Royal Splendour

The opulent interiors of The Leela Palace Bengaluru and The Leela Palace New Delhi recall India’s glorious architectural legacy while celebrating the country’s rich cultural heritage. Hong Xinying takes a closer look at the details that went into the making of their palatial grandeur.

- Hong Xinying

A stunning 400 roses— that’s the exact number of fresh flowers that fit into the gold vase displayed in the lobby of The Leela Palace Bengaluru in India. The florist is instructed to arrange no more or less than this number of blooms each time, the front office manager explains; he’s even counted them to check. It’s one of the many lively anecdotes shared during my tour of the hotel’s palatial compound that also epitomises the meticulous attention to detail.

With its pink sandstone exterior, The Leela Palace Bengaluru is a rosy vision that rises above Bangalore’s busy Old Airport Road. Situated within a city that’s better known as the Silicon Valley of India, the hotel is an alluring sight set against a populous urban landscape. Large, vaulted gateways and delicate ornamentation define the grand design of this hotel, which draws architectural cues from the Palace of Mysore in Karnataka and the palaces of the Vijayanagar empire.

Like its sources of inspiration, the hotel celebrates a hybrid confluence of architectural and decorative styles. This is conveyed through details such as graceful arches and domes, as well as its strikingly symmetrical layout—Indo-Islamic features used in Mughal architectural monuments such as the Taj Mahal and Humayun’s Tomb. Lobbies, hallways and other public spaces within feature Art Deco-style flourishes and Venetian-made Murano chandeliers, while artisan-made furniture pieces and decorative objects give these spaces a localised flavour.

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