Nagpur is the geographic center of India, and is famous for its deliciously fresh local oranges, as well its connectedness to tiger reserves of India. Nagpur is easily accessible from the national highway, and the city is experiencing a boom in trade and commerce. The city is rich in cultural heritage and has been called one of the “most liveable cities in India”. Must-see attractions in Nagpur include the Maharajbagh Zoo, Sitabuldi Fort, and the Ambazari Lake. For wildlife enthusiasts, Tadoba National Park (125 km from Nagpur) and Pench National Park (176 km from Nagpur) are not to be missed.

The Le Meridien in Nagpur is located about 10 minutes from the International Airport, at a distance of 6 kilometres. A member of the Starwood programme,  The hotel boasts an impressive 133 rooms of which 69 are Deluxe, 60 are Executive Club rooms, 3 are Suites, and 1 is a Presidential Suite. The hotel ambience is that of elegance and sophistication. The rooms feature the custom Le Meridien beds, as well as high-speed broadband connections (a must for business travellers). I had an executive club room for two nights and was pretty satisfied with all the amenities and facilities offered to me.

I had spent the last 8 weeks travelling incessantly so I was looking for some quiet time to reflect, unwind, catch up on my reading and sleep. I spent my mornings at the breakfast buffet, worked my way through lunch and popped in for a workout at the gym. The gymnasium is pretty large and fitted with all the weights and machines minus the frills and they have a personal trainer available to those who might require one.

There is no shortage of fine dining options at the Le Meridien, Nagpur. ‘Latest Recipe’ is their 24 hour coffee shop, where you can enjoy a classic breakfast with a modern twist or choose from a the à la carte menu. One can enjoy cocktails and starters at the Longitude Bar or enjoy Mughal Awadhi cuisine at Kebab Hut every morning. The latter features a live kitchen where you can see your delicious kebabs being prepared fresh. Éclair is the in-house patisserie, where one can indulge their sweet tooth in authentic European Pastry, as well as Le Meridien’s signature creations including several versions of the eclair. I loved a cup or two of my Illy coffee in the afternoons as I curled up with a book or had a chat with guests from the hotel.

Nilaya, the hotel spa, offers a wide range of treatments to relax your mind and body, in an extremely tranquil environment. Full-body massages such as the Marma Abhayangam, Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Jet Lag Massage, Sports Rehab Massage, Aromatherapy and Balinese Massage are offered as 60 minute and 90 minute treatments. The Deep Tissue massage is extremely effective at releasing stress from the deepest layer of muscles, and removes toxin build-up, while leaving you invigorated.The Tech Trouble Massage is unique and addresses issues associated with our modern lifestyle i.e. slouching over a laptop.

If you feel that you do not have enough time for one of the longer sessions opt for a Quick Fix Massage. You can undergo Thai Foot Reflexology, Indian Head, Shoulder & Foot Massage, Chakra Head Massage, Nilaya Kundali Back Massage, and Aroma Hand Treatment. You can choose from their range of essential oils, which include- lavender, orange, ylang ylang, and rose. Nilaya also offers body scrubs and body wraps, and recommends that one undergoes a body scrub prior to the body massages to slough off dead skin cells.

The spa was launching around the time of my visit so I had the liberty of picking treatments that I fancied. I opted for a gold facial and a terra mask. The spa is small and cozy with a few treatment rooms. It isn’t fancy like other luxurious resorts and hotels but has all the amenities one would need in a business hotel. The staff is relatively experienced, warm and pretty attentive but the treatments here need a little bit of work. However, no establishment gets built in a day and these things take time and I’m sure in a few months, the spa operations will be more streamlined.

I love the many installations the hotel has to offer along with the communal spaces in the lobby for guests to meet fellow travellers and interact. The music in the elevators as well as in all common areas is french funk cover band Nouvelle Vague and the music changes its tempo and style through the day to match your mood and energy levels. This ambient music is something that you will notice at all Meridien properties globally and I caught myself dancing to a few tunes in the evening.

Verdict- very accessible and competitively priced- Le Meridien Nagpur offers you great value for money. The food here is delicious and you must try the eclairs and coffee in the afternoon as well as the local specialties in the all day dining restaurant. The chefs take great care to customise your meals and I was able to get gluten free and sugar free items with a lot of ease. The spa and pool is available to guests looking for a little rejuvenation.  It is also the perfect place for a staycation if you are looking to rest up, energise and leave feeling invigorated. Special thanks to Shiv Bose, Divya Shashidharan and Sameer Luthra for hosting me and making my stay here memorable. Also, the housekeeping staff deserve special mention for being prompt and extremely pleasant to work with. I will definitely stay here on my next trip to the tiger reserves.

Quick Notes-
Le Meridien, Nagpur
Opposite Chhatrapati Nagar Square Fly Over
MIHAN
Nagpur
Phone:07103 663 333
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=4318&language=en_US
https://www.facebook.com/Le-Meridien-Nagpur-1045976702093616/