The key to… Something Else Entirely: My Michelin One Key Experience

 

Well, it's got a Key. One of them. Michelin says Narendra Bhawan is a "very special stay" with "character," and oh boy, did it deliver on character! This isn't your bland, "perfectly beige" luxury; this place has personality, much like that eccentric aunt who collects porcelain dolls and tells slightly alarming life stories.

 Narendra Bhawan is a heritage property in Bikaner, Rajasthan. Bikaner is a quintessential one horse town, which is either good or not so great, depending on which color lenses one is seeing it through. For us, it was Bikaner because of Narendra Bhawan. And Narendra Bhawan  because of the one key given by Michelin. Simple.

 So, here’s looking at you, Narendra Bhawan.

 The Vibe: So, you think you're fancy? You've got your passport stamps and your artisanal coffee. Well, welcome to Narendra Bhawan, where your 'local experience' means pretending you're the last Maharaja of Bikaner, Narendra Singhji, who apparently had excellent taste in interior design and a serious aversion to palaces. Think 'genteel chic' meets 'curated chaos.' The design is bold – maybe a little too bold in places.

This isn't just a hotel; it's a 'Landscape of Memories', which is code for you’ll be spending most of your time staring at curated nostalgia and wondering if your own life is sufficiently grand.

 The property, a Michelin Key holder for "A Very Special Stay," offers a royal Bikaner experience with a stunning heritage design, reflecting the last Maharaja's life, featuring vibrant rooms, a rooftop pool, amazing local food, and personalised service that makes you feel like royalty, but be prepared for a serious dose of luxury and nostalgia wrapped in Indian heritage – it's less a hotel, more a storybook come to life, and your Instagram will thank you. 

 The Vibe (Beyond the Key):

The Michelin Key? Pfft, that's just official confirmation that you've entered a different dimension. You'll find yourself sipping chai in a breezy courtyard, lounging by a rooftop pool that looks like it belongs in Portugal, and wondering if you should just move in permanently.

 The Room (Your Personal Time Capsule):

My 'Regiment Room' was less a room and more a contemporary cocoon, probably designed to soothe my modern-day anxieties after witnessing so much regal opulence. The 'Prince Rooms' boast mosaics and velvets that scream 'more is more.’ Honestly, picking a room is harder than choosing a Netflix show, but you can't go wrong. Just don't expect plain white walls; this place is as subtle as a peacock in a sandstorm. Our room had a feature wall that seemed to be having an existential crisis, and the lighting scheme made me feel like I was starring in a moody indie film. It's definitely a "stay," not just a "room." 

 The Service: The staff are wonderfully attentive, almost psychic. They're so attentive, you'll start feeling like you actually belong in a haveli." They anticipated needs before I knew I had them, like the moment I thought, "I wonder if I'm slightly lost in this labyrinthine hallway," and poof, a smiling face appeared with a map (and perhaps a mild concern for my sanity). They go the extra mile, but that mile does not involve a miniature golf cart ride to your room because the property is, well, not expansive. To put it more bluntly- open spaces are very limited. The tour ends before you can say 'Vasco de Gama'.

 The Food (Prepare for Culinary Enlightenment):

They call it 'Halwai breakfast,' and it's less buffet, more royal decree. Expect dishes so exquisite and local that you'll feel guilty eating them with a fork. Seriously, the food is so good, you might try to pay for it with a forgotten piece of royal jewellery. Each meal feels like a personal tribute from the chefs, who seem to channel the spirit of Bikaner's finest feasts. One of the halwais, er chef with a white cap, would glide upto to our table every breakfast with a plate of three dainty jalebis and a pat of rabdi. 

 The Royal Symphony The 'Wake-Up Call': From your charming art deco room, enjoy not only vibrant décor reflecting a Maharaja's travels, but also the authentic sounds of a bustling kitchen courtyard, starting before dawn – think rhythmic clanging as your gourmet experience takes shape. It's a unique, 'immersive' auditory experience, guaranteeing you'll wake up refreshed (or at least, very aware) and ready for their lavish buffet, proving true luxury includes breakfast prep soundtrack. 

Forget gentle birdsong; here, you get the exhilarating percussion of stainless steel as the kitchen preps your exquisite Halwai breakfast. It's a real 'cultural immersion'!" and a true testament to their dedication – they start early!".

 The Verdict: "Come to Narendra Bhawan if you want to feel utterly spoiled, steeped in history, and slightly underdressed. It's a 'Very Special Stay' that genuinely transcends the ordinary. Just remember to pack your best 'regal' expression and a camera – your followers need to know you've been touched by royal magic. If you're seeking absolute silence, perhaps a monastery is more your style. But for a luxurious stay where even the kitchen staff become part of your story (and alarm clock), Narendra Bhawan delivers.". 

 

 

The One About an Idea Being Born

Every idea starts with a niggle, like a soft pain in the leg. You ignore it and the pain seems to subside. Only to come back in a sharper form, nudging you to take action. Until you do. My niggle had been very patient with me- giving me week on week to do other pressing things-like binge watch Slow Horses, cleaning out all the cupboards, taking out each and every weed from the garden. And then it sidled up to me and whispered gently ‘what about your idea? ‘

The idea itself is a very simple one. To help people speak well. To help them to pronounce simple words like development, monastery, determine, government, breakfast correctly. So that, unknowingly, they don’t embarrass themselves. Like I did. As a 17-year-old from hick towns of Uttar Pradesh, entering the Delhi University of yore. Admission to the top colleges was given to only the best, and getting a hostel seat was even more coveted. All around me, that first day, were girls from the best schools in the country, wearing levi jeans (a big thing then), speaking an English which seemed so different from mine-  from convent educated me. A face popped up in front of me and said, “How do you do?”  I replied, “fine, thank you”- giving myself away in that reply. Not knowing that a how do you do is always answered with another how do you do!

The first few months I must have made so many faux pas. I remember the ‘steak’ time clearly. Never having eaten steak- I always read it as steek. One day there was a discussion around food, and I don’t know why and in what context – but I said steek. There was a moment’s silence and then someone picked up the thread and said stake was her favourite and she had it medium done. From that day I vowed that I would never speak a word I didn’t know how to pronounce correctly. I would observe and practice and only then speak. College was followed by my first job at The Times of India. We were a young team of three, and the chairman’s son and daughter took us under their wings. There were many lunches at five star hotels and there I picked up a lot of dining, ordering etiquettes, as well as the pronunciation of many dishes. Watching English movies did the rest.

The debate around "speaking well" versus "not speaking well" is multifaceted, encompassing not only linguistic skill but also social perception, personal confidence, and even the impact of words themselves. While eloquence and polished language are often valued, there is always going to be appreciation for authenticity and the ability to connect with others on a personal level, even if one's speech isn't diction perfect. It is not only, and always ,command over a language that gets you to your sweet spot- many well spoken gentlemen have landed in jail, or fled the country to avoid jail. But, being well spoken does ensure that people listen to you. Whether you are able to use this time to your advantage is another story.

The story that is breaking now is mine. About an idea whose time has come.

#pitchperfect_you