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Chandragupta ready to host Putin

Not many hotel rooms in the world can boast of such a guest list.

The Chandragupta suite of Maurya Sheraton hotel will host Russian President Vladimir Putin from Monday, merely six months after American President Bill Clinton stayed there during his India visit in March this year.

The high-profile suite, which was a living room for American First Lady Hillary Clinton, her daughter Chelsea Clinton and the AIADMK's fiery J Jayalalitha, has undergone a sea change, as it prepares to receive the celebrated former KGB officer, who likes to lift weights and watch Hollywood pot-boilers.

Maurya Sheraton also hosted Microsoft chief Bill Gates and Japanese Premier Yoshiro Mori.

Maurya Sheraton is getting ready to host Putin, as KGB officials, Indian security personnel and other officials go about conducting final checks and giving final touches to preparations without the high drama that accompanied the American president's visit.

Entry to the Chandragupta suite floor has been restricted.

Already, 120 Russian officials have booked into the hotel. About 250 rooms have been reserved for Putin's entourage.

The Chandragupta suite has been redone to suit Putin's tastes. In the fridge, there are no hard drinks as Putin is a teetotaller. But there are many of his favourite bakery items like cheese puffs, chocolate spirals and cookies. Besides, there are aerated drinks and mineral water.

Hotel chefs are also busy baking goodies for the Russian president and his wife Ludmilla. Said a hotel official: "As the First Lady loves sarees, we have arranged for silk ones in the wardrobe."

Givenchy toiletries and Gillette products have also been packed for the couple.

Numerous Raj Kapoor audio CDs and DVDs of Hindi and English movies have also been kept in his room.

For the fitness freak, there will be two foreign trainers from Reebok and weightlifting equipment has been arranged in the workout room adjacent to the suite.

The hotel has also changed the walls and lobby outside the suite to resemble domes of Kremlin in thermacole.

The president's valet will be posted at the suite and no Indians are expected to serve the couple in the suite.

However, downstairs, at the Dum Pukht restaurant - one of Delhi's best, famed for its Awadhi-style preparations - is ready to host the couple. Hotel officials said the president would have a couple of meals at the restaurant.

"Our chefs will prepare the food. We are told he loves Awadhi-style food," a hotel manager told rediff.com.

Bukhara, where the Clintons dined, is also ready. The Russian delegation has already sampled food at the restaurant.

The Putin visit: The full coverage

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