In Mathura, you can't miss the Lalita Grand Hotel Mathura to experience the local culture

## **Lalita Grand Hotel, Mathura: A Lost Place of Splendor** Pushing open the glass revolving door of the Lalita Hotel in Mathura, the cool air that hits you is accompanied by a faint fragrance - like a mixture of jasmine and sandalwood, or some kind of carefully blended "luxury scent". There were three neatly uniformed staff members standing at the front desk, with smiles so standard that they looked like they were copied from the same etiquette manual. My name was spelled out fluently, and when the room card was handed to me, my fingertips felt a hint of cool metal - this is probably what is called "high-end feeling". ### **Room: Exquisite Cage** The elevator rose silently, and the mirror reflected my slightly tired face. The moment the door opened, the lights automatically came on and the curtains slowly opened, revealing a blue sea - this is the "full sea view room" that the hotel is proud of. But for some reason, the sea looks like a framed painting. It is beautiful, but lacks some vitality. The bed was made meticulously and was so dazzlingly white that one would not have the heart to lie down and destroy its perfection. On the bedside table was a handwritten welcome letter, the handwriting as neat as if it were printed, and next to it was a plate of exquisite macarons, the colors as bright as plastic toys. I took a bite and it was so sweet that it was sickening, so I had to put it down. The bathroom was spacious to the point of being wasteful, with toiletries neatly arranged in gold-plated packaging on the marble countertop. The water pressure in the shower is strong and hot water comes in three seconds, which should be pleasant, but for some reason, I always feel that everything is too precise, like a carefully calculated "perfect experience" that lacks a bit of humanity. ### **Service: The mechanical feeling behind the smile** The hotel staff could not be faulted. Every waiter I met in the corridor would nod slightly and say "Good day, sir" in just the right volume. But their eyes never really lingered on me, as if I was just a room number in the system. One morning, I tried to chat with the maid who was cleaning the room. She was stunned for a moment, then showed a well-trained smile and replied in fluent but mechanical English: "I hope you enjoy your stay, sir." Then she quickly pushed the cleaning cart away, as if staying for another second would break some rule. ### **Restaurant: Feast and Solitude** The breakfast buffet area has a wide variety of items, from fresh fruits to freshly fried omelettes. But when I sat down with my plate, I realized that the guests around me were either looking down at their phones or talking in low voices with their companions. There was a strange sense of alienation in the whole restaurant. The waiters refilled the coffee at the right time, but never asked, "What are your plans for today?" - they seemed to be trained not to disturb the guests. For dinner, I ordered the signature lobster pasta, which was beautifully presented like a work of art. But when I cut into the lobster, the meat was slightly overcooked and the sauce was a bit salty. I wanted to make some suggestions, but I saw the guests at the next table taking pictures of the same dishes with satisfaction written all over their faces. So I just finished eating in silence, thinking: Maybe the problem lies with me, not the dish. ### **Leaving without taking anything** On the day of check-out, the front desk clerk asked with a smile, "How was your stay?" I subconsciously answered, "Very good, thank you." - This is the easiest answer. As I walked out of the hotel, the sunlight was dazzling. I looked back at the magnificent building and suddenly realized that it was like a carefully designed stage. Every detail was perfect, but it only lacked the warmth of real life. Perhaps this is the paradox of a luxury hotel - it gives you everything but leaves you with no memories.