Novotel Hyderabad Airport has unveiled Monsoon Dak Bungalow, a specially curated Sunday brunch series that celebrates India's rich railway dining heritage by reviving the flavours of colonial-era dak bungalows and railway refreshment rooms.

Running every Sunday throughout July, the themed dining experience pays tribute to a time when travel was slower, meals were unhurried and roadside dak bungalows served as welcoming rest stops for travellers journeying across the country. Inspired by this forgotten chapter of India's culinary history, the brunch recreates classic recipes shaped by Anglo-Indian influences, regional ingredients and traditional cooking techniques.

The menu highlights iconic comfort dishes that once defined travel dining, including Mulligatawny Soup, inspired by the Tamil pepper broth adapted for British tastes, and the rustic Dak Bungalow Chicken Curry, prepared using locally available ingredients in the kitchens of remote rest houses.

Guests can begin their culinary journey with starters such as Hyderabadi Tawa Fish Bites, Hara Bhara Kebabs, Paya Shorba, and Mulligatawny Soup, before exploring an elaborate main course featuring Dak Bungalow Chicken Curry, Mutton Dum Biryani, Jhinga Masala, Dal Dak Bungalow, Khubani Kofta, Dondakaya Jeedipappu Iguru, Dum Aloo Benarasi, Bharwan Shimla Mirch, and Vegetable Jalfrezi.

Complementing the heritage-inspired menu is an international buffet offering dishes such as Chicken Rendang, Fish Moilee, Grilled Fish Steak with Béarnaise Sauce, Spinach & Sundried Tomato Stuffed Chicken Roulade, Korean Gochujang Tofu, and Roasted Cauliflower with Romesco Sauce. Guests can also enjoy live pasta stations, artisanal salads, gourmet cheeses, cold cuts, chaat favourites and an extensive dessert selection.

Commenting on the initiative, Sukhbir Singh, General Manager, Novotel Hyderabad Airport, said the concept was created to revive a fading chapter of India's travel history, encouraging guests to slow down and rediscover flavours that once defined journeys across the country.

Amanna Raju, Executive Chef, added that the inspiration came from the rich culinary history hidden within everyday comfort food. He noted that although dak bungalows and railway refreshment rooms were simple establishments, they played a significant role in shaping India's travel dining culture.

Blending history, storytelling and regional flavours, Monsoon Dak Bungalow offers guests a nostalgic culinary experience that celebrates the traditions of India's historic travel routes while presenting them in a contemporary setting.

Kaara Hotels has announced the launch of Aayra, its new boutique hotel brand, with the opening of its first property, Aayra Dehradun. Located on Canal Road in Dehradun, the 18-room boutique urban hotel marks Kaara Hotels’ expansion into the growing experience-led mid-market hospitality segment.

Designed to cater to business travellers, families, groups and leisure guests, Aayra Dehradun combines contemporary comfort with personalised hospitality. The launch introduces Kaara Hotels’ boutique hospitality vertical, focusing on compact urban hotels that offer reliable service, thoughtful design and memorable guest experiences.

The property features well-appointed rooms, Fluid, a rooftop bar and lounge, along with flexible indoor and outdoor spaces designed for intimate celebrations, meetings and social gatherings. Its strategic location provides convenient access to key city attractions while also serving as a gateway for travellers heading towards Mussoorie and other destinations across Uttarakhand.

Positioned as a rooms-first urban hotel, Aayra Dehradun focuses on comfort, convenience and personalised service. The property is designed to meet the needs of modern travellers seeking dependable accommodation for business trips, family holidays, celebrations and weekend escapes.

Commenting on the launch, Puneet Sethi, Managing Director, Kaara Hotels, said that Aayra has been created to reflect changing travel preferences, with guests increasingly looking for intimate, thoughtfully designed hotels backed by professional hospitality standards. He added that Aayra Dehradun represents the brand’s vision of delivering warm and personalised experiences across multiple Indian cities.

Aayra has been developed as Kaara Hotels’ boutique urban hospitality brand, following a rooms-first operating model suited for high-frequency business and leisure travel. The brand aims to create intimate hotel environments that also support small gatherings and social occasions.

Following the launch of Aayra Dehradun, Kaara Hotels plans to expand the brand across India through an asset-light management model, targeting opportunities in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets.

Founded in 2021, Kaara Hotels has built its presence in India’s mid-market hospitality sector, operating three properties across Gurugram and Dehradun with a combined inventory of 178 rooms, 12 banquet spaces and around five acres of hospitality assets.

The company currently operates through two hospitality brands - Kaara, focused on leisure and destination hospitality, and Aayra, designed for boutique urban stays. Supporting its operations is HOSPINS, Kaara Hotels’ proprietary technology platform integrating pricing, procurement, property management, analytics and customer engagement to improve efficiency and consistency across its portfolio.

With its expansion strategy, Kaara Hotels aims to grow to 120 hotels and achieve ₹500 crore in annual revenue by FY30-31, strengthening its position in India’s evolving hospitality landscape.

Le Méridien Ahmedabad has completed one year since its transformation from Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad, marking a year of offering guests culturally inspired hospitality experiences rooted in creativity, design and discovery.

Following its rebranding last year, the hotel introduced Le Méridien's signature approach to hospitality, combining mid-century modern design with a European-inspired philosophy of savouring life's meaningful moments. Located in Ahmedabad, a city known for its architectural heritage, vibrant textiles and evolving culinary scene, the hotel continues to create experiences that connect guests with the city's rich cultural identity.

The property offers a range of thoughtfully curated experiences across its dining and social spaces. Java+, the brand's signature café, serves as a contemporary venue for coffee, conversations and casual gatherings. Drift provides a refined setting for private celebrations and intimate family occasions with bespoke dining experiences and city skyline views, while Bayleaf showcases the flavours of Awadhi cuisine through traditional recipes inspired by regional culinary heritage.

Le Méridien Ahmedabad also continues to enhance guest experiences through wellness offerings, contemporary social spaces and immersive programmes designed to encourage meaningful engagement with Ahmedabad's cultural and culinary landscape.

Signature brand experiences, including La Vie and destination-inspired programmes centred around culture, cuisine and creativity, remain key elements of the hotel's guest experience, reflecting Le Méridien's philosophy of helping travellers discover destinations in a deeper and more meaningful way.

Commenting on the milestone, Prashant Chadha, General Manager, Le Méridien Ahmedabad, said, "Le Méridien has always been a brand rooted in culture, creativity and discovery. Over the last year, our focus at Le Méridien Ahmedabad has been on thoughtfully bringing that philosophy to the city through experiences that feel immersive, contemporary and connected to Ahmedabad's rich cultural identity."

He further added, "The transition to Le Méridien Ahmedabad gave us the opportunity to evolve the guest experience while continuing to build on the strong legacy the property has enjoyed over the years. From coffee culture programmes and destination dining concepts to wellness-led offerings and curated experiences, the focus has been on creating moments that encourage guests to pause, connect and savour the good life."

As it enters its second year, Le Méridien Ahmedabad continues to strengthen its position as a contemporary hospitality destination where culture, creativity and connection come together to offer guests memorable stays in one of India's most vibrant cities.