8,825 feet above sea level in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, stands a world-class resort that captures the beauty of its pristine setting. With majestic views of the Affarwat Peaks, The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa is spread over 7 acres of a sylvan coniferous forest. A world away from the ordinary, this 85-room resort is a haven of luxury, designed to pamper you in every way - with plush interiors, fine cuisine and restorative treatments at The Khyber Spa by L’Occitaine. Specifically designed by Ar. Anil Bhadhan and his team to be a representation of the local cultural heritage of Kashmir, The Khyber is paradise in every season of the year.
This 140,000 sqft hotel is a picturesque representation of the rich, indulging and vast culture of Kashmir. Ar. Anil Bhadhan and his team studies Local architecture, culture and colours extensively studied in the making of the perfect place for a relaxing vacation. The hotel supports stunning views in both the common areas as well as the rooms. Nestled in a valley surrounded by nature, the hotel supports stunning views in both the common areas as well as the rooms. The design utilizes local materials like pine in the creation of this luxurious rendition of Kashmiri architecture. In every way, the indoors are carefully planned to reflect the beauty of the outdoors, right from the materials, like Pinewood which is a locally available material, aids in this process while keeping the hotel warm, as the temperatures here are well below zero.
The Design Team at Studio B architects under the able leadership of Ar. Anil Badan designed the hotel to have a grand arrival experience, which is almost palatial with a three-storied porch. The wind speed at this point is exceptionally high, hence the architects needed to create a screening partition wall to shield the guests from the harsh weather. The guests are then welcomed into a palatial reception cum waiting area lit by the lavish 15 feet high chandelier placed at the centre of the room. Then the space further opens up onto an informal plush seating area, which furnishes the space with much-needed comfort, this space was specifically created to cater to travellers coming from far and wide. Providing them with a relaxing space that bestows warmth and comfort before they can take advantage of the hotel in its entirety. This informal space which unfurls onto the outdoors as well makes for a perfect space for spending time with loved ones or just simply enjoying the view. As the space receives extensive snowfall, hence the material finishes had to be carefully thought about, which is why the architects used hammered local stone. This stone has also been taken into the indoor as the thread of the staircase that leads onto the lobby this genius design intervention blurs the boundaries between the inside and outside. The staircase also supports railings made from local pinewood leading into the lobby further amalgamating the design with its surroundings. The dormer windows in this space were retrofitted with stained glass which bring some much-needed colour into the room in the form of light.
The lobby area then leads onto a reception with two sit down counters. The ceiling here is made from paper mache and the flooring is made from discarded wood, both of which add to the sustainability factor of the entire hotel. The lobby also leads to a working fireplace surrounded by cosy seating, keeping the room warm and comfortable. Ahead from the lobby and further into the building is a large 14 feet diameter, round and low-height seating, very typical for Kashmiri architecture and design. The circular seating is creatively upholstered with an authentic & vibrant Kashmiri fabric, which is artistically complemented by an alluring locally made carpet.
This circular seating area then leads to the restaurant on the left and a lounge on the right. The hookah lounge, Calabash, uses typical influences of Moroccan architecture with the wall which is made colourful with the help of locally crafted wall tiles, perfectly complementing the wooden flooring. Typical Kashmiri furniture has been used for varied seating styles effectively creating multiple interaction spaces. The restaurant, Nouf, located right across the Calabash, has an open kitchen with provisions for a large buffet. This lavish restaurant also supports large windows that give unobstructed views of the mesmerizing mountain ranges.
Further into the hotel past the circular seating is the lounge, designed to be a relaxing space, it uses different flooring textures to create essentially two different kinds of experiences in the same space. The ceiling pattern is typically Kashmiri, designed with the help of colours instead of the traditional material, wood, which makes this space as mesmerizing as its surroundings. The lobby also has a fireplace with lounge sitting & overstuffed chairs all of which make this the most befitting space to sit and relax for hours on end. The curtains are also kept vibrant keeping with the burgundy, rust, and green colour scheme, which runs throughout the hotel. At the far end of this corridor is a tea lounge that overlooks the whole valley. The tea lounge, Chaikash, opens up onto a wooden viewing deck which is perfect for summers while basking in the bespoke views and enjoying delectable snacks. The architects at Studio B Architects designed the deck so it could also be used for bonfires and open cooking stations making it perfect for small parties. The first floor of the same block houses a billiard room, a TT room, a conference room, a party hall and an owner’s office area all of which also follow the same design scheme as the rest of the hotel, including dormer windows.
One level below the main block is a banquet hall with a pre-function area that is directly connected to the main kitchen and can accommodate 400 people at one time. Ar. Anil Badhan and his team created an acoustically sound space, while still celebrating the local wicker and cane work, otherwise known as Kaani artwork. The banquet hall, appropriately named the House of Sapphire, is fully carpeted and the ceiling features Katambandh art elevated by the use of gold, making it more luxurious. The pre-function area opens onto a lawn with hard marble flooring, making this the most optimal location for live cooking counters or even a barbeque.
From this public area, the architects divided the hotel into two blocks which are both semi-private, namely the east and the south. The rooms are accessed through beautiful long corridors with niches that feature local artisans, further emphasising the influences of Kashmiri art and architecture. The east block and the south block are similar, except for the fact that the east block has rooms with balconies, while the south block houses rooms without balconies. All the rooms are cosy and are retrofitted with floors that heat up automatically during winters. The design team at Studio B created a large headboard that adds warmth to the large room, with floor to ceiling windows, which is complemented by the vibrant carpet which is imported from Ireland is partially covered by the bed. The large tv is coupled with an openable study table that doubles up as an art feature, with a paper mache backdrop. Next to this is the tea/coffee making station where the grass panelling material has been bought from the banks of the Jhelum river. The interiors are lined with crewel fabric in warm colours with a touch of gold and the balconies have a mesmerizing view, coupled with wooden furniture and flooring, each room is a picturesque representation of Kashmiri opulence.
All the bathrooms attached with rooms are five-fixture bathrooms, with a large jacuzzi, a separate shower cubicle, a separate WC cubicle and two basins. The ceiling atop the jacuzzi is a Khatamband design, which is made with small wooden pieces which create an artistic pattern. Every room houses all the facilities of a highly luxurious 5-star hotel topped off with Victorian fixtures and fittings.
The east block leads to the spa block through the passageway. This independent building with a gym is almost 1000 sq. ft in size where the spa, maintained by L'occitane, has 8 different treatment rooms. All the treatment rooms also have attached toilets in addition to necessary furniture and plush armchairs for additional comfort. The couples massage room has a built-in jacuzzi, perfect for two people, making it a perfect honeymoon destination.
The pool in the same block is large and interesting with some breathtaking views of the mountains. Covered only on two sides, the temperature-controlled pool has 6 built-in jacuzzis and a small kids pool, all of which are directly connected to a snack bar, a sauna, change rooms, washrooms, lockers, steam room and many more luxurious facilities.
There are three types of cottages, namely one-bedroom and two-bedroom, that are separately placed from the main building blocks. The one-bedroom cottage has a huge drawing room, living room, dining room, powder room and a pantry that can be accessed by a server from the outside, on the ground floor. The plush bedroom with a large headboard is situated on the first floor with access to the lavish five-fixture bathroom with wooden flooring. The gabled roof with rafters gives a rustic yet regal look which is enhanced by both the chandelier and cove lighting. The two-bedroom cottages are similar to the one-bedroom, with the difference being an additional bedroom on the first floor.
A passage then leads onto the presidential suite with 3 bedrooms where the entry leads onto a large palatial living room, followed by a lavish diving room. The ground floor also has a pantry, a servant room on one end and a luxurious bedroom with an attached bathroom on the other end. The bedrooms on the first floor are similar to the bedroom on the ground floor, except that the bathrooms have access to the private temperature-controlled plunge pool. The decor of each bedroom is unique yet opulent, but the entire suite’s decor matches the decor of the hotel, except it has been elevated with higher quality fabrics, more intricate furniture style and touches of gold.
Khyber in Gulmarg is an architectural and interior wonder designed by Studio B. The architects created a large yet cohesive hotel that celebrates the beauty and culture of Kashmir through every nook and corner of the resort in a lavish, warm and comfortable design.