|
 Many,
many moons ago, the Lord's Central was a single large bungalow, with the
mine host occupying one half and a single large family of guests occupying
the other half. Within a few days, it was just one big happy family. You
began the day with a full English breakfast, followed by sumptuous,
generous 7 or 8 course meals. And just like today, the pleasant Matheran
climate made sure your body used it all up. An outdoors day meant a
half-day excursion to Panorama Point complete with waiters, cooks, raw
materials and other requirements. You make sure you are back at the inn by
nightfall. Partly because you certainly don't fancy yourself as dinner for
a posse of leopards and partly because, you'd rather be part of the
owner's dinner table with its attendant service, wine, scotch and the
finest spread.
From one guestroom in a single bungalow, the hotel is now
possessing 4 sprawling bungalows with 23 well-appointed guestrooms with a
beautiful flowering garden. Then, there's a beautiful valley-view swimming
pool, a badminton court, floor chess etc. Candlelight and hurricane
lanterns have given way to modern electric conveniences with full
generator back up. Thankfully, what your grandparents enjoyed all those
years ago hasn't changed: the food, the atmosphere, the hospitality and
the bonhomie you share with the host. The 4th generation Lords borrows
directly from the old stock- chatting with you, showing you the
interesting sights, sharing a drink or a meal with you or even a joke or
two. All in all, it still feels like an inn than a hotel.
You know, as well as we do, that change is the only
constant. The 6th generation Lords, running the Lord's Central hotel is
guaranteed to provide the same distinct Lord's brand of hospitality to
your grandchildren. The facilities will be further upgraded. There will be
a marked shift towards alternative power supply in the form of solar
cookers and heaters. All utilities will strictly adhere to the finest
environment-conscious norms including complete water recycling and waste
management.
Facilities
 A
holiday at the Lords Central could turn out to be the beginning of a
self-indulgent lifestyle.
From the word GO an
array of state-of-the-art facilities
waits to pamper your every mood both within and outside your room. The
veranda cum lounge that greets you as you enter your room is about views
and comforts. About peace, quiet and serenity. You move into the bedroom
and get into laziness mood. Immediately, the 2 beds (Depending on your
needs there could even be 4 beds or 2 pullout beds), the colour TV, the
telephone and storage cupboard catch your attention. The bathroom features
a hot and cold shower, toilet and a thoughtfully attached dressing room.
It's now choice time. You know you could either doze off to
sleep or impersonate an Arabian Pasha punching the TV remote over 30
satellite and movie channels, a glass of chilled beer in your other hand.
The telephone sits by your side waiting to relay your snack orders to the
kitchen.
 You
hear other people splashing about in the pool. From somewhere distant you
catch the faint laughter and camaraderie of the video games parlour.
Suddenly, playing pool seems to be a better option than dozing off.
You lazily drag yourself out of the room. You contemplate.
Should you shift your beer to the lounge and chat with the other guests
around? Or should you trade it off for a burst in the badminton court?
It's then that the-best-of-both-worlds solution crops up. The grand
outdoors chess court promises to indulge your strategic mind while you
pamper your lazy body.
Psst! There's table-tennis too. You better decide quick,
before the library with its rich stock of informative, entertaining tomes
lays siege to your already crumbling attention span or before your taste
buds lead you to Shangrila- the Veg. Restaurant with attached beer bar.
Meals, the long, never-ending 3-4 course variety will be served at your
table in the main dining hall. After that it's back again to
decision-making. Sleep… or a spot of action. The ball is in your court.
Ooops!
Dining
Ranking high in one's memory along with the views,
hospitality and sundry recreational, after a stay at the Lord's is the
meals. Not only for its excellent home cooked taste, but also for its
service, planning and sheer variety. For the last 80 years, every meal of
every day has been given the same detailed involvement that a homemaker
gives her family for meals. Breakfasts are of the 3-course English
variety, lunch and dinner complete with desserts, are 4-course spreads,
varying between Indian or Continental served with appropriate linen,
cutlery and crockery, in the authentic style by uniformed waiters, in the
sprawling dining room at a table specially laid out for you. Your morning
and evening tea however, are served at your room verandah complete with
cookies and biscuits. Special occasions warrant a fabulous poolside
barbeque or buffet dinner with music and lights. And all this for the
price of the room. Now, in all honesty, are you really likely to forget
the meals at the Lord's?
The meals at Lord's Central can be enjoyed even while you
set off on a picnic from the Lord's to some of the most panoramic spots in
Matheran. You could carry a full picnic hamper of snacks, soft drinks,
beer and meals from the hotel.
Even if you don't happen to be staying here, you mustn't miss out on a
meal at the central dining hall or even at the specialty Veg. restaurant.
Simply walk in a short while before mealtime and express your interest to
the ever-accommodating hosts and a table will be laid out for you
promptly.
On those special days like Christmas, New Year, Dassera or
even on an extra-long weekend, Lord's Central wears a festive look. The
hotel arranges a host of entertainment activities like housie games, magic
show, flower arrangements etc.,… sometimes even a souffle or cake-making
workshop. In the night the poolside is lit up for a cosy barbeque dinner
complete with beer and snacks.
Your early morning bed tea is brought to your room complete
with bread sticks or toast or cookies. You then troop into the dining hall
for your full 3-course English breakfast starting with cornflakes or
porridge followed with eggs to order and finished with tea or coffee. Of
course a continuous supply of bread, butter, toast, jam and honey is
maintained throughout. Then again, there are those days when breakfast
could be an 'idli sambhar' or a non-vegetarian 'salli botti'.
Lunch and dinner is a 4-course affair starting with an
Indian, Chinese or Continental soup. The soup comes piping hot in your
preference of Veg or Non-veg accompanied with bread. When you're done, the
entree makes its entry. It could be potato chops or Paneer mushrooms or
even stuffed capsicum for the vegetarians or mutton chops, fried fish or
fried chicken for the non-vegetarians. Don't stuff yourself yet. There's
more to come. The main course could be Chicken or mutton dhansak. Or
perhaps, fish curry and rice. Or even a Continental Steak & Kidney pie or
a baked chicken. The vegetarians too get their share of indulgence. (And
even if you stay for two weeks at a stretch, you're hardly likely to see
any dishes repeated).
Since the last 80 years, Lord's Central has been known for
its home cooked, elaborate meals. The menus are set daily after
ascertaining what fresh produce is available at the local market. No
frozen food for our guests. The individual taste of every guest is catered
to. Foreigners uncomfortable with spicy foods will be served authentic
non-spicy Indian food or even a Continental meal. Special meals are
available for children. The sick or the infirm gets diets that suit their
requirements.
Blame it on the Matheran climate or the attentive service
at the Lord's, but you'll find it hard to bid adieu to your main course.
But you must, for soon to follow is a delightful dessert, complete with a
delicious taste, creative presentation, and bountiful portion sizes. As a
matter of fact, more often than not, the dessert becomes the conversation
piece for the rest of your meal.
Accommodation
-
Regular Room -
These rooms face the front garden,
children's play area, badminton and giant floor chess courts. Double rooms
have a verandah, bedroom with 2 beds, colour TV and Telephone.
Family rooms are large with four full beds.
Bed and bath linen is provided.
-
Valley Side Room -
Quiet double rooms on the valley side with only a partial
valley view. Each room has a verandah, a bedroom with 2 beds, colour TV,
telephone, and a bathroom and toilet. Bed and bath linen is provided.
-
Valley View Room -
These rooms have a valley view. Each room has a private
verandah, a bedroom with 4 beds, colour TV, telephone and a bathroom and
toilet. Bed and bath linen is provided.
...Room View...
Time
Table of Toy-Train*
|
NERAL
TO MATHERAN |
MATHERAN
TO NERAL |
|
07.30 AM
- 09.30 AM |
07.00 AM
- 08.40 AM |
|
08.50 AM
- 11.05 AM |
09.45 AM
- 11.55 AM |
|
10.15 AM
- 12.45 PM |
13.40 PM
- 15.20 PM |
|
11.35 PM
- 14.15 PM |
14.45 PM
- 16.20 PM |
|
17.05 PM
- 19.00 PM |
|
* Time & Schedule of
Toy-Train is subject to change according to season & weather condition
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