A distinctive luxury experience

Summers can be a challenging period if you happen to travel to Rajasthan during these months. But if work gives a call, there’re no choices. You need to be there so you have to be there. So, it happened with me when I had to visit the Lake City of Udaipur later last month for an assignment. With the mercury touching the 42-degree C mark, one was in for a tough time. The only solace was my stay at Zana Lake Resort. 

A 20-minute drive from Udaipur’s Maharana Pratap Airport takes you to one of the newest additions to the Espire Hospitality Group portfolio which is very different in more ways than one from other properties in the city. First of all, you are not offered a welcome drink on arrival. Strange, isn’t it? But wait, the property doesn’t shy away from extending one but you get the choice of picking up a drink from a premium selection in your room. Two, there is no reception. The check-in formalities too are done as you relax in the comfort of your room. Three, unlike other hotels, each room at Zana Lake Resort is named after a hypothetical character like Michael, Andrew or Arthur and not in numbers. Intriguing! The young Front Office executive Sourabh informs that each of these names represents a character who is smart and thoughtful, a Nature-lover and a firm believer of enjoying responsible luxury. Also, this person likes to explore unique locations and experience everything out of the ordinary. And this is not all. There’s much more!

Mayfair Alfresco

Named after a rare purple lily, Zana, is truly an escape from the ordinary into a world of exclusivity and indulgence. The luxury boutique resort offers 30 lakefront rooms from where guests can indulge in spectacular unfettered views of the mountains framed within a glistening lake that serves as home to hundreds and thousands of migratory bird species. There are two room categories on offer: Lakefront Rooms with Private Garden, the 650 sq ft spacious rooms on the first floor that open up to a garden for guests to relax and enjoy in being a home away from home setting. These modern rooms with striking interiors and discreet furnishings feature a large glass door to let the natural light enter. This set of rooms costs anywhere between Rs 12,000 and Rs 14,000 plus taxes per night. This can be a blessing during the winter months as the rooms are all East-facing. However, it can be a bane in summers when the sun beats down no sooner does the clock strikes eight in the morning. In the absence of any awnings or sunshades to offer relief, it is just impossible to step out at that early hour. Also, fans are missing from the balconies. 

The same must be the case in the Lakefront Rooms with Balcony. I can’t say much on this for I stayed in one of the first floor rooms. Located on the second floor, these contemporary rooms feature 450 sq ft spacious accommodation and a comfortable sit-out space. These cost between Rs 14,000 and Rs 17,000 plus taxes per night. 

Infinity Pool

I’ve always been a firm believer that one can build the most lavish properties and introduce umpteen number of upmarket and exclusive facilities for the guests but then the most important clog in this wheel is the team that runs the show. At Zana, each member is a gem though some of them are really young, around 22-23 years. Like Sourabh, whom I mentioned before and then there’s another youngster, Krishan. These youngsters are sound heads with broad shoulders, ones who can make a brand proud and take it to the next level from the manner in which they treat their guests. They may be a bit raw today but have immense potential to be hospitality leaders of tomorrow. They are led by Om Siddh, an experienced and able leader, one who can capably guide this young team a long way ahead.

For the two days that I spent at Zana, I was treated to choicest of cuisines with handpicked local ingredients finding their way through a thoughtfully curated menu on my plate. The resort’s outdoor dining spaces are simply picture-perfect and best suited for magical dining experiences, be it a farm-to-table meal or a romantic starry night dinner. Like I did, you too can experience a holiday centred around discovering exceptional liqueurs. Krishan, an expert bartender in the making, guided me through this unique experience of choosing, tasting and mixing a range of different flavours to enhance my understanding of liqueur tasting. 

Weather-permitting, guests can indulge in an array of unique experiences at the property such as Village Walk to engage with the locals and discover the culture of Rajasthan, Movie Under the Stars in the lawn overlooking the lake and Wildlife Safari, a jeep safari in Kumbhalgarh. The resort also offers unique experiential dining concepts and alfresco set-ups with live music to create memories that last. Also, unlike other hotels in Rajasthan where guests mostly experience traditional services and concepts, the crisp and modern service philosophy one experiences at Zana can only be defined as the ultimate Zana Way.

Lakefront Room with Private Garden

On sustainability front, the resort uses ‘MA Earth Botanicals’ bath and wash amenities that are free from chemical additives, synthetic fragrances, petroleum, animal-by-products, sodium lauryl sulphate, mineral oils, parabens and are also cruelty free. “Our dental amenities are completely plastic free as we use naturally made chewable tablets packed in a glass bottle and an environmentally friendly wooden toothbrush. Besides this, we have an on-site farm from where we source our key cooking ingredients that are used to create a vegetarian fare that is both indulgent and nourishing. We also use solar plant at the resort, as our contribution towards sustainability,” shares Akhil Arora, Chief Executive Officer, Espire Hospitality Group. He adds that there are plans to add 30 more rooms to the property within the next two years. 

View from the room

It was indeed an experience that left me inspired and revitalised. However, I will surely try my hand at cycling on my next trip to Zana Udaipur for it was too hot and humid when I went for a couple of rounds within the resort complex that morning at around seven. Till then, one just hopes the spa is up and running as a luxury resort can’t afford to miss out on such an important facility, especially when it gets hot around mid-April.