Zone Palace by The Park Jaipur is a potpourri of tradition, modernity, and high standards of hygiene, making it the perfect stopover in the city. By Adila Matra
I arrived in the Pink City on a winter morning. The ornamental gate and the white facade of Zone Palace by The Park Jaipur that towered in front of me were reminiscent of the Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture, as were its sprawling courtyard and winding driveway. Located off the Jaipur-Ajmer Expressway, the hotel effortlessly blends traditional decor with modern amenities—global cuisine, a world-class bar, and spa, many of which I would experience over my weekend stay.
The striking open-design lobby offered me the first peek into this fusion. A large chandelier
hangs from the ceiling, and mirror tiles stud the arched grooves on the wall. In contrast, there are plush green and beige couches, and carpets that smell like polish.
Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Ltd launched Zone Palace by The Park Jaipur in September 2019 with 106 well-appointed rooms featuring top-notch amenities and technology. Constructed over six acres, Zone Palace boasts one of the city’s largest banquet halls, apart from a swimming pool, gaming zone, spa, fitness centre, and 24×7 concierge services.
The rooms are spacious, with quirky decor adorning their textured walls—the one I checked
into had plenty of natural light and overlooked the courtyard. I decided to take a short walk before brunch and got lost in the maze of silent corridors—each one leading to an exit staircase or the courtyard. One of these led to my lunch spread, which was set in the hotel’s multi-cuisine restaurant, Bazaar. The colourful interiors of Bazaar represent the vibrant markets of Jaipur, and the cuisine pays tribute to the flavours of the world.
The amuse-bouche came in the form of prawns tossed in butter and wild pepper infused with garlic, and packed a punch. The kurkuri poha-crusted macchi that came next was wolfed down in seconds. For the main course, I was served classic bolognese, both creamy and smooth. Full to the gills, I sauntered around and sat down by the gurgling fountain in the courtyard, admiring the lattice windows, arched entryways, and tall columns of the property.
In the evening, I headed to Z-Bar, the hotel’s club lounge, where purple-pink velvet seatings alternated with private booths, and a dance floor glimmered in party lights. Its wide selection of beverages made for perfect sundowners. For those who love to take the party outdoors, there is Playa, which serves authentic Jaipur delicacies. This was also my dinner destination. There was a slight chill in the Jaipur air, so I pulled my jacket closer and settled down on one of the seats by the pool. Laal maas, ker sangri, and dal baati churma lined the table, among other dishes. I dug in with total abandon and polished off the meal with a plate of ghevar. During weddings and other special occasions, the hotel organises baithak dinners facing the courtyard with special performances by local folk artists. Sometimes, there is also a puppet show for the guests. Banqueting spaces at Zone
Palace are named Sapphire 1, Sapphire 2, and Town Hall, and each of them offers an elegant space to host a range of events—from a packed wedding to a formal corporate seminar.
Though the hotel shut its doors in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, it later reopened with a hygiene, cleanliness, and sanitisation drive called S.H.I.E.L.D. Under the new normal, the hotel conducts temperature checks of all the guests and team members entering the premises. Contactless, digitised check-in has been arranged, and check-in cards are UV-treated before they’re given to the guests. All the guest rooms are thoroughly cleaned and sanitised using electrostatic gun sprayers and left vacant for 72 hours between occupants. In a world riddled by a virus, this is a safe zone. Doubles from INR 6,300.
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