Vadodara, Gujarat’s third largest city, is considered the state’s cultural capital. Vadodara has some interesting city sights, but the main reason for coming here is the stunning Unesco World Heritage Site of Champaner and Pavagadh nearby. The city is way less hectic than Ahmedabad, and parts of the Sayajigunj area near the university have a college-town feel. During our recent trip to Vadodara, Team Salt and Sandals zeroed in on “Grand Mercure Vadodara Surya Palace” which is one of the finest properties in Vadodara, strategically located in close proximity to Vadodara’s business district and corporate hub, the hotel is the first Grand Mercure to launch in the state of Gujarat.
As we arrived at the airport, the representatives from the hotel reached to welcome us and escort us to the property. Located hardly 10 minutes from the Airport, an air-conditioned car awaits us with a friendly driver who offered us an ice cold bottle of water and skilfully navigated Vadodara’s traffic to reach our destination.As we enter the property, we were welcomed by the flower and tikka, which is a part of the traditional Indian welcome. Our luggage was taken to our rooms and then we met the General Manager , Mr Rajesh Gopalakrishnan, told us some positive points about the property.
Next, we were greeted by Mr. Piyush Shah, Managing Director, Jindal Hotels Ltd. He took us on a property tour and also enlightened us about the artistic significance their property holds. The grand paintings displayed at ‘Azure’ – the hotel’s signature outlet are specially designed by the popular artist, Jyoti Bhatt. One of the artwork is focussed on the rich culture and heritage of the rural parts of Gujarat, specially Saurashtra, while the second painting depicts the 3layers i.e. water, earth & sky. The sculptures in the porch by Nagji Patel, a well-known artist; represent Sayaji Rao, the king of Vadodara with his two wives ChimnaBai I and ChimnaBai II. The two installations next to the wives symbolize the two Banyan tress of Vadodara. These installations are carved out of a single stone.
The hotel features 146 well-appointed guest rooms, including 96 Deluxe Rooms, 44 Executive Rooms, 5 Premiere Suites and one Presidential Suite. Each room features modern design aesthetics, equipped with in-room amenities, complimentary high speed Wi-Fi access, embellished bathroom, vivacious wall art, tea and coffee maker, mini bar, digital safe, LED TV, digital air conditioning control and a work desk. Each room & suite is specially designed keeping the target groups in mind. Staying true to its distinct brand individuality, the rooms are deeply influenced by seasons of the year and vibrant Indian festivals through paintings and a vivacious colour palette.
Azure, The all-day dining restaurant, takes guests on a global culinary experience with a multitude of cuisines offering a wide range of both a la carte as well as extensive buffet selections. The restaurant is dynamic and stylish with brightly coloured interiors and furnishings, designed to bring a smile to guests with fine modern gastronomy. The menu encompasses a choice of innovative dishes at its live cooking stations, as well as exciting à la carte options including North Indian, South Indian, global and local specialties. With delectable buffets, there is always something for everyone. The dishes prepared by Executive Chef, Sudhakar Angre and his team emphasizes on freshness and creativity, infused with different flavours and cooking styles to suit the modern day palate. A landmark destination and a culinary pit-stop in the heart of Vadodara, Azure is indisputably one of the city’s most loved restaurant.
Grand Mercure Vadodara Surya Palace understands the assorted nature of celebrations and thus, provides an assortment of venues to match every ones needs. Whether it is a gala reception, a cosy kitty party, a traditional wedding, or a nostalgic reunion; the hotel is the ideal destination for any occasion. Grand Mercure Vadodara Surya Palace has 6 distinguished banquet halls, with capacities ranging from 15 to 1,000 guests. The specially designed banquets are complemented with thematic décor, impeccable service and sumptuous delicacies from around the world.
Our Verdict :
Grand Mercure Vadodara Surya Palace is a very contemporary hotel that’s perfect for comforting yourself between flights or a hectic back to back meetings. Or, if you’d prefer, you can go shopping or watch a movie.Not just like any other boring airport hotel, this property is located close to the famous malls and movie theatres which means a full platter of entertainment is assured. Grand Mercure Vadodara Surya Palace is part of a luxury international hotel chain( Accor Hotels), which brings with it an impeccable sense of hospitality. Modern Indian artwork graces the walls, complete with detailed explanations of what it represents. Food in their house restaurants is smartly designed to be lip smacking meal to their patrons. In-room dining and room service is also really swift, helpful and polite. In a nutshell, if you are in Vadodara then Grand Mercure Surya Palace is the place to check in.
