If you are in Delhi, the idea of a destination wedding after the pandemic seems a tad difficult, what with the painful travel formalities you may need to deal with. But what if we told you that about 125 kms from Delhi is a place that is not just the perfect answer to a destination wedding/ getaway question, but also a hidden gem that adds to the exclusivity value? And dare we add, at perhaps a fraction of the cost!
With more and more people slowly emerging from the lockdown (and prepared for the new normal), travel is beginning to look up. One trend that is common to vacations and getaways across the world is local travel or short-distance travel. Travellers and tourists seem to be favouring road trips and journeys to rediscover what is around them. Places that offer unique experiences are giving confidence to travellers to start venturing out.
One such destination that allows those fond of road travel a chance at experiencing the lush green countryside, as well as regal luxury in a town steeped in history, is Noor Mahal, owned by ex-army man, Manbeer Choudhary and his wife Binny Choudhary. This luxurious palace pays rich tributes to the history and culture of this sleepy town.
Mythology credits, the brave warrior of Mahabharat, as the founder of Karnal. History suggests it saw a battle between Nader Shah of Persia and Mughal emperor Mohammed Shah. Further research indicates that some British officers and their beleaguered families escaped to this town during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
At Home, In Noor Mahal
Noor Mahal certainly gives the identity of the sleepy town of Karnal a luxurious makeover. Combining Rajput building styles with Punjab’s legendary hospitality and grandeur, a stay at Noor Mahal is a treat for the city-weary soul. With its palatial architecture, it wins hands down on history, character and convenience. The property is enriched with traditional crafts and intricate works that echo the designs and charm of the past. Here, pause for a moment to admire a wall embellished in exquisite thikri work, get mesmerised by the three-dimensional architectural beauty of the colourful peacock mural in the lobby and the vibrant colours enveloped inside the property. And a considerable amount of time and effort was invested to raise this labour of love.
God Here, Is In The Details
The entire credit for the way the Palace looks must be given to Ms Binny Choudhary, who has painstakingly collected objets d’art from all over India and the world and used her brilliant aesthetics to create a place that could put Karnal at a prominent place on any traveller’s map.
The effort put into the detailing translates not just into a visual treat but also one that is a treat to gastronomes as well! I was blown away by the commitment to the essence of Frontier Mail, the flagship restaurant at Noor Mahal, that pays a rich ode to the pre-partition era railway of the same name that plied between Bombay and Peshawar. There is a life-size train compartment recreated with authentic period lighting and décor. But the real differentiator is the multi-cuisine menu designed and created by Chef Andie Rawat that combines the tastes and flavours of all the regions the Frontier Mail passed through.
The experience of feeling like a royal does not just come from the material objects that surround you. At Noor Mahal, each and every member of the staff – right from the reception and front desk to the chefs in the kitchen, the gardeners in its expansive lawns – makes sure to lay out the red carpet for you, pandering to your every whim. And if you are planning to get married here, be prepared for your grandest dreams to come true.
My favourite part of Noor Mahal that epitomises everything ‘grand’ is their Presidential Suite, the Khwabgah.
The Room of One’s Dreams
There is a reason why it is so easy to fall in love with the magic of the Urdu language. And with the opulence that the Khwabgah, the jewel in the crown of Noor Mahal has.
Khwabgah (the place of dreams), is a 2000-square-foot haven that occupies a prime location overlooking the expanse of Karnal vide a terrace flanked by Rajputana turret-like chhatris, and Mughal daantedaar mehrabs or scalloped arches. The suite has a sumptuously appointed living room, two equally dazzling bedrooms, its own bar, two generous bathrooms complete with bathtubs and Jacuzzi and a private terrace with panoramic views of the city and the paddy fields.
But the one thing that made me bow down in awe (literally) was the entrance to this regal chamber. The stout wooden main door of the Khwabgah is 230-years old and once belonged to a haveli in Bikaner’s Raisamand. It now opens to a veritable museum of antiques spread over two spacious bedrooms. The USP of the Khwabgah is definitely the dozen or more antiques that fashion it into truly a place of dreams. The king-size bed is engulfed in a brocade bedspread that was cut out of curtains that hung in a royal house in Faridkot; the 19th-century kitchenware adorning one of the walls were acquired at a Mysore auction. The personal bar inside the suite was actually a chavara, or balcony, of a house in Amritsar’s Golden Temple complex that was bought shortly after the precinct’s expansion in the 1980s, post-Operation Blue Star. Small wonder that Hema Malini, Rahul Gandhi, Sunny Deol, Prince of Leicestershire, have all enjoyed the creature comforts of the Khwabgah at Noor Mahal. The two bedrooms are like an art gallery showcasing handcrafted gold leaf frescos on the ceilings and displaying several artefacts including 19th-Century bejewelled wooden combs from a Mysore auction. The king-sized bed is accessorised by magnificently carved headboards and silk covers. If that weren’t enough, the expansive 8-seater dining table is the door of a fort in Rajasthan and the chairs its windows. The personal cutlery is all silver.
When Ayush, my affable butler shows me around the suite and parts the hefty curtains, what I see beyond the glass door is also Khwabgah’s most beautiful spot – a chequered terrace with the Indian tricolour fluttering proudly—an ode to the illustrious career of Manbeer Choudhary as a retired colonel.
Say ‘I Do’ To Heritage Luxury
The luxury is not restricted to the Khwabgah alone. Noor Mahal in Karnal, Haryana, reflects the owners’ vibrant and eclectic taste in art and architecture. The property is enriched with traditional crafts and intricate works that echo the designs and charm of the past. It is these details and historical flourishes steeped in the grandeur that make the hotel stand apart. This is unbridled Indian luxury at its finest, and the service is exemplary too. You will be teleported back in time to the days of yore, an era of royalty, at this incredible Indian palace hotel.
A wedding here would be nothing short of a royal extravaganza!
Words: Aaertii Singh
Dr Aaertii Singh is an independent writer with close to two decades’ experience in various media. After securing a doctorate in film studies, she is now indulging in her passion to discover the world. She writes on food, luxury, films, travel, wellness and celebrities.
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