Hello people! Welcome back to our blog. Here, we are going to share our experience at this Heritage Hotel- Taj West End Bangalore, India.
We love exploring places with soul and authenticity. Visiting or staying at such places in person gives you the glimpse of the bygone era. If visiting such places also makes you inquisitive like us, look no further than this one, while in Bangalore. It would be definitely an unforgettable experience.
Booking & Budget
- Usual Rate- 11K/Night
- What we paid- Rs.10K Taj Voucher + rest on card
We booked this Hotel through Taj Website, to celebrate our second Holi festival together. The value seemed a bit on the higher side but I would say it was totally worth it. Plus all thanks to the complimentary American Express Taj Voucher worth Rs10,000 that Akshay gets every year on Amex Platinum Travel Card.
We’ve been using this voucher since last year. We mostly love preferring Taj as it is best in curating their hotels and are quite good in ensuring the heritage is intact. Last time we used this Voucher on our Wedding Anniversary at Taj MG Road which was also one memorable stay that we had.
Lobby & Check-in
We checked in early around 12’o’clock. Got a warm traditional welcome with garland and Teeka when we arrived. Had their special welcome drink and finished the Check in formalities. The lobby was huge, having a skylight and tree as a centerpiece which looked so calm and soothing.
Meanwhile accommodated at the Guest Lounge at the Lobby Area, Look at the Beautiful Tree in the center
On our way to the room, we noticed the lush green lawns, packed with shrubs, flowers once used to cure malaria & centuries-old trees. Well the property is massive enough to require buggies. They also provide a complimentary one hour heritage tour of the property in the evening to explore the rich past of this Iconic Hotel.
The Room & View
It has 117 magnificent rooms and suites. There are 2 wings namely a Heritage Wing and the one with the Garden view. We booked the latter one i.e. the Luxury Grande room which was on the ground floor with a beautiful garden view which is it’s main USP also. Initially I was keen about the Heritage Wing, but as it was not having a balcony, we preferred the Garden view room instead which was a bit modernized. But it still had that vintage touch. We had a private verandah which was facing towards the lush greens and a paved adjoining area amidst the greens.
Best room at the property is the one and only Tata Suite which has a living and dining room, office, kitchenette, Jacuzzi, private garden, Spa and Club Lounge benefits e.g Airport transfers and happy hours. We were feeling quite envious though as the features of the Suite sounded quite tempting 😉
Our Holi at Taj west end
Spring in India is always welcomed in the most colorful way possible. Those were the days when we used to celebrate Holi in our neighborhood with friends and family. But in this digital age people have started looking for more dynamic options that offer fun events with an incredible fusion of music, dance and food together. Taj West End makes an ideal venue for Holi festival every year. So through the Insider App we got to know about this Holi event organized at Taj West End by SteppinOut (It is a niche event company that curates outdoor events). The event was loaded with music, colors, and lots of fun. We enjoyed a lot.
What Makes Taj West End Special?
This hotel is located in Race Course road next to the Golf Club. It is the city’s first hotel, which has completed its 135 years. And what sets it apart from the other heritage hotels in India is the fact that it has not closed its operation even for a single day since it was opened. It was quite surprising to know that it is the oldest running hotel in the country. It has 150-year old raintrees, gulmohars, and banyans, in its green 20-acre property.
Turkeys wander amidst 130 years old Cycad & Raintree which is older than the hotel. Miss playing with the cute Turkeys 😉
Hotel With A Rich History
A legacy passing from an era of British culture, it still oozes timeless charm. It was founded in 1887 as a 10-room Inn named The Bronson’s West End. Back in 1800’s the Bangalore Cantonment was put together as a military station where mostly English officials resided with their families. As its said that the English people didn’t mingle with the local residents, so a British woman Bronson opened a boarding house with 10 beds in a one-storey building for the English clientele and called it the Bronson’s West End.
Then, The Bronson’s West End and Taj West End now, Hotel with a Glorious Past!
Soon the Inn was bustling with regulars, and became popular. In 1984, after being under multiple owners over the years, Taj Hotels took over the legacy and brought some fresh life and a modernized hospitality to it.
After the Heritage Tour, I had a walk through the Taj West End’s Art Corridor on my way to the room, where a number of Contemporary paintings were displayed. There is an operational red colored letter box also, which is the oldest, functional post box in Karnataka.
Restaurants
- Machan– Open from 7 AM to 11:30 PM. A multi cuisine restaurant with seating outside facing the lush green gardens. We used to have our breakfast here during the stay. You must not miss the high tea here.
- Masala Klub – It serves Contemporary Indian cuisine with elegant seating inside and out. We tried Tandoori starters and Lucknowi Biryani which was delicious.
- Blue Ginger- It is the country’s first Vietnamese restaurant with a view of beautiful pond. An exquisite Blue Bar is also attached to it. They have the best signature cocktails.
That was all about our stay at Taj West End during the Holi Festival week. Overall it was good and memorable. When it comes to Taj, it always lives up to our expectations. Again thanks to the American Express Platinum Travel Card which comes with complimentary Taj Vouchers every year. Its a must have card in the wallet, especially when you love travelling and value experiences.
Have you been to the Taj West End ever? Or maybe planning to visit anytime soon?
If not, then where are you using your Amex Taj Vouchers? Do let me know in the comments below.
Cheers to new adventures!
