India’s list of luxury hotels has another addition to it. The first Ritz-Carlton in the country has just opened in Bangalore and they’re all set to create loyalists out of their guests.

If you are one with a heightened sense of smell, then the first thing to greet you at The Ritz-Carlton, even before the courteous staff, will be the essence of the black Orchid. The signature smell of this internationally acclaimed hotel.

Located on Residency Road, Bangalore – India’s first Ritz-Carlton will start welcoming guests on October 31. But rooms have already been booked, even before the official opening.

The Ritz-Carlton Bangalore has a theme of its own. Its design is inspired by Indian jaali, which is lattice work, carved in stone or wood, typical of the Mughal period. Throughout the hotel, one will find the jaali theme being used. For instance, in the hotel rooms, the standard sheer curtains have been replaced by sliding jhali doors.

The hotel features 277 rooms, which include 25 suites as well as The Ritz-Carlton Suite. Arched walls mark the entrance of every room and art pieces woven out of silk deck the corridors to identify with the heritage of Karnataka. Though luxury is without doubt a prevailing aspect, what the hotel really feels its guests need is a sense of place.

The décor and ambiance are reflective of Indian heritage with art and artifacts making individual statements as one goes from restaurant to foyer to bar. The service is straight from their set-in-stone international standards manual.

There are seven dining venues in the hotel. These include Riwaz, the Indian restaurant serving north-western frontier cuisine; The Market, an all day dining restaurant with three interactive show kitchens serving international cuisine and Lantern, a three level Chinese restaurant and bar serving dim sums with live music.

Also on the list are The Lobby Lounge, where the acclaimed Ritz-Carlton afternoon tea will be served, the trademark Ritz-Carlton Bar, The Pool Bar and Bang, the hotel’s very own rooftop bar at level 15.

An exclusive facility at the hotel is The Ritz-Carlton Club Level. The Club takes up an entire floor and apart from the lounge and library; there is also a meeting room and a private dining room. Access to the Club is restricted to the use of a key card, which non-guests can acquire by taking up membership. The hotel goes one step further by providing guests at the Club with a business card that carries their name and states that they are a ‘Ritz-Carlton Resident.’

Health amenities at the hotel include a spa and salon, a 545 square metre rooftop swimming pool and a 24-hour fitness centre. The spa includes twelve treatment rooms, two express treatment rooms and a VIP suite, among other facilities. Attached to it, is Italian hairstylist Rossano Ferreti’s salon, which is the third in India.

The fitness centre features equipment from Technogym. A unique provision at the centre is the check-in card that members need to swipe on the equipment they use. This card keeps a track of the user’s progress through the workout. The guests using the gym also have the luxury of getting their gym attire provided to them by the fitness centre.

The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom and four meeting rooms take care of the events and the hotel also claims to have an onsite wedding planner. There is also a high-end boutique called Ganache, which showcases products like macaroons, chocolates, coffee and even an assortment of teas and fragrances.

Though the hotel, at 16 storeys, is not very tall by international standards, it is still one of the taller buildings in Bangalore. Every venue within provides an unhindered view of the city and Bangalore’s weather only complements it all.