We were invited to the Royal Orchid Brindavan Garden in Mysore, and last weekend decided to take this staycation. This particular property is about 30 minutes drive from the city, and is actually situated inside the Brindavan Garden. Overlooking the KRS Dam on one side, and the expanse of the beautiful gardens on the other, the place has all the old school charm being a heritage property, and has quite a beautiful architecture. We had a chance to meet the GM – Mr.Arijit who took us around for a tour of the property.

THE HOTEL GROUNDS

The interiors had gorgeous high ceilings, heavy swings, grand sit outs and lovely gardens all around. A nirvana terrace is available at the hotel, which is quite a coveted venue for events and romantic dinners. The property also has a swimming pool, giant chess board, spa, a restaurant called CK’s and an open air barbeque area. There are various species of birds all around the trees in the property, and we were delighted to know that pets are welcome there.

The grand staircase took us to the first floor, which also hosts the Elephant Bar as well as a set of rooms. Our room was big, spacious, and in some ways reminded me of my visits to my grandparents’ place. A large airy room, a king size bed with bed posts, lovely big private verandah that overlook the Brindavan Garden as well as the Krishnaraja Sagar dam. We were staying in the King Room that offered all the amenities like wi-fi, LCD, a fully stocked mini bar etc.

MEAL AT CK’S & BBQ DINNER

We reached Mysore a little past noon, and I was totally famished. We were set up for a meal at CK’s, the in house restaurant at the Royal Orchid. During dinners, there’s usually a buffet available, but lunches are a quiet affair here. We kept the order simple – palak gosht, dal makhani, Indian breads and steamed rice. The food came quickly, thankfully! We liked the flavors, good portions and enjoyed the food.

After a short nap, we were recommended for a visit to the Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary. Located about an hour away from the hotel, this sanctuary lies on the banks of the river Cauvery. I guess the time we reached there was pretty good, as the birds were making their way home, and were seen in abundance so various species like Painted Stork, Heron, Kingfisher and more were spotted. Quite a few migratory birds from various regions are found here as well. A blog post on our visit there coming up soon!

The weather got a slight chill just after sunset, and we had our dinner at the Barbeque area near the pool side. Some fresh grilled fish and chicken with beer was quite nice. CK’s had a pretty nice buffet spread, which looked quite inviting as well. We tried desserts and some mains from the buffet as well.

MORNING AT ROYAL ORCHID BRINDAVAN GARDEN

I have been to Brindavan Garden a few years ago, and remember it as crowded and hot. But if you are staying at the Royal Orchid, you have access to the Gardens’ at any time. Breakfast was laid out at CK’s – a pretty balanced buffet. We found quite a lot of options of hot and cold dishes, serving puri, idli, dosa, eggs, pancakes, french toast, fresh juices and hot beverages in the spread. We then stepped out into the gardens for a stroll, and that was beautiful. Pleasant sun, bright green gardens and the best part – hardly a soul around.

We then went to the Blue Lagoon – the backwaters of the river Cauvery, a place I went back to after almost a decade. Pristine, almost untouched, and again not populated with people – we were told its a place that young couples hang out at, in the evenings. In the morning though, there was just us! Great to have a picnic here (make sure you clean up after yourselves) or even just a lazy morning.

When we checked in, we had received a complimentary massage voucher at Royal Orchid Brindavan Garden Spa, which I took after getting back. A short session, but quite relaxing while Tap enjoyed the sun and the pool!

SUMMARY

In conclusion, we absolutely enjoyed our stay at Royal Orchid Brindavan Garden. The hotel has incorporated all modern amenities, despite being a heritage property. The rooms are royal, and service is thoughtful yet prompt. The property has a lot of greenery, hence a lot of birds inhabit the trees here. Most noteworthy, the staff encourages a lot of activities, and not just main stream ones. So if you are wondering what else is there in Mysore aside from the palace and festivities around Dussehra, you would be surprised with the variety of things to do around this city. Tariff starts from about 5000 INR per night, including breakfast and wifi. For further details and reservation, click here.

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