A Break From City Life | Shivas Gateway – Business Hotel | Bangalore

2017 was the year I rediscovered myself and with the blessings of friends and family I decided to take a well deserved break from work which turned out to be the best decision I made in a long while. My passion for writing about what I love took over most of my time and though I loved doing it I reached a point towards end of 2017 when I needed a break from it all. So I decided to take some offtime from blogging in Dec 2017 and accept invitations which would appeal to my inner soul and so went by December.

But there are responsibilities I just cannot shirk which included some getaway time since my kids have their Christmas break. I am the planner in the family and everyone wanted to take a 2 day break and considering this is the worst time for a road trip since it is peak holiday season, I looked for options which would involve a nice long drive (1-2 hours) though not into the Bangalore city but somewhere on the outskirts along with reasonable room rates and good food. These options lead me to a few hotels on Devanahalli road and I zeroed in on Shivas Gateway as it ticked all my requirements. 

I love long drives especially heading out of the city and the location of the hotel was just the perfect distance away from home and along with family and good music to set up the right mood for a mini vacation. Shivas Gateway is located on the Bangalore-Hyderabad highway leading to Kempegowda International Airport. The hotel is situated 8 kms from the airport making it an ideal destination for travellers visiting Bangalore on short stays looking for quick access to the airport. My family and I were probably a bit out of place here but the purpose was to take a break and this seemed the best option. 

The area surrounding the hotel is quite familiar to me as I have run as well as cycled for many races on this stretch in the past year. The hotel is located inside a property a  few feet away from the main road but that little distance makes a huge difference in blocking out sounds of traffic and people alike. The location in addition to being calm and peaceful is also quite picturesque and there is enough space for small evening walks once you exit the hotel. Ideally known to many as a business hotel, the feeling when you enter this hotel is comforting and that went a long way in helping us unwind. 

After a quick check in, we were guided to our suite which turned out to be quite spacious and well planned. The simple yet elegant decor of our suite did not go unnoticed with grey tones on the furnishings adding that modern touch to the suite. The suite has a separate area separated by a wooden partition about 4 feet in height which encases the LED TV and at the same time provides a bit of privacy along with the 2 cosy chairs beside it. The separated area opens out to the small balcony where you get a great view of the highway stretch along with the background of hills. A great place to cozy up in the mornings with a cup of hot coffee or just enjoy the sunset after a long day in business meetings.

Our suite has the requisites expected from a 3 star property with electrical hot pot with tea and coffee sachets, mini bar with snacks, 24 hour room service, laundry services and of course a spacious attached bathroom. 

Since we arrived around 1 pm, we decided to head to their restaurant for a leisure lunch. The hotel houses a classical multi-cuisine restaurant called Ambari which showcases the best of South Indian cuisine. The name Ambari would be familiar to anyone from Mysore as it signifies the Golden Howdah – the carrier placed on the lead elephant for the grand Mysore Dussehra celebrations witnessed by lakhs every year. The restaurant walls depict the grandeur of the Dussehra celebrations and took me back to my recent trip to Mysore during the Dussehra. 

The restaurant is by no means small with a close to 14 tables inside and a seperate open air seating which has around 6 tables. Though it was peak afternoon time, the open air area was breezy and thanks to that light chill of winter in the air, we decided to occupy one of the tables in the open area. We began our meal with the usual order of fresh lemonade (aka fresh lemon soda) for all and was pleasantly surprised to receive small shots of fresh pineapple drink as a customary welcome drink. 

The food blogger in me doesn’t rest and I took my time going through their menu and finally ordered a few appetizers – Chicken 65, Fish & Chips and Tandoori Jinga. While we waited for our drink, my kids were kept occupied with a few kiddie games on my hubby’s phone while I went about clicking pictures which is customary for every new visit to a restaurant. Since we had kids in tow, the staff at the restaurant sent us a few colourful mocktails on the house. 

The starters came in quick succession bringing a smile to my lips as nothing like quick service when one is ravenous. The Chicken 65 is a time and tested dish and every Chef has his own take to preparing it. The dish we were served was one such preparation though retaining all that is best from the spices to the final flavour. Though it was spicy for my kids, they relished it wholeheartedly. 

The next appetizer we tried was the Tandoori Jinga which is essentially prawns marinated in a cashew and cream paste with a touch of mustard. I am seafood lover and this dish made my day as the prawns were fresh and well marinated making it lip smacking.

Next came the Fish & Chips which I know it was not an ideal selection in a South Indian themed restaurant but I decided to try it anyways. Surprisingly it was well prepared and I know it would suit the palate of the continental transit visitors. 

By this time, we almost did not want to order the main course, but decided to order just a few Indian breads and a Chicken gravy along with a Fried rice. The Chicken Tikka Makhani with its tomato based curry was perfect to end our meal while the kids enjoyed their favourite Fried rice. 

Post lunch, we relaxed in our room watching television and some taking a quick nap. Post sunset we decided to step out of the hotel and take a stroll around the hotel enjoying the pleasant weather that Bangalore has to offer towards the end of winter. We worked up a bit of a sweat with the walk and stepped back into our suite to refresh ourselves with a hot shower before heading down to a quiet dinner before retiring for the day. 

Though we were not too hungry, the option of a dinner buffet was appealing and we started our meal with a healthy Sprout and Chana Salad. The staff impressed upon me that I am yet to try their restaurant special – Atta Chicken which turned out to be excellent. The dish is impressive in presentation and the kids enjoyed the little display of cutting open the atta to find succulent pieces of tandoori chicken within. This dish without doubt was the highlight of the day and thoroughly enjoyed by the entire family. The rest of the meal went by with a few picks from their buffet spread. 

Our night was quite peaceful thanks to an extra bed provided for my son since we were a family of 4 whom they accomodated in one suite without any hassles. 

The next day went by sooner than we would have wanted and before we knew it, it was time to bid adieu. We left Shivas Gateway feeling relaxed and without much of hole in the pocket and at the same time happy we chose Shivas Gateway for our impromptu weekend getaway.  

Amenities : Express Check-in/Check-out, 24×7 Room service, Pickup and Drop Cab services, 24/7 Airport Shuttle (surcharge), Private parking, Banquet hall, Wi-fi, Doctor on call, Wheelchair access and Medical assistance. 

Address: 36, Down Town Park Sittigere Village Near Sadahalli Gate, International, Airport, Bengaluru, Karnataka 562157
M: +91 91089 87454
P: +91 80 2846 7777

Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in the above post are my own.

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Check out my stay at Radisson Blu, Coimbatore