Staycation at Taj Bengal with the pictorial; the experience

Around 20 or 30 years back it was kind of weird to stay in a hotel in the home city. I mean why should I? After all, I am from the city of Joy and never felt like staying at a hotel when I am in the city. However, with time scenario for sure has changed. These days staycation within the city is a good way to rejuvenate and to relax. This not only saves time and travel cost but also provides the typical holiday like ambiance within the city. My staycation at Taj Bengal a few days back (in the month of June, in fact) was exactly what I am talking about.

Taj Bengal Interior

30 years of Taj Bengal!

Taj Bengal has completed 30 years in the city of joy. In addition to this milestone, they have come up with a few major interior changes. This started with the redecoration and relaunch of their Cafeteria. The same is named as Cal27 and came up around a year back with a decor strongly influenced by Calcutta, be it the checkerboard tiles or the windows or the interior as a whole.

As part of the same project, they have redecorated around 100 rooms out of 400 rooms within the property. My staycation at Taj Bengal was to experience one of the newly decorated room and also the Taj Bengal experience as a whole.

Staycation at Taj Bengal!

With Taj Bengal, my relation is always special which started with the visit to Sonar Gaon for the first time with my father. I was a kid then and it was my first Five-star experience. It used to be a yearly treat every year to flavor the luxury of Taj Bengal back then.

In the present time, whenever I visited Taj Bengal, the experiences remain special for some reason or other.

Be in cooking for the first time at the Taj Bengal's Kitchen and having my recipe of Ilish Shukto over there or be it experiencing the famous Wasabi over there.

Here's what I experienced during the Staycation at Taj Bengal!

Premium Suite; my nest during the stay!

Upon reaching the hotel; after the formalities, I was given room number 309 which was a Premium Suite by Taj Bengal. Needless to say a newly decorated one. The room was luxurious with separate spaces for business, private and dining needs. The Suite was having a four-poster Bed and a seating arrangement within the main room. It also offered access to the Club Lounge and includes a Butler on call. The Bathroom was spacious, luxurious as well.

The room had a view of the Pool. The decor alike all the newly decorated rooms had a strong touch of Kolkata. What I found brilliant was the minimal decor and the calmness the room was providing.

Upon checking in the room, I went for lunch at the Cal 27. To be very frank I was expecting the typical CAL 27 lunch however, what I had was different!

Cal 27 Lunch!

I have been visiting Cal 27 since the very inception of the Cafe. Cal 27 basically is part of the major interior change and it was the first renovation that has happened.

Cal 27 is Taj Bengal's 24*7 Cafe and the name has come from Calcutta and the pin code of that particular area.

This time, however, we found a major change in the menu over there. Maybe the influence of their new Executive Chef Sujoy Gupta. I must mention here the change is good. I was simply blown away with the Pizza and Risotto! The best part for sure was the simplicity and also not messing the classic touch. The dessert was the classic Mudpie.

The Pizza

Risotto

Classic Mud pie

The discussion with Chef Sujoy revealed that they are planning to come up with more Taj Bengal signature dishes that they are serving or served in last 30 years!

100 Rooms with the new decor!

After lunch, we were provided with a guided tour of the newly decorated rooms.

Grand luxury Heritage suite and the Peacock suite

While one was with a decoration resembling the theme Peacock, the other was classy with the presence of the earthy colors and classy furniture. Personally, I found the Grand luxury heritage Suite best of the lot. The colors, the calmness, and more importantly the Varanda was making it special. The Peacock Suite, on the other hand, was classic, and with aristocratic decor.

Grand Luxury Heritage Suite at Taj Bengal

Both the Suite, being from the premium class, had a separate living room, powder room, and a luxurious bathroom. The artworks and the furniture needs special mention for sure.

The Luxury Suite

The next range was the Luxury Suite category. The apartment sized suite had a living room and
a bedroom with an attached bathroom.

Taj Club Room

Perfect choice if you are looking for a business trip. Smart yet elegant with airy, spacious. I found seating beside an extended bay window offering the view of the city beautiful.

Taj Club Room

This particular type of room offers easy access to the Club Lounge, where a special High Tea is
served every day between 4 and 5 pm, as well as to the Chambers fine dining restaurant.

The Laundry service in between!

When I had a few hours of me-time I decided to take the laundry service provided as part of the room. I requested to dry-clean and laundered the Denim I plan to wear the next day. I got it delivered on time.

The Chai Adda at the Palm Lounge, Taj Bengal

After a few hours of me-time at my suite which I utilized in finishing a book. went for the Chai Adda with a glass full of "Gorom Chaa" and a Thonga full of Jhalmuri". this is a tradition, Taj Bengal is maintaining since long. Did I enjoy it? Oh yes the Bangali in me enjoyed this gesture thoroughly.

Chai Adda

The Dinner at Sonar Gaon!

Well, this particular section of the post needs a separate blog post and hence I am not elaborating much. All I want to say I had all the Sonar Gaon signature dishes and I can write pages and pages about the experience.

Signature Sonargaon Kebab!

The night at Taj Bengal!

While my fellow bloggers decided to sit and talk for a few hours, I decided to retire. I mean I had to utilize the luxurious En suite after all. A proper soak in the bathtub was badly needed and I took that with a glass of Wine and a few chocolates.

En Suite

Morning Coffee at Taj Bengal!

The Coffeeholic me was happy with the choice of coffee present there in the room. Along with instant coffee, ground coffee was also there along with a french press. That was all I needed in the morning to energize.

Coffee someone?

Breakfast at Cal 27!

Our Breakfast was planned at CAL 27 and when we entered the cafeteria was at its pick. After ordering my morning dose of the coffee I requested for the Egg Souffle. By the time I was halfway through the souffle I found a lady with a big tray with a tag on her apron, "the Crescent Lady". She was serving freshly baked crescent in each table. Such a beautiful and classy gesture it was.

The Crescent Lady at CAL 27

In the meanwhile the Executive Chef came to our table with two big fat thali, one Bengali with mandatory Luchi Cholar dal and another was a traditional South Indian Platter. We were told that they serve these thalis upon request.