Xenedocheionology owes its origin to the Greek language and according to Phrontistery means the love of hotels. I loved this word a lot and it made writing my X post for #atoz quite easy as there are a number of places which I must mention for their uniqueness in terms of hospitality and the wow factor of being “different”.
The very first one that comes to my mind is a Treehouse atop a 200-year-old tree in the rainforests of Wayanad, Kerala. It came complete with a rain shower, geyser, huge canopy bed, a water pulley-lift mechanism and monkeys for neighbours. (You can catch that post here)
Second one which I fell in love was during a 2013 travel to Rajasthan where we happened to stay at a quaint Boutique hotel Rawla Narlai, midway between Jodhpur and Udaipur. It’s essentially the Haveli of one of the princely estate managers which has been converted into a kick ass niche stay. I had chosen to stay in the tent by the gorgeous aquamarine pool, in the shadow of the towering granite hill. (Read that here)
We had quite loved our desert stay at the Damodar Desert Camp in the Sam dunes at Jaisalmer which I covered in my previous post.
Another tented accommodation that thrilled the heart with its facilities and cleanliness is the one at Nubra Valley in Ladakh where we stopped over in September 2012. It was an idyllic setting, nestled amongst beds of tall sunflowers and other blooms. Check out me lounging in the sweet little verandah!!! 😉
My recent stay at a homestay in Fort Kochi was another comfortable and unique place to rest the head at night. It was clean, with some awesome food and very friendly hosts. I loved the Kerala architecture of the place and don’t miss the bed in my room!!! Yes it was quite a climb 😉
I saved the most memorable for last and that was this heavenly stay at the famous Taj LakePalace in Udaipur. Situated on lake Pichola, this white marble gorgeousness is simply brimming with great hospitality and efficient staff. The food was to die for – both in terms of variety and the flavours. The rooms were exquisitely done up and have huge windows to gaze across the waters of the lake. I will leave you with some of the pics from there to decide for yourself if this isn’t a decadent place to stay in!!!!!
My room with its exquisite detailing in trellises, arches and the works
View of the Udaipur city palace from one of the many shaded nooks of the lake palace
The vistas of sunrises and sunsets from the bedroom window
‘It is better to travel well than to arrive.’
Buddha
What are the best places you have ever stayed in?
Or unique ones?
Y will bring in some exciting post!!!
For the uninitiated, AtoZ challenge is a blogging challenge wherein one has to write on every alphabet from A to Z and post on all days of April, except Sundays. Usually its better to devise a theme as it makes it easy to write the posts. Plus readers have a reason to stay hooked too.
The A to Z Challenge is created by Arlee Bird of Tossing it Out
and co-hosted by
Alex J. Cavanaugh of Alex J. Cavanaugh
Jeremy Hawkins of Hollywood Nuts
Heather M. Gardner of The Waiting is the Hardest Part
Zalka Csenge Virág of The Multicolored Diary
John Holton of The Sound of One Hand Typing
J Lenni Dorner of Blog of J. Lenni Dorner
My journey so far in the #AtoZChallenge
J – Japanese Kalbelia
K – Kathakali
P – Parsi Palate
V – Vanillabeans & Peppercorns
I have never heard that word, and decoding it, I can’t come up with ‘hotels’ or ‘travel’. I guess because it’s from the Greek!
Quoting from the internet ” Xenodochial is an adjective describing something – such as a person, place or software application — that is friendly to strangers. “Xenos” is a Greek word for “strangers;” according to the Oxford English Dictionary, xenodochial means “hospitable.”
I hope this helps Jacqui – love your love for words and decoding them 🙂
This is gorgeous. And you are right. It is a phenomenal word.
Thanks so much Shari 🙂
Learnt a new word today, thanks to you 😉
I loved the tree top hotel……would love to stay up there and enjoy the view 🙂
Thanks Radhika – yeah the tree top was unique for me!! 🙂
I know I should be supporting my Kerala hotels but damn! That Udaipur hotel is amazing!!! Actual palaces!
I know Doc – I worked with the Taj group of hotels for sometime as rennovating these palaces was a huge job – I used to love visiting them and staying there. Not to mention work on their interiors and architecture. You must look up Umaid Bhawan in Jodhpur – thats one of the most magnificent palaces in India – hands down!!!
Wow! All unique experiences. I always wanted to stay in the Taj Lake Palace.
Beautiful pictures Shalz. Will definitely try the first one when in Wayanad.
Thanks so much Ramya – pls pls do try Wayanad and then tell me how was it!! My detailed post on it is somewhere there on my blog too!!
Loved all of them .The tree house is being stored in my memeory.Your adventures are superb,Lake palace hotels I am looking out for .
Thanks so much Amzee – yeah these places were really divine to stay in and I am indeed lucky to have been there!! 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous hotel photos. I don’t know anybody who doesn’t have xenodocheinology. Hotels are such fun to be in. Thanks for this wonderful resource of Phrontistery.
So generous of you to share it.
Thanks so much Kalpanaa – feels good to hear you enjoyed my post 🙂
Thank you!! Added another word to my vocabulary. I have my love for hotels very much intact and will look out for these when I visit the above mentioned spots. Nicely written!!
Prasanna from Team Mocktailmommies
Thanks a tonne Prasanna – I hope you do get to visit them! 🙂
Loved this post the most buddy of your entire series . Not only the word but each experience is unique and entices me to check in in atleast a few.
What a wonderful post!! That’s a jaw breaking term, I’ll have to look up the pronunciation option online to get it right. Lovely shots and hotels of grandeur I must say.
Now I want to get away and experience Xenodocheionology!!!
Natasha
natashamusing
Travel Epiphanies:
Xenial City of Nawabs
Wow you have stayed in some pretty awesome accommodations. Mine are always typical… I should start looking for interesting ones. The tree house would be my dream stay
Great choice for the tricky X and I like this word. Lovely and unique experiences you have had. I have stayed in a tents at camp sites at Rishikesh, Shoghi and Uletokpo near Leh. It’s amazing to stay in basic as well as luxurious tents.
I would rate Oberoi’s WildFlower Hall at Shimla and Jaypee Greens Golf and Spa Resort, Greater Noida the best for the most luxurious and fab service, so far.
That hotel room in Udaipur is straight out of a fairy tale! You must have felt like a princess!
New word and udaipurs been on my list too.
ONE q- lizards ? I hate when they pop up…hope despite the warm weather you did not have to meet any 😉
love the word; and your travel diaries.. We have many of these places on our bucket list, so I will definitely check out these hotels 🙂
LadyInRead @ MyRandRSpace – Day 28 & X…
Oo.. I didn’t know this word! Learned a new word here! And you are a quite a traveler, aren’t you? Look at the variety of hotels you’ve stayed in!
Keep writing, keep sharing!
Cheers
Brilliant word and Udaipur? Wow! Stunning stay!
P.S: Yes, I am back 🙂 Thanks for the support and encouragement
Simply fantastic! My most memorable hotels would be the Kumarakom resort by the Casino group at lake Vembanad . We loved our four day stay in a Tharawad.
Another hotel I’ll never forget is a boutique hotel in Madrid that had a transparent clear glass walled bathroom cubicle in the bedroom space!
Loved the way you tackled X
Wow…love the hotels. And the word! I didn’t now about the word…love it. 🙂
Thanks so much Sanchie – I can see you are still reading, that is really neat of you ya!!! 🙂