Chandigarh has always felt like home because I’ve been visiting my cousins and family friends since I was little. It is pristine, friendly and so much quieter than Delhi. I was surprised but you almost don’t hear anyone honk loudly, people obey traffic rules and the roads are always empty. It is the perfect place to spend a night or two before you head up to Shimla or Manali in the summer. My parents spent a large chunk of their time in this beautiful city before I was born and I grew up listening to stories about their trips to the mountains and how much butter chicken they consumed over the years. You can imagine my reaction when Speakeasy invited me to experience the The Lalit Chandigarh. I was absolutely thrilled. I rang my dear friend, Tanvi Bhatia who is a fabulous brand strategist and photographer who accompanied me on the trip.

Located in Rajiv Gandhi IT Park – Chandigarh’s business hub, The Lalit Chandigarh is a five star deluxe hotel, overlooking the Shivalik range. The hotel is inspired by the famous French architect Le Corbusier, which is reflected both in the architecture as well as the interiors of the Hotel. The award-winning Rejuve Spa is massive with 8 treatment rooms replete with ensuite bathrooms and all the latest amenities. The hotel has a state of the art gymnasium, salon and an outdoor heated swimming pool so you don’t need to worry about swimming in the winter.

We checked in for 2 nights and 3 days and we were well looked after from the moment we checked in. I was looking forward to swimming in the evenings, catching up on shows and my reading and eating my bodyweight in sushi. I didn’t think that was possible in Chandigarh but I was very impressed with the quality, service and the food at OKO- the asian fine dining restaurant at the hotel. The sushi and sashimi platters were incredible. We ordered our mains from the Thai section and everything was wonderful. The produce was fresh, the portions were hearty and the flavours were distinct. The dishes were impeccably plated and the seating was very comfortable. We held our sated bellies and drank jasmine tea for a while afterwards. I would definitely recommend OKO if you are craving something ‘umami’ or just want to have a romantic candlelit dinner. The food is at par if not better than its other pan asian counterparts in other major cities.

The in-room dining was also prompt and the menu had everything you could ask for from pizzas, healthy smoothies, sugar free desserts and a wide selection of lean meats. We were feeling particularly exhausted after shooting all day so we decided to stay in our robes and eat dinner and watch #gameofthrones. The lean chicken breast came with sauteed spinach, asparagus with jus on the side and I must say it was flavourful and succulent compared to the hormone raised and fed chicken we get. The Lalit has a very strong #farmtoplate concept where they grow a lot of their own herbs, vegetables and fruits and try and get all their meats from organic retailers as far as possible. We polished off our salads and our mains and ordered a sugar free blueberry crumble with herbal tea for dessert which was absolutely delicious.

Manali hosted us for lunch at the Indian restaurant Baluchi which overlooks the forest and is famous among people in Chandigarh for its wide selection of whiskeys and the ‘naanery’. The ‘naanery’ is an interesting culinary concept where they pair a few different kinds of rotis and parathas to different Indian wines. I ordered the kebab platter- which albeit delicious, was too large and hard to finish. I had absolutely no space for dessert but Manali and Tanvi ordered the ‘paan kulfi’ which was bursting at the seams at the flavour. I highly recommend you save room for the desserts here and remember if you go overboard you can always swim it off in the evening.

Krishna, the spa manager was kind enough to give us a yoga session at the lawns by the swimming pool. We started off with some breathing and chanting. I noticed that my chest felt lighter because the air was so much cleaner in Chandigarh. A few minutes later, we proceeded to do the surya namaskars followed by some balance poses and I practiced the shoulder stand and the head stand. I uploaded a view videos and images onto my Instagram feed. Have a look here

Rejuve, the spa is well lit and strategically designed to enhance relaxation and make you feel like you are in tranquil surrounds. With 8 state of the art spa rooms and a turkish hammamm, the spa is by far the best wellness centre in all of Chandigarh. The Ayurvedic rooms are large, spacious and airy and can be used for shirodhara, padh-abhyangam and the ayurvedic facials. The highlight of my spa experience was the deep tissue massage. My friend Tanvi and I were busy taking #robeselfies and pictures of the interiors of the spa when we were escorted into our room. The deep tissue massage was by far one of the best treatments I’ve had in the country- hands down. The therapist was very attentive and worked very hard to rid my body of all the stiffness, muscle soreness and worked to relieve some of the knots. My travel schedule, slouching shoulders and sitting has made my shoulders, upper back and neck very stiff and sore. I have been working out pretty consistently for the last few months and really needed this massage. The massage was followed by a luxurious Rani Padmavati Facial. This facial is performed by experienced therapists using the finest recipes from ‘forest essentials’. A facial like this, when done regularly, can yield excellent results. It claims to slow down cell degeneration and ageing, as it eliminates fine lines and restores firmness. Soundarya, a potent serum helps make your skin look younger by increasing the production of collagen. The facial uses upward strokes that promote lymphatic drainage and leaves you with skin that is supple, hydrated and radiant. Unlike other facials that have harsh exfoliants and chemicals that peel away the epidermis, the products from forest essentials are hypo-allergenic and gentle on even sensitive skin. However, if you are allergic to essential oils and fragrances, I recommend you do a patch test earlier to test for reactions.

Our check out was a late and relaxed check out. We ordered some chicken and dessert to line our bellies before we departed for Delhi and glanced out at the lush, verdant view from our ‘forest view rooms’. My dear friend, Rehat Brar brought in hair extensions from her company ‘Muxoextended’ and we ended up shooting a makeover at the salon downstairs. As we were driving away from the hotel, I couldn’t help but wonder about the last time I had visited Chandigarh without any agenda. The two nights I spent here made me noticeably calmer, more relaxed and refreshed.

Thank you team Speakeasy, especially Sanjana and Shemaila for organising this trip at a time when I needed it the most. Manali, you were absolutely fabulous and your team was prompt and very attentive. Special thanks to Krishna and the spa team for spoiling us silly with the indulgent facial and the deep tissue massage that brought us relaxation and restful sleep. Special thanks to Prabhkaran and Birinder for seamlessly organising the tickets and our stay and making us feel very comfortable and the entire staff at the Lalit, Chandigarh. Thank you for having us. We can’t wait to be back.

Photo Credits- Lalit Hotel,Chandigarh
Location Courtesy- The Lalit Chandigarh
Wardrobe Courtesy- Aria Leya
Hair Extensions- Muxo Extended by Rehat Brar

Quick Notes-
The Lalit, Chandigarh
Rajiv Gandhi IT Park, Near DLF Commercial Complex, Chandigarh, 160101
Phone: 0172 300 7777
Phone: 0172 300 7777
http://www.thelalit.com/the-lalit-chandigarh/
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/thelalitgroup/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/TheLalitHotelChandigarh/