Green Hotel

A beautifully converted palace, with homely rooms and elegant gardens, in the historic city-seat of the Mysore princesses

Green indeed: this hotel is both verdant, with long lawns and flowerbeds, and environmentally-friendly, shunning modern machinery and training ‘underprivileged’ locals for its staff. But there is also some blue in its veins. The former ‘Chittaranjan Palace’ was built 100 years ago as the summer palace for the Wadeyar princesses, and a regal elegance lingers on today. Every room is sumptuous in its own way - from the bargain Travellers Rooms in the garden block up to the Princess Room (ideal for honeymooners) and the 2-room Bollywood Suite.

That name harks back to the building’s period as a film studio prior to its 1994 purchase by British charity-director Hilary Blume. Keen to fill the gap between luxury hotels and budget hostels, she worked with Indians to renovate the building, ensure charitable ownership (all proceeds go to local causes), and train slum-dwellers and widows into the most caring hotel staff you could wish for. It’s an affordable privilege to stay here. And, with Mysore’s palaces, parks and its silk trade on your doorstep, it will make your friends green with envy.

Highs

• Breakfast is served in the enormous, flower-filled gardens which are a delight to relax in (perhaps the best in a city famed for its gardens)
• The staff are friendly and enthusiastic (though occasionally a little slow)
• The common areas (library, drawing room, verandas) are vast yet intimate
• You can enjoy your stay in the knowledge that the profits go to charity

Lows

• The beds are on the firm side, and towels are rather scratchy
• Some bedrooms are rather basic - don't expect A/C, TVs or luxurious touches
• You may hear traffic noise from the road in some rooms
• The power supply seemed very fragile - hurricane lamps at dinner are almost routine
• There's no pool