ideal for both business and leisure travellers. Its strategic location along Jalan Pahang makes it easy to reach LRT, Monorail and City Bus stations. Most of the major commercial and business avenues such as Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, National library, Pavilion and Bukit Bintang are a short drive away. As a result of its location, Grand Seasons hotel turns out to be an ideal place to stay for both business travellers and tourists while visiting Kuala Lumpur.

The beautiful entrance lobby with its plush setting and double ceiling height definitely is the cynosure of all eyes as you step in. The hotel is equipped with all the modern amenities and facilities to cater to the requirements of its guests. There are in total 800 rooms which are tastefully furnished and all of them come with tea/ coffee making facility, mini bar, toiletries, work station, television, bath tub with shower etc. The rooms have been classified as Seasons Crest, Deluxe room, Junior suite and Bridal suite. Seasons crest are ideal for business travellers and these rooms are available with both king size beds and twin beds. Deluxe rooms too have both type of beds available and are suited for small families. Both junior suite and bridal suite offer more facilities and come with a separate living area apart from the bedroom. Most of the rooms offer magnificent views of the city skyline which is absolutely breathtaking at night.

Grand Seasons Hotel offers recreational facilities such as a fully equipped gymnasium, an outdoor pool, a steam room etc. The hotel also allows conducting private parties and dinners near the pool area. It also offers other facilities such as  wifi, laundry service, free breakfast and parking to all its guests. Catering to the needs of business travellers, they also have a business centre and meeting rooms apart from banquet halls.

For the guests from world over, Grand Seasons hotel has two restaurants- Seasons Coffee House and O'las Indian restaurant. It also houses Avenue café and Kasbah bar & lounge. While Seasons Coffee House is known for its continental delights and buffets, O’las restaurant serves Indian cuisine and has a colourful setting. Avenue Café is ideal for a quick business talk with a cup of coffee and pastries or cakes. After a tiring day of meetings or walks around the city, Kasbah bar & lounge with its Mediterranean setting is perfect to unwind yourself.

My Experience:

As I walked into this tall storeyed hotel, what garnered my attention was its lobby which has a grand and elegant ambiance. I stayed in a spacious Seasons Crest room which was furnished with a king size comfortable bed and all the facilities such as television, mini bar, iron board etc. The breathtaking view of the tall skyscrapers of the city including the Petronas Twin towers and KL Tower was absolutely spellbinding. The view of the glittering cityscape at night from the room was a sight to behold. The roof top swimming pool is a well designed one and their gymnasium comes with all the equipment. Though I couldn’t experience Avenue Café and Kasbah bar & lounge, I did dine at their O’las Indian restaurant. While the main course was mostly Indian with Pulau, chicken and mutton dishes, Kuih Muih which is a Malay appetizer was very delicious and equally colourful. The chef also made sure that he served a Malay specialty in the form of Rojak, a street food. As much as the night skyline view was gorgeous, the sunrise over the cityscape too was a pretty one next morning. Breakfast at Seasons Coffee House had a huge spread of both continental and South Indian cuisine. The bread pudding was absolutely yum.

P.S.: I was hosted by Grand Seasons Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on an invitation from Malaysia Tourism board, but opinions are completely mine.

PNB Perdana Hotel & Suites On The Park, Kuala Lumpur- Review

Amidst the skyscrapers of Kuala Lumpur stands tall PNB Perdana Hotel & Suites On The Park, a 4 star contemporary hotel with all the modern amenities suited for both business travellers and families. Owned by Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), Perdana Hotel & Suites On The Park was opened in the year 2000 and is located in the heart of the city of Kuala Lumpur. While the world renowned Petronas twin towers and Suria KLCC is a short walk away, other shopping avenues such as Pavilion, Lot 10, Bintang Walk too are close by. The presence of many business parks, commercial centres and an easy access to LTRT Ampang Park Station, makes this hotel an ideal one for people who are travelling for leisure as well as for work.

The hotel is known for its urbane ambiance with plush furnishings and all the modern facilities. There are 338 well equipped rooms that the hotel has and all of them come with a work station, living & dining space and a kitchenette. The suites that the hotel offers are 1 bedroom studio,2 bedroom deluxe and premier, 3 bedroom suite and 4 bedroom lifestyle residence. The tariff ranges from RM 1,000 to RM 17,400.

Perdana Hotel & Suites On The Park also has boardrooms, meeting rooms, function halls and private dining areas. It also offers a host of  facilities which include wifi, convenience store, sauna, in house self service launderette, housekeeping services, covered parking etc. The recreational facilities that the hotel offers are an outdoor swimming pool, a children’s pool, a putting green, squash courts, tennis courts, a fully equipped gymnasium, games room and a children’s playground.

To cater to the requirements of various nationalities who visit Perdana Hotel from world over, the hotel has two Food & Beverages outlets- 10 Binjai Restaurant and The 39 Restaurant. While 10 Bimjai offers a host of local and international cuisines, The 39 on the 39^th floor is known for its Malay cuisine. The 39 also offers magnificent view of the cityscape of Kuala Lumpur and guests can dine both indoor and outdoor.

PNB Perdana Hotel & Suites On The Park has received certifications such as ISO 9001-2000, MS 9001:2005 (QMS), MS 9001:2014 (QMS) by SIRIM QAS etc. The hotel also has won numerous awards and accolades of which a few are ‘The Best Hotel 2006’ from The Malay Mail, ‘The Best Service Apartment 2006/07’ from The Expatriate & Lifestyle Magazine, ‘Best Hotel Apartment’ by LIBUR Tourism awards in 2009 and #1 Serviced Residences in Malaysia in 2015 by Maverick Media. The 39 Restaurant also has received numerous awards including ‘Best Restaurant 2008’ by LIBUR Tourism Awards, ‘Top 5 Most Creative Asian Cuisine Chef’ from Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards 2008-10, ‘Best Restaurant 2010’ and ‘Best Restaurant 2015’ by Malaysia Tatler.

My Experience:

Location is definitely the a major attraction of PNB Perdana Hotel & Suites On The Park with many commercial centres nearby. I stayed in a 1 bedroom studio which was a spacious one with extremely comfortable beds, a kitchenette, a living space and a balcony overlooking the skyscrapers. Both the room and bath have been exceptionally maintained to match up to the world standards of a 4 star hotel. Apart from the surveillance cameras in the lobbies, they have taken security measures a step higher by making sure that a person can operate elevators only by using their room keys (cards). Though I couldn’t experience their recreational facilities much due to lack of time, their restaurants more than made up for it. While the breakfast at 10 Binjai was delicious and had a huge spread of both continental and local delights, dinner at The 39 restaurant was absolutely a memorable gastronomical experience. Sup ikan merah Bersama Halia (red snapper in turmeric broth soup), Ayam golekkuah percik (roasted chicken with lemongrass ginger gravey), Lamb shoulder curry (braised lamb in coconut gravy), Ikan kerapu cili hejau (crispy fried grouper) and Vegetable pakoras with steamed white rice were delightful and a great insight into Malay culinary. The highlight however was the dessert- Sago gula Melaka (sago in cocnut cream and palm sugar), which was absolutely delicious. Apart from the excellent food, the outdoor seating of the restaurant also offered breathtaking views of the city skyline.

P.S.: I was hosted by PNB Perdana Hotel & Suites On The Park on an invitation from Malaysia Tourism board, but opinions are completely mine.

Thanjavur: A Blend of Art and History

Nestled in the Cauvery belt, Thanjavur was always a favourite land of the rulers such as Cholas, Nayaks and Marathas since the 9th century. Brimming with Tamil culture, Thanjavur is known for its dance, art, music, paintings, temples and literature. Once referred as the granary or rice bowl of the state due to its rich agricultural prosperity, Thanjavur has slowly over the years turned into another Indian town with all the hustle and bustle. However, despite that, Thanjavur has refused to part with its love for art which is evident in the form of dance festivals, paintings and Chola architecture that can be seen even today. All these art and architecture have also been testimony to Thanjavur’s glorious past which one can notice while strolling through its sculptures, art galleries and temples.

Brihadeeshwarar temple is synonymous with Thanjavur and is undoubtedly the biggest attraction in the town. Built in 11^th century by the Chola king Rajaraja Chola I, the temple which is a part of the great living chola temples and is a UNESCO world heritage site is a majestic creation detailing the Chola temple architecture. Located within Shivganga fort, the temple sprawls over 33,000 sq ft and has two grand entrance towers with beautiful carvings. The large courtyard houses the main shrine with a shivlinga and a  colossal nandi sculpture facing it. What takes all the attention here is the massive tower over the main shrine with intricate carvings and an imposing frame. Atop the tower is a beautifully carved granite block which was rolled up a ramp by many elephants during those days. The extensive sculptures on the outer facade of the shrine is a sight to behold. The courtyard is surrounded by a pathway lined with numerous carved pillars. The premise also houses numerous other shrines dedicated to Subramanya, Amman, Ganesha, Chandikesvara, Varaha, Karuvur Devar etc. While visitors throng the temple through the day, the ideal time to visit is early in the morning or in the evening when the temple gets bathed in myriad shades that the sun splashes over the gorgeous sculptures.

Built in the 16^th century by Vijayanagara empire and later by the Marathas, the Shivganga fort spreads over 35 acres and has most of its outer wall in shambles. A moat can still be seen near the entrance of the temple. The shivganga fort which encircles the Brihadeeshwarar temple also houses a park for children, a small zoo and shivganga tank which provides boating facility.

Swartz church next to the shivganga park was built in 1779 CE by a Danish missionary, Christian Swartz. He was quite close to the then Maratha ruler, King Serfoji II and the church even has marble sculptures of the King and the missionary on the walls inside. The church has quite a simple setting with writings and carvings on marble slabs. Rajagopala beerangi, a canon located near the eastern gate of the fort is believed to be one of the largest in India. Less than a kilometer from the canon is Ranees tower, a historical clock tower built in 1883 during the rule of Serfoji II which later became a war memorial during the First World War.

The Thanjavur Palace complex is a stroll back to the times when the place was ruled by various dynasties. Built by the Nayaks and later renovated by the Marathas, the vibrant Durbar hall with its magnificent carvings is the major highlight here. Along with beautiful arches, the colourful pillars and ceilings accentuate the charm of this hall. Both the colours and the carvings are quite intricate and have terrific detailing. However, the art work and scribbles by the modern visitors have taken the sheen off it to an extent.

Adjoining the durbar hall is a gallery which displays numerous stone sculptures of various gods and mythological characters, some of which dates back to the Chola times. Maharaja Serfoji II memorial hall which is pretty much in a dilapidated state is now a museum and houses collectibles of the royal family. There is a also a royal museum which has a few displays of the royal family such as utensils, weaponry, coins etc.

The art gallery with a bell tower adjacent to it has a huge collection of stone and metal sculptures of gods and various mythological figures. The 17^th century Nayak’s durbar hall is a pretty impressive one with wall art and a magnificent display of bronze statues. There is also a gallery that displays exclusive bronze statues of Nataraja (the dancing form of Shiva). These displays have a great influence of the Chola, Nayak and Maratha dynasties and are reminiscent of the glorious past of Thanjavur. Saraswati Mahal is a library inside the palace complex that houses innumerable texts, manuscripts and writings on palm leaf which have been carefully preserved over many centuries.

Apart from the music and dance festivals, Thanjavur is known for its paintings, referred as Tanjore paintings.  Made on glass or wooden surfaces, the use of vibrant colours, gold foils and precious stones makes it unique. The bronze statues and thalayatti bommai (head nodding dolls) are the other shopping delights here. The dolls are made of clay or paper and brightly coloured. While the dolls can be bought from shops outside the palace complex, the paintings and bronze statues can be checked out at the shops on Gandhiji road or South Keezha Veedhi.

While the Brihadeeshwara temple garners all the attention, Thanjavur also has a few other prominent temples such as Bangaru Kamakshi Amman temple and Punnainallur Mariamman temple. The main shrine at Bangaru Amman temple is made of pure gold and is believed that it was brought here from Kanchipuram. Punnainallur Mariamman temple is by the highway and the 18^th century temple is dedicated to Kali, worshipped in the form of an anthill.

13 Kms away from Thanjavur is the town of Thiruvaiyaru, the birth place of Thyagaraja, the 18^th century Carnatic composer and saint, a revered figure across Tamil Nadu. An annual carnatic music festival, Thyagaraja Aradhanai  is held here every year during his death anniversary when a host of carnatic singers and composers perform. The town is located by the Cauvery river and is also known for its Panchanatheeswarar or Aiyarappanar temple dedicated to Shiva. Colourful towers, broad pathways and mural art on its walls make this temple an attractive one.

Swamimalai is a detour on the road that connects Thanjavur with Kumbakonam. The place is popular for the temple dedicated to Muruga which is located on a rock. A flight of 50 steps leads past small shrines shrouded by carved pillars and colourful ceilings to the main shrine.  The inner sanctum too has wonderful art work and paintings all across. Swamimalai is also the place where the Thanjavur bronze statues are manufactured. One could purchase and also see the making of these statues here.

Thanjavur has more to it than the Brihadeeshwarar temple and takes you through its glorious past from the 9^th century to the 18^th century when it was at its prime under the rule of various dynasties. From temple architecture to sculptures at galleries and Thalaiyatti bommais, Thanjavur reeks of art, culture and history.

Navigator:

Thanjavur is 59 Kms from Tiruchirappalli, 190 Kms from Madurai and 346 Kms from Chennai.  The nearest airport is at Tiruchirappalli. There are frequent trains and buses connecting Thanjavur with major cities across south India.

Food and Accommodation:

Thanjavur is a fairly big town and there are numerous restaurants serving various cuisines, South Indian cuisine being the predominant one. The town also has quite a few popular biriyani places such as Thevar’s, Mohal etc. There are a wide range of hotels in Thanjavur and I stayed at Hotel Valli, which is well recommended.