Hotel Nand Residency & Shreemaya

Nand Residencey

We have traveled extensively in India, but some hotels have a special place in our heart. It’s extremely rare that during our traveling life, we get emotionally attached to the Hotels where we stayed. There are only two exceptions. First one is Shreemaya at R.N.T Road, Indore and second one is Hotel Nand Residency, Mussoorie.

My sister’s father-in-law used to visit Indore very often and always stayed in Hotel Shreemaya. We had gone to Jabalpur / Panchmari / Bhobal and during that period he was supposed to attend seminar in Indore. We planned out trip accordingly. We reached Indore very late in the night somewhere around 1.30 AM. We were very hungry and sure of going to bed on empty stomach. I just casually enquired about the food. When we reached our room, we were pleasantly surprised to find cheese / veg. sandwiches and three glasses of hot milk waiting for us. Where can you find such a personal touch? That was the first impression that lasted long.

We stayed in a suite with private balcony overlooking illuminated garden where every night marriage receptions were used to take place. We found the food served in the restaurant was simply out of class. We stayed in Shreemaya once again after a few years. We had gone to Nainital and while returning, we went all the way to Indore just to stay in Hotel Shreemaya. It is so emotional. Later on my brother was transferred to Indore and then there was no reason to stay in the hotels. However we kept on going to Hotel Shreemaya for lovely dinner, but at their newly opened branch at A.B.Road, and to their Pastry cum Snacks shops at both the places.

Three years back, we planned family trip to Mussoorie, along with my parents, brother and his family including my little princess, my niece, during Diwali vacation. I saw Hotel Nand Residency’s ad in Outlook Traveller, India’s Best Travel Magazine. I checked the details over their Internet site http://www.nandresidency.com/ , and then I said to myself, this is the hotel where we must have family reunion rather reunite and should celebrate dipavali together after an unexplainable gap of many years. I send an email to hotel for reservation and requested for discount and received positive response. This was the first time in my life, when I made advance reservation in a hotel and am glad for that. I have always avoided advance reservations. We reached one day late to Mussoorie as my son was down with a fever at Rishikesh. Before that I called up hotel and expressed my inability to reach on the date of booking. They understood it and assured me. It was a rare gesture on their part.

Because of the economic constraint (as I was about to but home in Pune), I had requested them to book three rooms in economy class. However when we looked at their Deluxe Rooms opening to a large sunny terrace, overlooking Lal Tibba- the highest peak of Mussoorie , we fell in with. The décor of each deluxe room is in different indigenous style. I selected room with Rajasthani style for myself.

So what we did in the terrace ? Believe me, we just lazed in a cosy chair and watched hills and enjoyed breakfast and meals in the most pleasant atmosphere. One corner of the terraceis covered with glasses and converted into restaurant. “There’s something in the air of the place, especially in October and November, that is conducive to romance and passion” (that’s our Mr.Bond).

The much awaited Deepavali night was the most marvelous experience for us. We were sitting in a balcony. Whole town was lit up with decorative lamplight. The sky was full of multicolored sparkling stars from firecrackers. I might say I am sitting on the top of the world having a rainbow around my shoulder. That’s it. That was a moment of self realization. My words are incapable of expressing the feelings. We then attended Pooja ceremony by Hotel staff and joined them in igniting firecrackers.

During our three days stay, we also equally enjoyed the delicious food (Dam Aloo in particular) served by their understaffed restaurant. Majority of the staff had gone to back to homes to celebrate Diwali festival with their family, but we never felt even a small pinch though the waiting period was sometimes used to be longer. The remaining staff took very good care of us.

The trip to Haridwar, Rishikesh and Mussoorie is unforgettable. Firstly we fell in love with neat and clean city, Haridwar, secondly picturesque Rishikesh at the footsteps of mighty Himalaya and then Hotel Nand Residency, Mussoorie.

At Rishikesh, we stayed in Parmarth Niketan, wonderful Ashram on the banks of Holy River Ganga, and attended Gangamaiya's Aarti which was a unique experience itself. During Aarti, all of us were faced with an emotional outburst. Person cries at happiest moments also. That’s was the moment one can die happily. We parted Rishikesh heavy-hearted for onwards journey to Mussoorie and returned Indore with happy memories.

We will never forget the hospitality, the personal touch offered by Shri Shaillendra Karanwal and the member of his staff in our lifetime.

Thanks a million, Hotel Nand Residency and Shri Shaillendra Karanwal for the wonderful experience, and the grand success of our family reunite.