(From top): A guest gets pampered at Ananda; the Trident Hilton in Gurgaon; a luxury tent at Aman-i-Khas; the royal suite at the Imperial

Would you like a Balinese massage even as you gaze at the Taj Mahal? Or sip herbal tea in a smart suite that looks out on the Ganges as it tumbles down the Himalayas? Maybe you’d like to spend time in a typical Kerala tharavad with the backwaters as backdrop.

Any of the dream holidays can be yours, but for a price. You’ll have to fork out anywhere between Rs 15,000 to Rs 1.8 lakh (that’s per head, per night). For that price, you can take your choice and stay at one of the ultra-exclusive ‘experience’ hotels.

Even doing business can be an extraordinary experience especially if you are staying at the swankiest Gurgaon address ? The Trident Hilton. It’s more a resort than typical business class hotel what with its stone domes, walls and arches, gold leaf artwork, an outdoor heated swimming pool and its own spa. The room rent at this true-blue, exclusive business hotel begins at Rs 11,500 (which is a lot for Gurgaon) and stops at Rs 55,000 for the Presidential Suite. “Luxury is not just in the built spaces but in the richness of the experience,” says Kapil Chopra, general manager.

Giving The Trident Hilton company at the top, is the other leader of the pack, The Imperial. This hotel, which has hundreds of pieces of art dotted around its corridors and rooms is now being marketed as the country’s only Museum Hotel. While 98 per cent of The Trident Hilton’s clients are top managers of big corporate houses, The Imperial is the hang out of high-end tourists willing to shell out anywhere between $350 to $3,900 (Rs 16,170 to Rs 1.8 lakh) for a night. Conceived in 1936 as the city’s most luxurious hotel, today the fully refurbished Imperial is back in the news for its impeccable d?cor and its huge collection of 18th and 19th century artworks.

“The growth of travel is significantly upwards and is likely to continue for some years. So premium and rich products are catching the fancy of leisure and business travellers ? both foreign and domestic,” says Jose Dominic, managing director, CGH Earth that has a battery of eight ‘experience hotels’ in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and a restaurant in far away Germany.

These concept hotels run on the belief that the holiday experience must be utterly unforgettable ? and that translates into steep room rates. Travellers who are seeking more than a holiday can beat a path to Ananda in the Himalayas or Devi Garh off Udaipur for their holistic healing spas even if a two night’s experience can cost between Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000.

The Oberoi Group too is carefully building its super-luxury ‘experience’ segment. Besides The Trident Hilton, the other jewels in the The Oberoi Group’s crown are its premium Vilas hotels of which The Oberoi Rajvilas, The Oberoi Amanvilas and The Oberoi Udaivilas set a guest back anywhere between Rs 22,500 to Rs 1.27 lakh for a night.

Then, there’s global favourite, Singapore-headquartered Amanresorts, which has also come calling and which is recording 100 per cent occupancies (except in the summer) in Alwar and Ranthambhore where its resort hotels are located. Aman fans don’t bat an eyelid at the $900 (Rs 41,580) pool pavilion at Amanbagh in Alwar.

Though foreigners currently form the bulk of the clientele (between 80 per cent to 95 per cent at different properties), the number of Indian guests is also rising steadily, especially during the traditional low season between May to July. Says B. Venkatesh, director sales and marketing, Devi Resorts, “The clientele is mature, well-travelled throughout the world. And today Indians don’t mind paying heavily for a top class experience.”

What makes Aman special? Nobody has quite figured out the formula but it consists of taking unusual environments and teaming them with the ultimate in luxury. Says Trina Dinlger Ebert, executive director, Amanresorts, “Our resorts are small, intimate and adhere to certain principles of aesthetics in service, architecture and facilities. The highpoint is their location.” The philosophy finds an echo in other resort hotels as well.

(From top): A view of the majestic Devi Garh fort palace hotel; Spice Village set in the Periyar wilderness; the Brunton Boatyard in Fort Cochin; a view of the lounge at Amarvilas with the Taj Mahal in the background

It’s important to make the experience of the property distinctive from any other. The guests should not get a feeling that they could be in ‘any’ luxury hotel in the world,” says Dominic. The best-known resorts of the CGH group are Coconut Lagoon, a tile and timber mansion in Cochin, the Spice Village that’s set in the Periyar wilderness, and the decades old Brunton Boatyard in Fort Cochin.

Across the CGH Group, occupancies hover at 90 per cent (except during summer) despite tariffs that veer between $300 and $500 per night (Rs 13,860 and Rs 23,100). For some serious healing, guests are heading to CHG Earth’s Kalari Kovilakom, the 19th century palace that specialises in Ayurvedic holidays. Visitors must book a minimum of a 14-day stay that will cost Euro 350 a day (Rs 20,440).

But guests don’t seem to mind forking out a small fortune as they check out. While in Alwar’s Amanbagh, peak season tariffs for foreigners go from $550 to $900 (Rs 25,410 to Rs 41,580) and at Aman-i-Khas in Ranthambhore, wildlife enthusiasts must pay $750 (Rs 34,650) for a minimum of two nights. Says Ebert, “When you are in the lifestyle business, the niche market is willing to pay the rates provided the facility lives up to expectations.”

Though currently a mere five per cent of Aman junkies are Indians, the group is wooing the domestic market by offering a tempting 40 per cent discount on its rack rates at Amanbagh. So till September 30, rates will stay between a discounted $330 and $540 (Rs 15,246 and Rs 24,948).

A key component of the upmarket hotel ‘experience’ is the spa. Cut to the cooler climes of Ananda in the Himalayas that’s a major draw for tired souls. Says Ashok Khanna, managing director, Ananda ? in the Himalayas, “Our guests, who’ve been to other popular spas of the world, think it to be the most authentic spa experience that they’ve had in their lives.” The guest composition changes with the seasons at Ananda.

Devi Garh is another top spa holiday destination. Set in the Aravalli range in Rajasthan, the 18th century fort palace boasts of 39 suites with spectacular views of the lush hills. “The resort’s hallmarks are personalised and intimate service,” says Venkatesh. Give in to its healing touch for a week and expect to shell out a cool Rs 1 lakh for a couple.

Just as evocative are the Vilas hotels courtesy the Oberoi Group that sit in rolling acres in Jaipur, Agra, Udaipur and Ranthambhore. The spas at the resorts are managed by Banyan Tree, one of Asia’s best-known spa management companies, and are packed with world-class facilities. “It is already difficult, if not impossible, to secure accommodation at Rajvilas from October 2006 to March next year,” says Ketaki Narain, director, corporate communications, The Oberoi Group.

Even as the resorts are ranked amongst the best in the world, they rely heavily on word-of-mouth publicity to keep the guests coming. Says Dominic: “We have practically no budgets for advertising.”

Having carved their niches, the groups have expansion plans up their sleeves. The CHG Group stepped out of Kerala and now flaunts Swaswara (meaning your own rhythm) in Karnataka (two-and-a-half-hours from Goa) and Vishalam in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu. The CHG experience has just been replicated in Germany, an hour away from Stuttgart where the CGH International has unveiled a restaurant with yoga and meditation rooms in the Indian Forum in Swabish Hall.

Meanwhile, encouraged by the response to their resorts in India, Amanresorts will unveil the group’s third hotel in a bustling part of Delhi early next year. Imperial too is looking to expand within the luxury hotels and real estate segments and is in the process of evaluating propositions.

Ananda for its part is scouting for another just right location in India. Says Khanna, “For a destination spa, the location has to be unique.” But an Ananda spa will open its door by the sea in Mauritius by end of this year.

The Oberoi Group too has several projects at the planning stage. “We are inviting investors to partner in developing business and leisure hotels, which will be managed by us,” says Narain. Currently, the chain is looking to expand into Thailand, Cambodia and Dubai. Above all, a palace in Rajgarh, a short distance from Khajuraho, is being developed into a leisure hotel.

As the resorts turn their eyes towards Indians, they are hoping that the domestic market will soon be checking into the luxury that they promise.

Photograph of Trident Hilton Hotel by Rupinder Sharma

Eye on Indians

• The Oberoi: The Oberoi Unforgettable Experiences Summer 2006 package for two is valid till September 20 at Rajvilas, Amarvilas, Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore and Wildflower Hall. For 2 or 3 nights the package is priced at Rs 27,000 or Rs 38,000 respectively and includes stay, breakfast, airport or railway station transfers, discounts on spa treatments and meals.

• Ananda ? in the Himalayas: 2 nights till September 30 cost between Rs 18,000 to Rs 24,000; includes stay, breakfast, dinner, a trek and hydrotherapy.

• Amanresorts: The 6-nights Camp Oasis and Journey package combines 3 nights in Aman-i-Khas and 3 nights in Amanbagh; it will cost between $4,050 and $4,950 (Rs 1,87,110 to Rs 2,28,690) depending on the room opted for in Amanbagh on double occupancy. It includes transfers between the two properties, but no meals. Valid from October 1, 2006 to April 30, 2007.

• The Trident Hilton: For a couple, 1 night costs between Rs 12,900 to Rs 24,950 and includes accommodation, a spa treatment each and meals.

• CGH Earth: Coconut Holidays over 7 nights spread out over Brunton Boatyard, Spice Village, Coconut Lagoon and Marari Beach cost between Rs 49,500 to Rs 55,000 per head. Includes accommodation, meals, transfers, sightseeing. From October 1 to April 30.

• Devi Garh: Two nights for Rs 24,950 for a couple includes accommodation, breakfast, dinner, sightseeing.