Bundelkhand Riverside

The building is interesting, and the staff is fine. Location is good. A couple of kilometers from the monuments. The bathroom wall tiles had not been cleaned in perhaps 10 years and were covered with residue of some sort. Hard water? Sheets and towels were stiff with something. Hard water residue again, or detergent? The overhead fan was so loud, made it difficult to sleep.

This hotel is a tranquil visit into the past. The decorations and furnishings all take you back 150years but the facilities (bathrooms and internet) are all modern. We loved its riverside location, it was good for our soul to relax after the business of Delhi, Vindravan and Agra. The staff were very friendly.

First off, this hotel looks nothing like the online pictures. It was very old and dated and the surrounding area did not look appealing. Secondly, the check-in was super chaotic with the clerk not accepting the stamped Indian visa in our passports. Not sure what he expected from us, it was supplied by the Indian border. He was also under the impression that the room was for 1 person only while all our hotels were booked for 2. He was demanding that I should contact the travel agency for him. The room was very dated and not all that clean either and it lacked most amenities. And finally there were 3 ring ceremonies on the locations, so it wasn’t quiet at all, at 6 am they were still blowing whistles!! The only reason they got 2 stars was that the food was excellent. Also, there is a one box tip policy but the staff obviously does not agree with it at all, so they are constantly haranguing you for more. Lastly, this hotel is not worth the amount of money charged in advance ($180 CAD), a quarter of that is too much!

The hotel, though relatively new, casts itself as an old hunting lodge quite convincingly. In fact the land belonged to the Maharaja of Orchha, developed by his great grandson, and includes some small aged temples in and around the property A river view room is a must. It makes you feel really out in the wilderness with green parrots, an occasional peacock, water birds, meandering water buffaloes and many monkeys (watch your purse at poolside) as your neighbors. The restaurant is quite good and the only game around but Orchha is a short tuck tuck ride away. Perfect if you want to relax and get away for awhile.

Unfriendly staff, unclean and torn bed linen, poor bathroom. Good kitchen and view of river.