Ashok Hotel

In New Delhi, I stayed in Ashok Hotel, located in the tranquil, tree-lined diplomatic enclave in Chanakyapuri. As someone remarked, it is a grand, wonderfully situated hotel that could be run better.

What I liked about it most was its touch of Indian art and culture. There are replicas of famous Indian sculptures and artifacts at the entrance and all over the lobby. The undulating lobby ceiling (shown above) depicts the founding myth of the country. The second floor corridor is lined with elegantly powerful photographs taken by Steve McCurry, mostly of Asia.

Also, during the three weeks that I stayed there, two painting exhibits were held in the tea lounge. In the first one, you could actually watch the artists, all women, at work. In the evenings, I enjoyed passing between the two rows of easels holding the canvasses, on the way to my room, as soft piano music played in the background.