Vivanta by Taj - Surya review

Turning on to the prestigious Race Course Road in Coimbatore, I catch a glimpse of blue glass windows against a pure white background, the kind of classic look that symbolises Taj properties everywhere. But this is the newly launched Vivanta by Taj – Surya, the group's latest addition to its sub-brand, Vivanta. Since the inception of the Vivanta by Taj signature, guests and regulars have wondered what distinguishes a Vivanta property from its mother brand, and I was looking forward to finding out. When the façade was so typically Taj, would the rest of the experience be any different?

The Vivanta by Taj – Surya is the 22{+n}{+d} hotel to be built under this label and stands where the Surya International hotel once stood. The Taj group completely changed the look and feel of the old hotel from the inside out to create their ‘upper-upscale' property, making it a new hotel in every sense of the word.

Sunny style

The hotel seems to celebrate light in all its forms. From funky chandeliers to tonnes of natural light in all the spaces, the Vivanta by Taj – Surya lives up to its name. The lobby has a central chandelier composed of numerous glass baubles resembling rain drops that hang at different levels from the ceiling, above a gurgling artificial water feature. This is supposed to represent the centre of the sun, while burnt sienna and white marble floor slabs representing rays of light radiate from this spot. Guests check in at the counters separated from the rest of the space by brightly lit golden screens, which also tactfully hide the elevators. All the rooms and suites in the hotel have large windows to let in as much sunlight as possible, giving the hotel a sunny, cheerful feel.

The rooms and suites

There are 180 rooms and suites available to guests at the hotel, spread out over many floors, from the basic Superior Charm room to the luxurious Presidential suite. The Superior Charm rooms which are on the 7{+t}{+h} to 9{+t}{+h} floors are titled Premium Indulgence rooms as the guests staying here have access to the Rhythm Lounge, a private seating and dining area on the 9{+t}{+h} floor, as an added feature.

The highlight of any room is the view afforded by the large glass windows. As my Premium Indulgence room was on the 7{+t}{+h} floor, I spent quite some time curled up on the comfortable, light green and cream couch gazing at the bluish-purple hills in the distance while vehicular traffic went by below. My room was appointed in cheerful green, teal and cream upholstery. Silk cushions on the bed, a glass-topped writing table, stylish cylindrical lamps and imported tiles with a mother-of-pearl finish above the bed gave the room a contemporary feel. Stone fleur de lis wall hangings and beautiful long-stemmed lilies in a glass vase were all the decoration necessary in this room, keeping the style uncluttered. The same theme was followed in the bathroom, where the shower and lavatory had their separate spaces. The Premium Indulgence room was fairly compact, but the designers had made good use of the space.

The Deluxe Delight rooms have an additional sit-out near the pool while the Deluxe Allure suites have two rooms, namely the bedroom and a living space. But the most impressive of them all is the Presidential Suite, aptly named Nirvana. Perched on the topmost floor of the hotel, this spacious suite is decked out in red, cream and gold upholstery with a large living area and bathroom, walk-in closet and kitchenette. There is even a high-end exercise bike tucked away in a corner for the health-conscious traveller. The Vivanta by Taj brand targets the young luxury traveller and their décor reflects the same.

Dine in style

The hotel is home to two restaurants, a bar and an exclusive lounge and while this may not seem like enough in terms of numbers, it is quite satisfying in terms of tastes and quality. Latitude is the all-day dining restaurant with buffet spreads, a juice bar and an imported wine list. The décor is fun with orange and yellow seating, bright lights and upbeat music. For breakfast, the buffet included creamy baked beans, crisp hash browns, eggs and omelettes made to order and South Indian specialities like upma, idlis and dosas. The lunch buffet was quite interesting with delicious Chinese dishes, Indian sides and breads and the unique Ramasseri idli, a softer, flatter version of the usual idli.

Lovers of all things Oriental can try Red Pearl, the Chinese restaurant at the hotel. The space is filled with seating in red and black with pretty, pink glass kerosene lamps at each table, which sometimes flare up in a dramatic fashion. Peking duck, a large seafood section and the typical dishes of Schezuan cuisine are what one will find here. The management also plans to include a dimsum trolley to go around, bringing steaming dimsums to diners at their table.

Tease, the bar and lounge, is looking to become the new place to be seen at in Coimbatore. The relaxed atmosphere is complemented by the Moroccan lanterns and comfortable seating. Classic cocktails can be sampled with the Mezze platter, different kinds of hummus or fried calamari among other delectable delights. The staff are also willing to tweak drinks and even create new ones to suit individual tastes.

Added features

Each Vivanta by Taj has a set of motifs, unique to the location of the hotel. Here in Coimbatore, guests can take a trip to the Isha yoga centre, visit the neighbouring temples or like I did, have a meal at an ancestral home in Palakkad. The experiences are meant to give the guests a sense of place, which the trip to Palakkad certainly did. If you would rather relax within the hotel, hit The Spa, work out at the fitness centre or lounge by the clear blue pool.

The Vivanta brand has managed to maintain the Taj standard of luxury while keeping the feel young and contemporary. That is how it differentiates itself and guests can see it in the manners, style and age of the staff. At this hotel, the young staff are lively, helpful and easy conversationalists, as I found out by chatting with a few of them. The level of comfort and intimacy they assume with guests is refreshing without being intrusive, telling us about their families and lives. They make the stay here a different and enjoyable experience.

What: The new Vivanta by Taj – Surya

Where: Race Course Road, Coimbatore

How much: Rs 12,000 onwards per room per night; Rs 50,000 for the Presidential Suite

archana.a@thehindu.co.in

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