Deccan Odyssey, the award-winning luxury train of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) will now be operated by Cox & Kings Ltd. This partnership will cover full management of on-board and off-board services, sales, marketing and operational activities. The agreement is for a period of 5 years with scope for extension for another 5 years. 

Mr. Arup Sen, Director, Special Projects, Cox & Kings Ltd.; Shri Satish Soni, Joint Managing Director & Director of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra; Dr. Jagdish Patil, Managing Director, MTDC & Smt. Kishori Gadre, General Manager,MTDC

Dr Jagdish Patil, Managing Director, MTDC said, “This association with Cox & Kings will assure the desired level of professionalism to manage services which also need flexible itineraries suiting best to various demands of customers. Highly complex logistic arrangements have enabled us to offer 10 different itineraries for Deccan Odyssey.”      

The Deccan Odyssey has been one of the major attractions for the global tourists. MTDC has therefore, put up an aggressive plan to promote this luxury train internationally. The train has 21 coaches, out of which 12 are passenger cars accommodating 8 people per coach, 1 Conference Car, 2 Dinning Cars, 2 Generator Cars with Luggage Store, 2 Staff, spare Car, 1 Spa Car, 1 Bar Car. The train has on-board facilities like T.V., Cable connection with central audio disc player, cell phones, Channel Music, Foreign exchange facilities, etc. The capacity of the train is 88 passengers.

Referring to this partnership, Mr Arup Sen, Director, Special Projects, Cox & Kings Ltd. said, “It is a privilege & pride to be appointed as the outsourced partner for the Deccan Odyssey and we will ensure that this spirit of partnership will benefit Maharashtra and enhance its position in India tourism.”

A range of short and long journeys across the western and Northern Indian states will give travellers a chance to explore India’s exotic locales and discover timeless traditions. The Deccan Odyssey will commence its first journey on October 4^th, 2014.

The Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive saw a trail of talented designers, some of which we absolutely loved. Here are 7 designers who caught our fancy and why:

Portobello – The Indian Chapter by Anushree Reddy

Anushree Reddy's “Portobello – The Indian Chapter” had a vintage spin on age old floral prints but with an innovative fashionable twist for her heavily embroidered garments. We were instantly reminded of Old British charm with those rose and newspaper prints. The sensuous and flirty garments had bridal as well as formal wear. Dull shades mixed with rich fabrics gave a classy, opulent look to the collection. From stately Anarkalis to diaphanous lehengas and grand saris, “Portobello –The Indian Chapter” collection by Anushree Reddy was a fairy-tale offering to the bride and her entourage who want to look resplendent in regal royal ensembles.

Excavations by Payal Singh

Drawing inspiration from India's first fashion export to the world, the 'Chintz" print of the Coromandal, Payal Singh displayed a line full of trendsetting silhouettes. “Excavations” saw the lovely iconic Indian print in deep tones of aqua, navy, cranberry and coral, which were transferred onto luxurious crepe, silk and linen. We loved the racer back choli teamed with crepe churidar-skirt and printed overlap panel, the chiffon dupatta draped sleeve for the kurta, the silk mul lehenga-sari, navy linen embroidered ghagra- sharara pants and the silver ring embroidered cut-out short dress, which offered several options to the stylish buyer.

Mille Fleurs by Neha Agarwal

The debutant designer's collection is a modern reinterpretation of the classic seventeen century French embroidery. Celebrating 'a thousand flowers', the collection is extremely urban with radiant hues and unusual textiles and textures, yet opulent in ornamentation and appeal. Our favourites include the figure flattering western twisters and the Indo-western fusion garments. The authentic Indian organic tussar, ahimsa, gicha and muga silk are presented with the unconventional quilting details creating a splendid evening essential. 

Frozen by Shubhika Davda's Papa Don't Preach

Crystallised, beaded and sheeted mirrors, coins and suede were turned into stunning pieces in this mesmerizing collection. Adding excitement to the show were cute frock jackets, trench coat dresses and tulle capes, which added a touch of elegance. The silhouettes were sexy, seductive and very high octane glamour – something Lady Gaga would just love to wear for her concerts.Acrylic suitcases were given blossoms as décor and finally Shubhika brought in Snow Globes, as shoes with snowflakes swirling in them, which definitely created a fashionable storm.

 Ekru by  Ekta Jaipuria and Ruchika Kandhani

A delightful riot of colours and fabrics, Ekta and Ruchika's collection revolved around the much in vogue Ikat print. The extensive use of Chanderi, handloom cotton, ghicha and silk lent this collection a very festive look. Vibrant hues created a melangé of colours as fuchsia, red, yellow and lime teamed up with darker tones of bottle green, wine and navy. We particularly loved the lavish use of embellishments and intricate embroideries of thread, aari and zardosi. Dual toned saris with beautiful borders and Shararas worn with regal long-sleeved coats and peplum blouse were our favourites.

Chavi  by Purvi Doshi 

Purvi showcased her line of elegant Indo-western silhouettes exclusively made in Khadi. The creations included Indian hand-embroidered mirrors which reflect the traditional work of our very own intricate craftsmanship. The collection consisted of three magnificent major elements - Khadi, African prints and Kuttchi mirror embroidery which gave it a unique look. Accessories like mirror malas and earrings were a definitely the highlights of the show. The collection has beautiful incorporation of hues like orange, blue, red and green. 

Gloss by Manish Malhotra

Raising the curtain on the season’s most awaited fashion showcase, couturier Manish Malhotra presented his Gloss inspired Indian Cocktail collection. Manish reinvented the lehenga as flowing skirts, while adding an extra edge to the festive season with glamorized racer backs. The long kalidars gets a makeover this season and another highlight of the collection is Manish Malhotra’s version of the Gown Sari - the easy silhouette adding to the romance of the ensemble. Bringing in a final touch to these avant-garde ensembles was magnificent jewellery by Anmol Jewelers. Men’s wear had sherwanis, jackets, kurtas and bundgalas in rich silks in matching colours with horizontal velvet stripes.

Have a thing for the antique and the luxurious? Head for the National Centre of Performing Arts at Nariman Point, Mumbai. Pundole’s, the fine art gallery is hosting an auction on 27^thAugust at Jamshed Bhabha Theatre. The auction features an eclectic mix of luxury and lifestyle objects from Louis Vuitton trunks and Japanese Cloisonné vases to Art Deco furniture and a special line of silver from Royal collections like the jhula, temple and lot more.

Beginning the session is a wonderful selection of art deco decanters and matching glasses from a Royal Family. There are also a range of silver decorative objects from various Royal Collections, including silver bowls, serving dishes, trays and English Hallmarked trophies. Rosewater sprinklers, tea sets, and beautifully shaped Indian lotas round off the auction. The furniture section has a range of material including several writing boxes and camphor trunks as well as writing desks of various sizes. A wide range of decorative art from Japan, skillfully crafted with intricate details will also be seen in the auction.

Other highlights of the auction include a highly unusual pair of star-shaped molded glass lights made by the American designer C.J. Weinstein in the early 1930s, and a famous Art Nouveau bronze lamp of the American dancer Lois Fuller done by Francois Raoul L’Arche. Both these pieces are iconic examples of 20^th Century design, and have been featured in several publications on Art Deco and Art Nouveau respectively. 

A pampering session at the Shanaya Spa leaves Poonam Thapa rejuvenated  and wanting to go back for more of the destressing treatments

The luxury spa Shanaya is a perfect destination to soothe the city ruffled nerves and get rejuvenated. Situated on the fourth floor of the Club Tower at the beautiful Kempinski Ambience Hotel, 'Shanaya' which means the first rays of the sun, is befitting to the start of a beautiful day where I have been invited to review their spa treatments.

As I enter, there is small walk through an elegant corridor in understated beige that immediately sets the tone to a calmer you. Nothing, you see, is loud that may distract or startle your nerves. Hushed tones of lavishness are premeditated to create an air of tranquility and harmony.  Even the aromas, I felt are toned down and there is hardly any trace of the distinctive fragrances that have become so characteristic to a spa that sometimes linger a tad too long. Everything here is styled in a subtle manner for you to sense harmony along with the opulence.

I am escorted to the spa by the elegantly dressed Madhur Madan who heads the Communications and the PR department. Here I am left at the dexterous care of the spa manager Jasmine Maan who explains the various treatments and therapies the spa has to offer.

A refreshing glass of fresh coconut water, well known for its hydrating properties is presented to me as a welcome drink, as I am told about the  five treatment rooms offering Western and Asian treatments with a variety of Ayurvedic, Swedish, Thai massages, body wraps and scrubs along with the Shanaya signature rituals to name a few.

My mind is made. I opt for the signature therapy for the combinations it has to offer. Besides, it is unique to the hotel and helps in providing with an insight to the spa’s exclusiveness. It is a 90 minute international therapy that combines body walk, pressure point massage, stretching, friction strokes, marma points and reflexology to restore the balance and harmony of the body and the mind.

After a quick change, I am inside the therapy room. It is large compared to the usual standards in the capital. It is this space and the warm tones of the room that spell luxury as it embraces me in its folds.  My feet are dipped in a large bowl that is filled with water and flowers.  The ambience and soothing music has already pushed the images of the overcrowded city’s hustle bustle far away from my mind and I am already transported to a serene paradise of the senses ready to surrender to the hands of my therapist Jincy. She tells me three different oils are used for the signature therapy - Vitality for soothing of the senses, Serenity for rejuvenation and Recovery for pain relief which the guest can choose from. I settle for serenity. 

The delightful session begins from the soles of the feet.  As fingers press the vital pressure points and dry massage my stressed out muscles, I began to loosen up. The therapist is extremely well trained and her magical fingers move deftly over my body applying warm lavender oil, known to have calming properties. I relax as the tensions embedded in the muscles ease away. As my body unwinds, all thoughts in my mind are erased and I drift off to a blissful world of nothingness.  At times, I am gently woken up to enquire if the pressure is fine and not hurting, I just purr and doze off again. A gentle pull, a stretch of the nerves and pressure point massage, all are there, in just the appropriate measures. It is releasing the pressures of the daily grind, elevating the senses of well being making me feel so light, that I could be floating.

A dry head massage is part of the signature treatment, however, they comply to my altruistic demand of a head massage with oil. It is the culmination of the therapy and I have already succumbed to deep slumber. As all good things come to an end, I am gently awakened to reality. After a sauna, steam bath and shower I am truly rejuvenated and recharged, ready to face the world once again! Truly a gem of East Delhi that is set to sparkle, Shanaya, is open to its members and welcomes walk-in customers!

Designer Manish Malhotra presented a regal couture collection titled 'Portraits' on the fifth day of Shree Raj Mahal Jewellers India Couture Week 2014. From gorgeous lehengas with sheer dupattas to handsome bandhgala sherwanis, the collection was a perfect mix of traditional wear jazzed up intricate Kashmiri zari work. Understated tones of beige artistically combined with bright shades of red in many of the pieces. Luxe Point India gives you a peek into some of the best ensembles of the evening:

Photographs: Manoj Kesharwani

Nestled in the lap of greenery, the luxe Sooryaa Samudra- Niraamaya Retreat, Kovalam facing the Arabian Sea will mesmerize you with its scenic beauty.

The story began in 1982, in the coastal village of Pulinkudi, about 10 kilometres from Trivandrum, when Klaus Schleusener from Germany, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, converted a deserted hill into the symbol of ancient Keralite architecture and called it his ‘winter abode’. Since then the abode has become a popular resort that is visited by holiday makers from all over the world.  With a background of lush greenery and coconut trees framing the resort and the beautiful. Arabian Sea on its front the place is a must visit for its luxury cottages and scenic beauty.

The resort is filled with Kerala’s ancient history and architecture spread over its vast acres in the form of a temple pillar here, an engraved wooden temple door on some of the cottages, a brass trishul used as a décor piece and many more such artifacts handpicked and sourced from various places in Kerala.

Every heritage cottage here has their own story to narrate. The first suite gives a grand view of the beach while the other has a 100 year old banyan tree swathed with lights around which is landscaped a garden and the washroom area. All this inside the cottage! Yet another cottage gave a stunning view of an old mosque as your first morning view which looked as if perched on a cliff directly over the sea. All these beautiful cottages come with an outdoor shower. They are a mix of the old and the contemporary with terracotta roof, carved pillars and ornate doors that is intriguing and exciting.

The resort is scattered with the dearly loved Hindu God Ganesha in different sizes but the one that catches your eye will be the one carved in black stone looking at you benevolently, weighing about five tones, as you make your way to the restaurant Samsara.

Café Samsara is the place, where you can spend your entire holiday listening to the waves sing a song of their own, sipping on either the famous Kerala filter coffee or fresh sweet tender coconut water.

It also serves delicious local cuisine with excellent grilled sea food and barbeque that’s an absolute must-have. The other dining option here is Essence perched on a cliff serving Far Eastern cuisine, while Madira is the bar overlooking the beach. 

For the romantics the retreat will be happy to arrange a quiet dinner at the beach under the stars with a menu specially prepared by the chef. It’s a perfect setting for wedding destination that will fill your heart with happiness.

If you are visiting Kerala, God’s own country you surely can’t miss the Ayurveda treatment it is so famous for.  The spa here is an absolute must-visit  an it’s not just Ayurveda, you can go for Thai, Swedish and reflexology therapies among many others in the lap of luxury as trained therapist take over the wellness of your being to help you return from your holiday absolutely relaxed and rejuvenated.

Ten things you can do to enjoy Niramaaya Retreat, Kovalam

1. Begin your day with fresh and sweet coconut water

2. Ask for an early morning yoga session – it is unhurried, calming and a balm to your drive-tired backache

3. Indulge in the freshest of sea food

4. Spot the number of Ganeshas scattered throughout the resort – they are beautiful and give a spiritual touch to your walk

5. The local coastal cuisine freshly prepared is definitely not to be missed

6. As the locals do polish it off with specially prepared filter coffee

7. Book yourself into their award winning spa

8. Stay at the Banyan Tree Bungalow inside which is a 100 year old Banyan tree around which is landscaped a garden with bathroom

9. Walk on the beach bare feet to give that much needed muscle exercise

10. Enjoy a beach dinner under the stars with specially prepared menu

Address: Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra - Kovalam: Pulinkudi, Mullur PO,Thiruvananthapuram 695 521, Kerala, India

Reservations: Tel: +91 80 4510 4510 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The growing luxury shoe market in India sees a new entry in Mumbai. John Lobb who has been making the finest shoes for gentlemen since 1866 in London and 1902 in Paris debuts with its made-to-order ‘By Request’ service. Britain’s premier boot maker, owned by the Hermès Group, will foray into the Indian market with Regalia Luxury Retail LLP, a retailer partnering with leading luxury houses in introducing brands at the forefront of the industry in their respective categories. John Lobb was acquired by the Hermès Group In 1976.

With the strong heritage that the brand brings, it will offer service that allows connoisseurs to customize a pair of John Lobbs as per their style and own a pair unique to them. The brand will offer about 150 models including the bestsellers, William and Philip II, in a variety of leather options. Each pair spells sartorial elegance with its quality and selection of only the finest full-grain and exotic leathers. The 190 steps taken to craft each John Lobb shoe ensures the incorporation of the unique creative concepts and patterns, exceptional quality and thorough attention to detail.

“Considering the promising growth in demand for luxury goods, we are very excited to launch our ‘By Request’ service in India. India is a key market for us, and an integral part of our global strategy. We believe in offering the best quality products world over and are hoping to continue to do so. With our ‘By Request’ service, we will be able to understand our customers better and provide them with our personalized service that is part of John Lobb’s brand experience for decades.” says Thomas Collette, Commercial Director, John Lobb (Europe, Middle East and India).

Thomas Collette, Commercial Director, John Lobb                                       Pratik Dalmia, Founder, Regalia Luxury Retail LLP

“We continue to observe a surging demand for luxury products and services from across India. John Lobb has enjoyed the custom and patronage of Indians ever since the early twentieth century and we remain confident the By Request offer will be well received as it allows an individual to customize a pair reflecting their individual personality and style. The offering would start at Rs. 45,000 for non-welted shoes and Rs. 70,000 for the mainstay welted shoe offering.” – Pratik Dalmia, Founder, Regalia Luxury Retail LLP. 

The shoes are crafted in its Paris workshop whilst its expanding Northampton made ready-to-wear collections maintain the core bespoke principles upon which the company was founded. John Lobb has twenty stores including flagship stores in London, Paris, New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai. 

As the Indian men are becoming increasingly aware of their grooming regimes, many international brands look to enter the already growing beauty market for men in India. The latest to take this forward is the prestigious Truefitt & Hill, which brings with them a rich history. This is definitely no ordinary barber shop. It is luxe, it is heritage and a visit here could give you the feeling of royalty while you breathe in its fascinating history.

Consider this, among its patrons are The Duke of Edinburgh, other members of the royal household, many well known business leaders, Members of Parliament, diplomats and visiting dignitaries. It can boast of names like Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, Lord Byron, Frank Sinatra, Winston Churchill, Alfred Hitchcock and Laurence Olivier among few of their renowned clients. 

It is one of the oldest barber shops in the world (it began in 1805) and now It has opened its proud doors in Mumbai to the sheer pleasure and indulgence of men who are particular about their grooming.

So what do you expect on the menu here where men with glorious past and history have walked in for their personal grooming? You will find The Royal Shave, A Royal Haircut, Classic Shave and Haircut, other hair treatments, manicure & pedicure, head massage, facial among many more with a complimentary shoe shine with every visit.

That’s not all, you can also shop for lifestyle and grooming products, which include shaving travel kits, exclusive perfumes and colognes, bath and body products. Along with this they will retail exclusive hand-made cufflinks, some of the finest shoes from England, and other exclusive leather.

T&H is also located in Singapore, Chicago, Las Vegas, Canada, China & Malaysia apart from London.

Krishna Gupta, Managing Director, Lloyds Luxuries Ltd said, “I take pride in representing Truefitt & Hill, a barber shop with inimitable expertise and legacy of many decades. I am confident of this venture to be a successful one as I see an unexplored territory in Men’s grooming.”

Istayak Ansari, Director, Lloyds Luxuries Ltd also stated, “Truefitt and Hill will be the first high end international barber shop in India. The services and facilities offered will be at par with global standards with experienced and well trained staff to offer unparalleled services."

Their ambitious future plan includes launching 200 plus outlets across 75 plus cities while planning to open five more salons within this year in Mumbai followed by all major tier 1 and tier 2 cities in India.

Lloyds Luxuries Ltd was established in 2013 by the Gupta and Agarwal family of The Lloyds Group for their foray into retail and luxury. It has acquired the Master Franchise License for India, Vietnam, Burma, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka for Truefitt & Hill.

The well known luxury hotel chain, one of Europe’s oldest – the Kempinski Hotels plans to go aggressive in the Indian hospitality sector. The brand currently has one hotel in operation in India and 73 globally, with plans to open 112 hotels by 2017.

The growing upper middle class is travelling a lot these days. This includes not just international travel but Indian destinations too are sought after. Duncan O’Rourke, CEO Kempinski Hotels says, “India is a rapidly growing economy with a burgeoning middle class that appreciates and has the resources to enjoy high-end luxury. The country also plays an important role in terms of outbound travel to our numerous properties across the globe.”

“We plan to operate three new hotels in India by 2020. We already have an operational hotel, the Kempinski Ambience Hotel Delhi, and these additions will take our total strength to four hotels in the country in the next 5-6 years”, he adds.

Ulrich T. Eckhardt - President Middle East and Africa, Duncan O' Rourke- COO, Kempinski Hotels and Vella Ramasawmy- GM, Kempinski Ambience Hotel Delhi

Mr. Ulrich Eckhardt, Managing Director & President India, Middle East & Africa, Kempinski Hotels added, “While we are bullish on our expansion in the country we have put a cap on growth as we want to be known for our luxury and exclusivity. India is an extremely important market for us and we are looking to follow a tactical planned approach to grow our footprint in the country.”

The three properties are planned in the cities of Mumbai, Kolkata and Kerala and the company will follow a management contract model for these new hotels. Each of the upcoming hotels will feature 150-250 keys and the property in Kerala is planned to be a resort, the first for Kempinski Hotels in India. 

www.kempinski.com • www.globalhotelalliance.com