By Aseem Kulkarni
Whether your helping organise guests flying in for a wedding, or some overseas friends who want to tour Delhi, you want to make sure they stay in a lovely and accomodating place. Ditch the thought of shelling out the big bucks for the same old boutique or luxury hotel. Atul and Sheetal Bhalla have created the ideal choice, and a home away from home, in the heart of South Delhi - Thikana B & B.
Literally translated, thikana in english means "the place to which you belong". After every guest frequently asks, "What does Thikana mean?", Atul Bhalla likes to say that Thikana is similar to Central Perk from the TV show Friends; a comfortable place to hangout and be with your friends. And that's exactly how Thikana makes one feel.
There are five intimate and spacious rooms, each with a modern renovated bathroom. There's even a bedroom that accommodates three, on the top floor, with a separate lounge in case a guest is travelling with little ones. The other two lounges offer a wonderful escape from the gritty city. Any guest can simply enjoy a cup of chai, browse the library of books and dvds, enjoy the Wii, or simply soak in the sun and beautiful traditional and contemporary Indian art adorning the walls. For those who still need to connect to the outside world, or just need to print out a boarding pass, there is a computer workstation, with complimentary Wi-Fi and printing.
Needless to say, Thikana is a B & B, so breakfast is included. Breakfast comprises a continental fare including French baguettes and croissants, as well as European cheeses; they're big on catering to their guests' international palates. As for additional services, Thikana can organise transportation, dry-cleaning, and other meals. If you're looking to get out and get active, Thikana can also arrange for you to use the Gulmohar Club and Siri Fort gym.
For those looking for a longer stay, arrangements can be made for a special rate. This is perfect for travellers in transit, or here for longer stints, since they save you the hassle of setting up house and home, and take care of all your amenities, including food, electricity, laundry and housekeeping. The only thing you'll have to know is in terms of privacy, you only have your room; all other areas are common. But anything beats the hassle of dealing with landlords, water issues and electricity meters. Talk about helpful.
So if you're on the internet, looking through Delhi guides for a place to stay, look no further. Warm, friendly, and helpful, Atul and Sheetal Bhalla, as well as the rest of the staff at Thikana, will go out of their way to see you are treated as close to being at home as possible.
For existing guests who have a red-eye flight and don't want to check out early and spend the day at the airport, Thikana offers a special day rate, at just INR 1500. This includes luggage storage, and full use of and access to the gorgeous rooftop garden, a shower and bathroom, and the lounge areas.
Notes in our Little Black Book |
Thikana is a modern, fully equipped bed and breakfast in the heart of South Delhi, perfect for families with children, solo travellers, and better still, for people looking for long stays in the city. If you're on a red-eye, and don't want to book a room for just a few hours, they'll let you use their facilities, and shower for a small day charge, so you don't need to stress and spend the day at the airport!
Where: A-7 Gulmohar Park, Delhi
To book: Click here or call +91 98 115 43335
Price: Rooms start at INR 6000. Breakfast included. Additional meals can be arranged by the house staff on request. For day use facilities, it's INR 1500 {for existing guests only}.