Hotel Dwaraka Palace

Hotel Dwaraka Palace is only reached after traversing the stretch of a compound which is reminiscent of the good old days when theaters didn't look like malls, but looked like theaters. A well-kept reception meets you on arrival. There are comfortable sofas, a minuscule travel desk and a pleasant receptionist to greet you.

The storeys above, which accommodate the rooms, are a different story entirely. Beginning with the staircase, you are met with stinginess - there are buckets, broom-sticks and a variety of other odds and ends littered on the way. Once you reach the first floor, you find it spacious, clean (in comparison to the staircase), and bare. The rooms are arrayed across the 5 floors, and are mostly presentable.

The room service is limited to on-the-spot cash payment and is severely flexible, depending upon the whims of the staff. Dwaraka Palace doesn't have a restaurant. It doesn't seem to have much business, either. However, Dwaraka Palace is in a cluster of hotels all belonging to the same group: Dwaraka Deluxe, Dwaraka Paradise and Rukmini Riviera. And between these, they have quite a few diners: Ganga, Dwaraka Meals and Bansuri. These are all practically a staircase away, and quite affordable.

The Dwaraka complex is a landmark in the area, and a couple of decades back, was a happening eat-out for most middle-class families in the neighbourhood. Hyderabad has since changed, we guess.

Also read: Dwaraka Deluxe, Dwaraka Paradise, Rukmini Riviera, Dwaraka Tiffins, Dwaraka Meals, Ganga, Bansuri, Raaga