Hotel Review: The Leela Palace in India

Words cannot do justice to the experience of staying at the luxurious Leela Palace. I'm doing my best to gather my thoughts on the mesmerizing architecture, effortless elegance and the attention to detail that is quintessential of the Leela brand of hotels.

"Some journeys can be summed up in a photo, a tweet, a souvenir. But others are so filled with inner riches, they defy easy description. For our guests, this has always posed a challenge: How to best capture the world of luxury that is The Leela?

For one visitor, it’s a lobby – and a welcome that makes her feel like royalty. For another, it’s discovering a hidden garden, guided only by the scent of jasmine. To some, it is small touches that few others notice – the warmth of a gesture, the extra care in the simplest dish. Finding the right words for this distinctly Indian brand of luxury is made all the more difficult because it is constantly being refined and enhanced."

From the start, the Leela brand has been on a continuous journey to delight each traveller who crosses their threshold. Providing every single guest with memorable, magical stays that deliver the essence of India and discover a 5-Star experience found only in India, and only at The Leela.

I checked in late at night and dropped into my bed given the intense jet-lag, but in my groggy vision I could absorb the brilliance of the numerous chandeliers that dropped from the lobby all the way to my 8th floor sea-facing suite.

I woke up late, around 10, pulled open the thick blackout curtains that was hiding what can only be described as PARADISE! The sun shine from the bright Chennai sky burst into my room lighting up everything I had infact missed to notice!

The bed was of course comfy, but OHMYGOD the view!!! My room and my massive bathroom overlooking the magnificent Bay of Bengal. I had to do what any good girl would do on a Saturday morning - ordered in French Fries and cracked open a beer from the mini bar! What can I say, I'm a beer & fries kinda girl ;)

Yes I know, its Chennai and the magic of the steady ocean blue is limited to the indoors, coz once that sun hits you, you're probably going to change your mind ! But the Leela Palace in Chennai is actually beautifully situated by the backwaters, bringing in cool sea breeze into their sprawling gardens and pool side!

The Leela Palace Chennai is Chennai’s only modern Palace hotel located in the precincts of Chennai that overlooks the Bay of Bengal. It is in close proximity to the various seats of government and the leading business districts of Chennai. The hotel offers a luxurious experience, evoking the rich heritage of the palaces of Tamil Nadu in terms of grandness and space.

The opulent interiors of the hotel blends effortlessly with cutting edge technology in both guestrooms and facilities to provide an unforgettable experience. A mileu of exotic dining options, meeting rooms, premium lounge spaces, meeting rooms and a well quipped gym provide unparalleled experiences.

The breakfast buffet was enough to take one from day to night. I ate for 4, like it was my only meal. I jumped in the pool. And came back for more. 

During my stay, I experimented with every possible cuisine offered in their 3 restaurants and I was not disappointed! From Schezwan chicken in garlic sauce to Mushroom Tagliatelle, I ate like a pig and did not regret it :)

Prancing around their Chess Gardens was apt for I spent #EarthDay witnessing the wild tropical sunset! There's a lot to do when you have ample time and a property so filled with luxurious doors to open... majority of my time however was in the pool.

Long lanes and beautiful breeze with the trees and the building giving a comfortable shade as I soaked the humidity and heat dipping in the cool water. Needless to say, I was hungry and needless to say, there was fruit waiting for me, poolside!

 Its no wonder that in a span of 30 years, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts has grown to comprise a world-class collection of nine award-winning luxury hotels spread across key destinations in India with many more on the anvil.