The Taj Vivanta at Shillong Located smack bang in the the heart of Shillong, this hotel is a stone’s throw from the bustling Police Bazaar. The entrance to the hotel is unprepossessing and the lobby functional. All that changes, when the welcome becomes efficient and impressive. We were upgraded from a superior room to a suite, which is always welcome news. Check in was smooth and done in a few minutes. What impressed me was the warmth of the welcome and the courteousness of the staff receiving us, right from the security at the gate to the clerks at the counter. The suite, itself was capacious and divided into a large sitting area and a huge bedroom, well screened from the front door. There were TVs in both areas, for those inclined to be couch potatoes.. The commodious room, had its own seating as well All basic amenities including an iron, with an ironing board and a kettle to warm water was provided. Storage was adequate, but could have been a larger to accommodate clothes of 2 persons. This problem was a little acute since we were here for four days and didn’t want to live out of a suitcase. The toiletries and other sundries were quite good in a bathroom that was huge. There was a tub and a separate shower area. The housekeeping was top notch and the room was clean at all times. Any additional requests were promptly attended to While we were never in for lunch, the breakfast and dinner spread was sumptuous. There were items that could please every palate and the taste of the food would have satiated even the most critical of palates. Food could also be ordered of the menu. Our party of four, all vegetarians with individual likes and dislikes, were catered to with a smile and cheer. All our research on local eateries went for a toss since the taste and hospitality of the place drew us back every night. The chef, Mr. Pradyut Hazarika and his team deserve all encomiums for their cooking and plating and for their expertise over a wide variety of cuisines. A special mention should also be made of Mr. Fedrick Khyllep, who extended himself, not just at our table, but also across all the tables in the restaurant. The food and beverages manager, Mr. Amrit Kumar, is constantly patrolling his territory, ensuring that things run smoothly. The catering staff also specially baked a pineapple cake for one of our party (she loves pineapple cake) who celebrated her birthday. There was live music over the weekend and the singing by local talent on all three days was of top quality, Situated as it is, Police Bazaar is in walking distance. The central lake of Shillong, Wards Lake is also within walking distance. All in all, this was a lovely little place to stay in Shillong and my compliments to the manager, Mr. Praveen Sharda, for running a tight ship and for making this place a little home away from home
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