| Wildflower Hall - Where Nature and Nurture Unite
Rising up some 8,250 ft in the Himalayas, above the most attractive Hill Station of all, Shimla, is one of India's most spectacular hotels, Wildflower Hall. Once the retreat of Lord Kitchener and now a proud Oberoi landmark, Wildflower Hall offers an absurdly fantastic vantage point to witness the glorious manifestations of Earth's most decorative season, Spring. Wild flowers spread spectacularly across the side of the lower slopes of the mountains, splashing colour with wild abandon beneath the aromatic cedar, while the mountains in the distance cap it all with their peaks of snow. In summer it offers a cool respite from its warmer neighbours and in winter it warms the coldest of hearts. The breathtaking views are, for most, genuinely therapeutic and the dedication afforded by the staff is as serene and perfect as the surreal location.
Your soul will submit to the environment, so let your body surrender to a suite so divine and give yourself over to a pampering stay in a nurturing Himalayan hideaway. Every room of the hotel is set off by the spectacular vista and, although the hotel has undergone extensive refurbishment, the spirit of the past is intact. Neo-colonial comforts have matched the extreme altitude in standards.
The Lord Kitchener Suite IS suite surrender.
It is vast: 110 sq meters to be precise, with a seemingly open chequebook when the interior designers were let loose. This space is enhanced by the Himalayas, which, due to expansive floor to ceiling windows, are ever present. The light here has been described as 'magical,' almost out-of-this-world, so the detail to furnishings has been thoughtfully blended with nature. The palette is made up of classic, warm, Indian maroons with tones of caramel and champagne framing the enormous windows. The panelled walls and polished floors are made from Burma Teak and several hand knotted carpets lie proud underfoot. In cooler months, a personal butler is on-hand to look after the fireplace, which burns deep into the night, while snow falls on one of nature's most generous gifts.
The master bedroom has a king size, four-poster bed with tapestry cushions and luxurious linen and the guest bedroom is suitably spacious: both benefit from a walk-in-closet. The caramel coloured silk curtains are drawn each morning exposing an astonishing vista of the greater Himalayas. The bathrooms are tantalizingly extravagant, with an abundance of Ayurvedic accessories and meters of marble surround a luxuriant bath; ready and rose-strewn for the fortunate arrivals.
If you leave your suite you can...
Shop in Shimla
The Mall is where it all happens: it runs along the Ridge and is a teeming mass of traders and tourists picking out antique pashminas and wonderful Tibetan trinkets. The Mall also retains some of the largest names in the garment and textile industry from India. You can purchase a silk shalwar kamise, the famous Himachali hat in various colours, sculptures crafted from fruitwood and, if you are lucky, some genuine chunky turquoise and amber Tibetan one-offs. To avoid fakes, purchase items from Government-approved emporia.
Discover the 'spiritual Shimla'
The Jhaku temple dedicated to Hanumanji, the attendant of Lord Rama, is in the East of Shimla at the highest point of the Ridge with extraordinary panoramic views of the city. Christ Church and St. Michael's Cathedral are the second oldest churches in Northern India built between 1846 and 1857 and now renowned for their magnificent stained glass windows. There are many other cultural hot spots around Shimla that are worth visiting.
Picnic among Pines
Reminisce with a picnic, put together by the kitchen at Wildflower Hall complete with champagne and strawberries, at the infamous Annandale, beyond the Glen. This was the playground of Shimla; surrounded by deodar forest you can imagine the British being entertained with polo, cricket and racing while snacking on delicate cucumber sandwiches and smiling at their good fortune with a rhododendron flower behind their ears.
Or...
Back at Wildflower Hall - recline in a Spa that requires no superlatives!
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